The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Tom persuades Ben to whitewash the fence by pretending it is a highly enjoyable and exclusive activity. He feigns enthusiasm and pride in the task, making it seem like a privilege rather than a...

Tom Sawyer tricks his friends by making whitewashing a fence, a tedious chore, look desirable. They end up paying him for the chance to do his work.

The 'great law of human action' that Tom discovered is that to make someone covet a thing, it is only necessary to make the thing difficult to attain. This insight helps Tom trick other boys into...

In "Strong Temptations," Tom Sawyer is the main character. This chapter from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer features Tom cleverly persuading other boys to whitewash a fence for him, claiming it is a...

The chapter is set on a beautiful Saturday morning, where Tom Sawyer is punished by Aunt Polly and tasked with whitewashing a fence. The conflict arises from Tom's desire to play rather than work....

While Ben was whitewashing the fence, Tom was cleverly relaxing and enjoying himself. Initially tasked with the job, Tom feigned enthusiasm and skill, making it appear as an exclusive activity. This...

Tom pretends not to notice Ben Rogers initially because he fears ridicule for having to work on a Saturday, a day he had planned for fun. Ben, an assertive boy like Tom, might mock him for...

In "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," Tom's whitewashing episode suggests he learns negotiation skills. The episode, found in Chapter 2, shows Tom manipulating other boys into paying him to whitewash a...

Evidence from the text of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer that shows that the "inspiration burst" Tom has is to make the drudgery of painting a fence seem like a privilege includes his words to Ben...

Tom Sawyer cleverly completes the whitewashing of the fence by using reverse psychology to persuade neighborhood kids that painting is a fun and exclusive activity. He pretends to enjoy the task,...