Life on the Mississippi Questions and Answers
Life on the Mississippi
What literary devices are used in Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain?
In Life on the Mississippi, Mark Twain employs literary devices such as dialogue and metaphor to create realism and vivid imagery. His dialogue captures the speech patterns of diverse characters,...
Life on the Mississippi
What permanent ambition did Twain and his boyhood friends share?
Twain and his boyhood friends shared the permanent ambition to become steamboatmen. This desire was fueled by the daily excitement surrounding the arrival of steamboats in their village, symbolizing...
Life on the Mississippi
What happens when the boy, who survived a steamboat explosion, returns to town in Life on the Mississippi?
The boy who had survived an explosion aboard the steam boat dies a few days after returning to town. in Life on the Mississippi. His name is Henry, and he is Mark Twain's close friend. He is one of...
Life on the Mississippi
Which two steamboat jobs did Twain admire in Life on the Mississippi?
In "Life on the Mississippi," Twain admired the steamboat pilot most, a role he pursued and achieved, becoming a licensed pilot and captain. This position symbolized adventure and exploration,...
Life on the Mississippi
What does Twain mean when he says "the romance and the beauty were all gone from the river"?
Twain's statement reflects his shift from viewing the Mississippi River with wonder and beauty to seeing it through a pragmatic lens as a steamboat pilot. Initially, the river's mystery and grandeur...
Life on the Mississippi
In Life on the Mississippi, what does young Twain record in his notebook?
Young Twain, following Mr. Bixby's advice, records in his notebook the names of towns, "points," bars, islands, bends, and reaches along the Mississippi River. This effort is part of his training to...
Life on the Mississippi
How did Hannibal's people respond to the steamboat's arrival in Twain's Life on the Mississippi?
The arrival of a steamboat in Hannibal was a spectacle met with great excitement according to Mark Twain in Life on the Mississippi. When the steamboat approached, the whole town came to life, and...
Life on the Mississippi
What were Twain's initial feelings towards Mr. Bixby in Life on the Mississippi?
Mark Twain initially had mixed feelings towards Mr. Bixby in "Life on the Mississippi." While Twain was grateful for the opportunity to learn from such a skilled pilot, he was also stung by Bixby's...
Life on the Mississippi
Identify three examples of imagery in Mark Twain's "Cub Pilot on the Mississippi."
Two related examples of imagery in Mark Twain's "Cub Pilot on the Mississippi" are his initial vivid description of Captain Brown and later description of their fight. Another example is his...
Life on the Mississippi
What does the final paragraph of Twain's legend reveal about him?
The final paragraph of Twain's legend humorously critiques the human tendency to overlook small details, like the fate of the blanket, in favor of more dramatic elements. Twain suggests that we often...
Life on the Mississippi
Considering chapters VI-VIII of Twain's Life on the Mississippi, how would you evaluate Horace Bixby as a teacher?...
Mr. Bixby is an excellent teacher to Mark Twain, because he has so much practical experience on the Mississippi River. Although he speaks and acts in a rough manner, his pupil soon learns that this...
Life on the Mississippi
Was Twain justified in striking Brown, despite it being against the law?
Twain's act of striking Brown, though against the law, is portrayed as justified due to Brown's abrasive and cruel behavior. Brown's neglect leads to a dangerous situation, and his aggressive act...
Life on the Mississippi
Where is the thesis in Life on the Mississippi?
The thesis of Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain is suggested to be in the second paragraph of the first chapter: "It is a remarkable river." This sentence serves as the unifying idea of the...
Life on the Mississippi
In Life on the Mississippi, how does the river change Twain's romantic life notions?
Mark Twain's experiences on the Mississippi River transformed his romantic perceptions into practical ones. Initially enchanted by the river's beauty, Twain's training as a steamboat pilot under...
Life on the Mississippi
What techniques does Mark Twain use in "Cub Pilot on the Mississippi" to bring characters to life through speech,...
Mark Twain uses characterization techniques in "Cub Pilot on the Mississippi" through speech, actions, and interactions to vividly bring characters to life. He employs dialect and mimicry to portray...
Life on the Mississippi
How does Twain describe Hannibal, Missouri and its surroundings?
Twain describes Hannibal, Missouri as a quaint, sleepy town with "empty streets" and "store clerks snoozing," coming alive only with the arrival of a steamboat. The peaceful scene changes to bustling...
Life on the Mississippi
How does Twain compare memorizing the Bible to memorizing the Mississippi in Life on the Mississippi?
Twain compares memorizing the Bible to memorizing the Mississippi River by emphasizing the practical value of the latter. He notes that a steamboat pilot's ability to recall the river's intricacies...
Life on the Mississippi
Why did Mark dislike the steamboatman in Life on the Mississippi, yet wanted to talk like him?
Mark Twain's feelings towards the steamboatman, Mr. Bixby, in "Life on the Mississippi" were complex. Twain admired Bixby's exceptional skills as a steamboat pilot, which fueled his desire to emulate...
Life on the Mississippi
The main idea and logical structure of the paragraphs about the night watchman
The main idea of the paragraphs about the night watchman is to illustrate his crucial role in maintaining security and order. The logical structure likely follows a description of his duties, the...
Life on the Mississippi
What does Mark Twain say about extrapolation in Life on the Mississippi?
Mark Twain humorously critiques extrapolation in "Life on the Mississippi" by illustrating its absurdity. He notes the Mississippi River's historical shortening and extrapolates this trend to suggest...
Life on the Mississippi
What is the permanent ambition of the narrator and his boyhood friends in Life on the Mississippi?
The narrator and his friends are determined to be steamboatmen when they grow up.
Life on the Mississippi
How do Twain's experiences with pilot Brown contrast with your view of Bixby as a teacher?
Twain's experiences with Brown, who represents the worst in teaching, serves to elevate Bixby as a mentor figure. Whereas Brown uses his position as a way to unleash his own anger and frustrations...
Life on the Mississippi
What motivated Mark Twain to become a cub-pilot on a Mississippi riverboat in Life on the Mississippi?
Mark Twain was motivated to become a cub-pilot due to his lifelong fascination with steamboats and the Mississippi River. After his father's death when Twain was 11, he left school to support his...
Life on the Mississippi
What three observations did Twain make on his train ride to St. Louis?
Mark Twain, during his train ride to St. Louis in "Life on the Mississippi," observes a decline in the grace and picturesqueness of dress as he travels away from New York, suggesting a stylistic...
Life on the Mississippi
What interesting experiences did Mark Twain have as a cub pilot?
Mark Twain's experiences as a cub pilot on the Mississippi River, detailed in Life on the Mississippi, are notable for the humorous yet poignant depiction of 19th-century life. His mentor, Bixby, is...
Life on the Mississippi
What are your impressions of a riverboat pilot's job?
A riverboat pilot's job, as depicted by Mark Twain in Life on the Mississippi, was highly respected and demanding. Pilots needed to "read" the constantly changing river to navigate safely, avoiding...
Life on the Mississippi
How does Bixby exaggerate about Twain needing to know the river better than his own home?
Bixby's claim that Twain needed to know the Mississippi River better than his own home is not as exaggerated as it seems. In "Life on the Mississippi," Bixby stresses the importance of memorizing...