The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
About
Tom Sawyer is a thirteen year old boy growing up on the banks of the Mississippi River. Under the care of his Aunt Polly he tests her patience with his quick wit and adventuresome spirit. Tom often goes looking for adventure with his friend Huck Finn and they find themselves witnessing a murder and finding some real treasure.
Read one section at a time, then discuss the questions to review understanding. These questions are a starting place for conversation, not a complete test of the chapter.
Chapter 1
Comprehension questions
Who’s Tom Sawyer’s caregiver?
Page 10 — Aunt Polly
10
How does Aunt Polly feel about Tom?
Page 11 — She knows she should punish him, but it breaks her heart when she has to. She loves him, but frustrated with him.
11
Tell me about Tom.
Page 11 — Trouble maker, likes to fight, lazy, skips school, lies
11
Why did Tom chase the boy home after their fight?
Page 16 — The boy hit him with a rock.
16
Chapter 2
Comprehension questions
What did Tom have to do Saturday morning as a punishment for his ruined clothes?
Page 18 — Whitewash the fence
18
How did Aunt Polly stop Jim from getting tricked by Tom into washing his fence?
Page 19 — Kicked his hind end
19
What did Tom’s friends do when they saw him painting the fence?
Page 22 — Taunt him, jeered
22
How did Tom get out of whitewashing the fence?
Page 22 — He tricked his friends into doing it for him.
22
Chapter 3
Comprehension questions
What rewards did Tom get when his aunt thought he’d done the fence?
Page 25 — An apple and doughnut
25
What did the new girl throw over the fence for Tom before she went inside?
Page 26 — A pansy
26
Who did Aunt Polly think broke the sugar bowl?
Page 28 — Tom
28
Why couldn’t his aunt apologize for belting Tom even though he didn’t do it?
Page 28 — You couldn’t say, “I was wrong,” and apologize back then
28
Chapter 4
Comprehension questions
When Tom was doing his lessons, why did he choose to memorize the Sermon on the Mount?
Page 32 — They had the shortest verses
32
At Sunday School, what could the children earn with their tickets?
Page 35 — A Bible
35
How was Tom able to get enough tickets to win a Bible?
Page 39 — He traded tickets with the other boys
39
What did Amy Lawrence realize when Tom would only look at the new girl?
Page 40 — He didn’t like her anymore
40
Chapter 5
Comprehension questions
How did Tom feel about church?
Page 44 — Didn’t like it/ endured it
44
Why did Tom think boys with handkerchiefs were snobs?
Page 43 — They were good boys with manners
43
What did Tom catch right when the minister said, “Amen”?
Page 45 — a fly
45
What bit the poodle during the sermon?
Page 46 — A pinch bug/ beetle
46
Chapter 6
Comprehension questions
What did Tom pretend was the matter with him so he didn’t have to go to school?
Page 49 — he had a bad toe
49
Why was Tom forbidden to play with Huckleberry Finn?
Page 51 — He was a bad kid
51
What did Huck say dead cats help cure?
Page 54 — warts
54
Why did Tom tell the truth about talking to Huck Finn and being late to school?
Page 57 — So he’d get punished with sitting by the girls
57
Chapter 7
Comprehension questions
Who’s Tom’s best friend?
Page 61 — Joe Harper
61
What did Tom and Joe play with during school?
Page 62 — a tick
62
What did Tom say he and Becky needed to do to be engaged?
Page 65 — Kiss
65
What upset Becky and made her cry?
Page 66 — When Tom mentioned Amy Lawrence
66
Chapter 8
Comprehension questions
Why did Tom run away from the school?
Page 68 — Becky wouldn’t talk to him
68
Why did he want to run away?
Page 68 — To make her feel bad and get attention
68
What’s a superstition?
Page 70 — A belief that’s not based on reason or knowledge
70
When Joe arrived, what book did he and Tom act out?
Page 72 — Robin Hood
72
Chapter 9
Comprehension questions
Why did Tom want to stay awake when he went to bed?
Page 75 — He was going to the cemetery with Huck
75
What were the three men doing in the cemetery?
Page 77 — Digging up the grave Tom and Huck were near
77
Why did the three men end up fighting?
Page 78 — Potter wanted more money from Dr. Robinson
78
How did Injun Joe make Potter think he’d killed Dr. Robinson?
Page 79 — Injun Joe put the knife in Potter’s hand
79
Chapter 10
Comprehension questions
What did the boys do to promise they wouldn’t tell anyone about the murder?
Page 84 — Sign in blood that they wouldn’t tell
84
Who did Tom and Huck sneak up on while he was sleeping?
Page 87 — Muff Potter
87
Who was awake when Tom came home?
Page 87 — Sid
87
What was Tom’s punishment for going out at night?
Page 88 — Aunt Polly crying and making him feel guilty
88
Chapter 11
Comprehension questions
How do you know Tom is stressed about Injun Joe and the murder?
