Chapter Two and Three Review

Chapter Two and Three Review By Sophie Black

Stealthily • Quickly, Agilely, Secretively. Done, characterized, or acting by stealth. “…and that away in the night his starving mother would slip to him stealthily with any miserable scrap or crust she had been able to save for him by going hungry herself,…” (Page 3)

Mendicancy • Begging. The practice of begging, as for alms. “He only begged just enough to save himself, for the laws against mendicancy were stringent,…” (Page 3)

Stringent • Strict. Convincing or forcible. “He only begged just enough to save himself, for the laws against mendicancywere stringent,…” (Page 3)

Lament • Bewail, Bemoan, Deplore. To feel or express sorrow or regret for. “His Dream-people were so fine that he grew to lament his shabby clothing and dirt, and to wish to be clean and better clad.” (Page 4)

Forlorn • Sad, Unhappy, Miserable. Desolate or dreary; unhappy or miserable, as in feeling, condition, or appearance. “…that it was not possible for his father and grandmother to observe his forlorn condition and not be moved…” (Page 5)

Cuffing • Hit, Slap, Abuse. To strike with or as if with the open hand. “…they gave him a brisk cuffing at once and sent him to bed.” (Page 5)

Obeisances • To Obey, Make way. A movement of the body expressing deep respect or deferential courtesy, as before a superior; a bow, curtsy, or other similar gesture. “…breathing perfumes, drinking in delicious music, and answering the reverent obeisances of the glittering throng as it parted to make way for him…” (Page 5)

Sordidness • Dirty, Horrible, Vile, Unclean. Squalid; wretchedly poor and run-down. “…It had intensified the sordidness of his surroundings a thousand fold.” (Page 5)

Anachronism • Something or someone that is not in its correct historical or chronological time, esp. a thing or person that belongs to an earlier time.

Chapter Two Question 1 • What does Offal Mean? How does Twain’s use of this word in naming where Tom Canty lives fit Canty’s Situation? Offal means “The parts of a butchered animal that are considered inedible by human beings.” according to Dictionary.com. Most people would find this repulsive, as would the aristocrats in Tom’s and Edward’s time, when they saw Tom’s living conditions. “It was small, decayed but it was packed full of wretchedly poor families.” (Page Two) As well as living in this horrible place, Tom had to put up with all the violence Offal court provided. “All Offal court was such another hive Canty’s house. Drunkenness, riot and brawling were the order, there, every night and nearly all night long. Broken Heads were as common as hunger in that place.” (Page Three) This was very true, but sadly It was all he knew.

Question 2 • How Can reading affect someone’s personality? How can reading take a person beyond their station in life? How does reading forget Tom’s personality? Reading makes you smarter, increases your vocabulary, and according to the popular scientology theme, Increases your opportunities in life and gives you a better perspective also. As Tom read, he desired more and more to become a prince, and the privileged life of a heir to the throne. “One desire came in time to haunt him day and night: it was to see a real prince, with his own eyes.” (Page 3) As his Imagination expanded, he created his own Imaginary court and pretended to be the Ruler. “Privately, After a while, Tom organized a royal court! He was the prince; his special comrades were guards, chamberlains, equerries, lords and ladies in waiting, and the royal family.”

Question 3 • What kind of “escapes” do people resort to today? How do they affect their outlook on their world. What is Tom’s Escape? How does it affect His outlook? To escape nowadays people use Alcohol, Drugs, Smoking, Clubbing Reading, Hobbies, Sports, Eating, Shopping and Television. Every person had a different escape, and his provides them with a retreat when they are feeling down and nothing seems to be going right. This sometimes helps them cheer up, but it can also have the reverse effect of disappointment when they come back down to earth. “And when he awoke in the morning and looked upon the wretchedness about him, his dream had it s usual effect—it had intensified the sordidness of his surroundings a thousand fold. Then came bitterness, heartbreak, and tears.” (Page 5) Tom’s escape were his dreams.

Chapter Three Question 1 • What are Some Similarities Between Tom’s and Edward’s? What is Twains Purpose in Highlighting these? Both Tom and Edward want a different life, but when they switch places they miss the life they had before they had eve met each other. Mark Twain wanted to highlight this because it proves some people want what they don’t have, and also even If you are rich and the heir to some throne, you could want anything but a life of responsibility.

Question 2 • Why is Edward so excited about Tom’s life? What makes it so appealing to him? Edward has been protected all his life, and since he has all his servants looking to for his safety, even a scratch on him, he has never been able to climb a tree, fall over and get a bruise, play in the mud or anything that most children get to do. He has a life of responsibility in front of him, and for once he wants to be someone else, who CAN play in the mud, be adventurous, and do all the things Edward never got to do.

Question 3 • What is the Divine Right of Kings? Why is Ironic then, that the guard mistakes Edward for the pauper Tom? The Divine of Kings is to be untouchable, meaning If anyone dares to touch them without permission severe penalties would be proposed. If the Guard knew that the boy he threw out onto the street, He would be horrified with himself, and he would probably be sent to the tower of London for roughing up the prince so. This ironic because while Edward is shouting ‘I am the prince of Wales’ no one believes him even though he is indeed the prince of Wales.

Chapter Two and Three Review