Page 92 — Has bad dreams
92
Why did Tom say he had a tooth ache and tied a wrap around his mouth?
Page 92 — So Sid wouldn’t hear what was in his dreams
92
What did Tom take to Muff Potter when he was in jail?
Page 93 — Small comforts
93
Chapter 12
Comprehension questions
Why had Tom become melancholy and depressed?
Page 94 — Becky Thatcher was sick
94
Who did Tom give the pain-killer to?
Page 96 — Peter the cat
96
How did Tom behave when Becky came to the school?
Page 98 — all show off and whooping around with the boys
98
How did Becky treat him?
Page 99 — like she didn’t approve of him
99
Chapter 13
Comprehension questions
Why did Joe and Tom want to run away?
Page 100 — They felt no one loved them
100
What kind of lifestyle were the boys going to live?
Page 101 — Pirates
101
Where did they go to live?
Page 104 — Jackson Island
104
Why did Tom and Joe say their prayers?
Page 107 — They were scared they’d get hit with a thunderbolt from heaven
107
Who was the intruder that came to Joe and Tom and made them feel guilty for running away and stealing?
Page 107 — Their consciences’
107
Chapter 14
Comprehension questions
Why were the runaway boys happy their raft drifted away?
Page 110 — It meant they were really freed from civilization
110
How did the boys begin to feel in the afternoon after swimming, exploring and finally relaxing by the fire?
Page 111 — Homesick
111
Who were the people in the ferry boat looking for?
Page 112 — Tom, Huck, and Joe
112
How did Tom and Huck respond to Joe’s wanting to go home?
Page 113 — Couldn’t believe it, made him feel like he was a chicken
113
Chapter 15
Comprehension questions
Where did Tom go when he snuck away from camp?
Page 116 — Back home
116
How were Aunt Polly and Joe’s mother talking about the boys?
Page 117 — That they were mischievous, but good hearted boys
117
When were the boys to be given funerals if they weren’t found?
Page 118 — By Sunday
118
When did Tom say he’d be back?
Page 119 — By breakfast
119
Chapter 16
Comprehension questions
Why did Joe want to go home?
Page 122 — So he could see his mother/ he’s homesick
122
What did Huck and Tom call Joe when he wanted to go home?
Page 122 — A crybaby
122
Who wanted to go home after Joe started dressing to go home?
Page 123 — Huck
123
What had Tom kept Joe and Huck on the island with Tom?
Page 123 — Tom’s secret
123
How did Tom and Joe feel when they were smoking the pipe?
Page 125 — Sick and throwing up
125
Chapter 17
Comprehension questions
What were the children who knew Tom, Huck and Joe doing on the Saturday before the funerals?
Page 131 — Talking about who spoke to them last
131
Who was in the back during the funeral?
Page 132 — Tom, Huck and Joe
132
How did everyone respond when they saw the boys?
Page 132 — Happy
132
Chapter 18
Comprehension questions
What did Sid think of Tom’s “dream”?
Page 138 — didn’t believe it was just a dream
138
What did Tom do to make Becky jealous?
Page 140 — Ignoring her and talking with Amy
140
How did Becky make Tom jealous?
Page 141 — Reading a book with another boy
141
What did Alfred do to Tom’s spelling book?
Page 142 — Poured ink in it
142
Chapter 19
Comprehension questions
Why couldn’t Aunt Polly believe Tom anymore?
Page 145 — Because he’d lied so much, can’t trust him anymore
145
What did she find that helped her believe and forgive Tom?
Page 146 — she found the bark in his jacket
146
Chapter 20
Comprehension questions
What did Becky do to their teacher’s book?
Page 148 — Rip out a page
148
Why did Becky let Tom get in trouble for the ink in his spelling book?
Page 150 — She thought he would tell on her ripping out the page
150
How did Tom save Becky from getting in trouble?
Page 151 — Confessed he did it
151
Chapter 21
Comprehension questions
Why do the boys want to get revenge against the school master?
Page 153 — It’s the end of the year and master punishes them for every little thing
153
How did Tom do with his speech?
Page 155 — Failure, he was too nervous and forgot it
155
What was the boy’s revenge on the school master?
Page 160 — They had a cat steal his wig during the examination
160
Chapter 22
Comprehension questions
What did Tom need to refrain from when he was a part of the Cadets of Temperance?
Page 161 — Smoking, drinking, swearing
161
Where had Becky gone for the summer break?
Page 162 — Constantinople house
162
What sickness did Tom get over the break?
Page 163 — Measles
163
Chapter 23
Comprehension questions
How did Tom and Huck feel about Muff Potter getting hung for the murder?
Page 166 — Really awful, guilty
166
What nice things did Muff Potter do for them?
Page 166 — Help them fish, gave Huck food, good to them
166
Who did the defense lawyer call to the stand?
Page 170 — Tom
170
What did Injun Joe do when Tom told his side of the story?
Page 171 — Jumped out the window and ran away
171
Chapter 24
Comprehension questions
Who did Tom tell the murder story to?
Page 172 — The defense lawyer
172
When?
Page 172 — The night before the trial
172
Why were Tom and Huck so terrified at night?
Page 172 — Injun Joe would come and kill them
172
Chapter 25
Comprehension questions
What did Tom and Huck decide to go dig for?
Page 174 — Treasure
174
Why wouldn’t Huck want to save his treasure?
Page 177 — his dad would come back and take it
177
After digging around the tree, where were the boys going to dig next?
Page 180 — In the haunted house
180
Chapter 26
Comprehension questions
Why did Huck and Tom decide not to dig for treasure on Friday?
Page 182 — Friday’s unlucky
182
Who really was the “deaf and dumb Spaniard”?
Page 185 — Injun Joe
185
What stopped Tom from sneaking out of the house when the two men were asleep?
Page 186 — The floor creaked
186
What stopped Joe from going up the stairs and finding the boys?
Page 189 — The stairs broke
189
Chapter 27
Comprehension questions
What told Tom the adventures the day before had been real and not a dream?
Page 192 — Huck talked about losing the treasure
192
What were the boys going to do to find out if the Number Two by the tavern was Injun Joe’s hiding place?
Page 193 — They were going to try to unluck it and see
193
Why doesn’t Huck want to follow Injun Joe?
Page 193 — He’s scared he’ll kill him
193
Chapter 28
Comprehension questions
Who was laying on the floor of the Number Two house?
Page 196 — Injun Joe
196
Why didn’t he wake up when Tom went in?
Page 196 — drunk
196
What’s the deal Huck made Tom about watching for Injun Joe to leave the whiskey house?
Page 198 — Huck will watch for Injun Joe to leave and Tom will go grab the chest
198
Chapter 29
Comprehension questions
Why did Becky’s mom want her to stay with someone the night of the picnic instead of going home?
Page 200 — It would be too late and too far to travel that night
200
Why did Huck decide he’d better follow the men?
Page 203 — There was no time to go get Tom
203
Why did Injun Joe want to take revenge on the Widow Douglas?
Page 204 — Her husband was a justice of the piece and had him horsewhipped
204
Why did Huck want to help the Widow Douglas?
Page 203 — She’d been kind to him
203
Chapter 30
Comprehension questions
Why didn’t Huck want the Welshman to tell the Widow Douglas who saved her?
Page 209 — he didn’t want Injun Joe to kill him for telling on him
209
Where and when did Mrs. Thatcher find out Becky was missing?
Page 213 — At church the next day
213
Who watched over Huck as he was sick with a fever?
Page 214 — Widow Douglas
214
Where did the searchers find Becky and Tom’s names?
Page 215 — In the cave on a wall
215
Chapter 31
Comprehension questions
How did Becky and Tom get lost in the cave?
Page 218 — Bats chased them and they raced away without leaving marks
218
What snack did Tom take out of his pocket?
Page 222 — A piece of their wedding cake
222
What did Tom use as a guide so they didn’t get more lost?
Page 225 — A kite string
225
Who did Tom see in the cave holding a candle?
Page 225 — Injun Joe
225
Chapter 32
Comprehension questions
How did Tom and Becky escape the cave?
Page 228 — Tom went searching again with his kite line for a way out and saw a speck of daylight. He found the hole and they climbed through.
228
What happened to Injun Joe’s ragged companion?
Page 229 — He drowned
229
What did Judge Thatcher do to the opening of the cave?
Page 230 — Closed up the door with triple locks on it
230
Chapter 33
Comprehension questions
How did Injun Joe die?
Page 232 — Of starvation from being locked in the cave
232
Where did Tom think the money from Injun Joe was?
Page 234 — In the cave
234
Where in the cave did they find the treasure?
Page 238 — in Injun Joe’s cavern under the rock that has the cross on it
238
What did Tom and Huck need to do after they got to the Widow Douglas’ drawing room?
Page 241 — Wash and dress in nice clothes
241
Chapter 34
Comprehension questions
Why did Huck want to escape and go out the window?
Page 242 — he doesn’t like crowds
242
What did Mr. Jones announce to everyone about Huck?
Page 243 — That he’d been the one to save the Widow Douglas
243
What did the widow announce to everyone about her plans?
Page 243 — She was going to give Huck a home
243
What did Tom tell everyone at the party about?
Page 244 — The money
244
Chapter 35
Comprehension questions
How did Judge Thatcher feel about Tom?
Page 246 — Liked him the more Becky told him about him/ wanted him to be a lawyer
246
What did Tom want to do with his life?
Page 249 — Be a robber
249
How does Huck feel about his new life with the Widow Douglas?
Page 247 — Doesn’t like it at all
247
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