The Adventures of Tom Sawyer · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain.
Chapter 1
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
This chapter introduces Tom Sawyer, a mischievous boy living with his Aunt Polly in St. Petersburg. After stealing jam and escaping punishment, Tom is tasked with whitewashing the fence as a penalty. He cleverly turns the chore into a desirable activity, tricking other boys into doing the work for him. The chapter also introduces key characters like Sid, Ben Rogers, and Joe Harper, and sets the tone for Tom's adventurous and imaginative nature.
Chapter 2
Tom Plays, Fights, and Hides
Aunt Polly searches for Tom, who has been sneaking jam. After a brief chase, Tom escapes punishment by tricking his aunt. Later, Tom plays hookey, gets into a fight with a well-dressed new boy, and returns home late to face his aunt's anger.
Chapter 3
The Glorious Whitewasher
Tom Sawyer is punished by Aunt Polly and must whitewash a long fence on a beautiful Saturday morning. After failing to convince Jim to trade places, Tom cleverly tricks Ben Rogers and other boys into doing the work for him by pretending the task is a privilege. By afternoon, Tom has accumulated a fortune in small treasures and the fence has three coats of whitewash, leading him to discover a fundamental law of human nature: making something difficult to attain makes it desirable.
Chapter 4
Busy at War and Love
Tom Sawyer, having completed his whitewashing task, receives an apple from Aunt Polly and then pelts Sid with clods for his earlier betrayal. He joins a mock military battle as a general, wins, and then encounters Becky Thatcher, instantly falling in love and forgetting Amy Lawrence. He shows off to impress Becky, receives a pansy from her, and returns home. At supper, he endures a scolding and a beating for Sid's broken sugar bowl, sulks, and later sneaks out to visit Becky's house, getting drenched by a servant's thrown water before returning to bed without saying his prayers.
Chapter 5
Showing Off in Sunday School
Tom Sawyer struggles to memorize Bible verses for Sunday school, but his mind wanders. With Mary's help and the promise of a gift, he succeeds and receives a Barlow knife. At Sunday school, he shows off to impress the new girl, Becky Thatcher, and is introduced to Judge Thatcher, who quizzes him on the disciples. Tom famously answers 'David and Goliath,' causing embarrassment.
Chapter 6
The Pinch-Bug and His Prey
Tom attends Sunday church service with his family, enduring the long prayer and sermon. He releases a pinch-bug that causes a commotion when a poodle plays with it, leading to laughter and disruption.
Chapter 7
Tom Meets Becky
Tom Sawyer feigns illness to avoid school, but his schemes are uncovered by Aunt Polly. After having a loose tooth pulled, he meets Huckleberry Finn and learns about using a dead cat to cure warts. At school, Tom meets and charms Becky Thatcher, writing 'I love you' on his slate, which leads to a scuffle and punishment from the teacher.
Chapter 8
Tick-Running and a Heartbreak
Tom Sawyer, bored in school, amuses himself and his friend Joe Harper by tormenting a tick on a slate, leading to a fight and punishment from the teacher. At noon, Tom meets Becky Thatcher and they play together, eventually getting engaged with a kiss. However, Tom accidentally mentions his previous engagement to Amy Lawrence, causing Becky to cry and reject his attempts at reconciliation. Tom leaves in anger, and Becky regrets her actions as the other students return.
Chapter 9
A Pirate Bold to Be
Tom Sawyer, feeling melancholic and wronged after a quarrel with Becky, retreats into the woods where he fantasizes about becoming a pirate. He tests a childhood superstition about buried marbles, which fails, leading him to suspect witchcraft. He then meets Joe Harper, and the two boys engage in an elaborate game of Robin Hood, lamenting the loss of such romantic outlawry in modern civilization.
Chapter 10
IX: Tragedy in the Graveyard
Tom and Huck sneak to the graveyard at night to test a dead cat cure for warts. They witness Injun Joe murder Dr. Robinson during a grave robbery and frame the unconscious Muff Potter for the crime.
Chapter 11
Dire Prophecy of the Howling Dog
Tom and Huck, terrified after witnessing the graveyard murder, hide in an old tannery and swear a blood oath to keep silent. A stray dog's howling terrifies them further, but they discover it is howling at the sleeping Muff Potter, whom they believe is doomed. Tom returns home to find his family solemn and his aunt heartbroken over his disappearance, deepening his guilt.
Chapter 12
Conscience Racks Tom
The village is electrified by news of the murder, and suspicion quickly falls on Muff Potter. Tom and Huck, knowing the truth, are tormented by their secret as they witness Injun Joe's calm lies during the inquest. Tom's guilt manifests in troubled sleep and a desperate need to ease his conscience by secretly helping Potter in jail.
Chapter 13
The Cat and the Painkiller
Tom Sawyer is deeply troubled by Becky Thatcher's absence from school, fearing she might be ill or even die. His despondency leads Aunt Polly to try various patent medicines and treatments on him, culminating in the use of Painkiller. Tom secretly feeds the medicine to the family cat, Peter, causing a chaotic and humorous scene. Aunt Polly discovers the trick but feels remorse, and Tom is spared further medicine. Later, Tom goes to school early, hoping to see Becky, but when she finally arrives, she snubs him, leaving him humiliated.
Chapter 14
The Pirate Crew Set Sail
Tom Sawyer, feeling forsaken and unloved, decides to run away and lead a life of crime. He meets Joe Harper, who also feels mistreated, and they agree to become pirates. They recruit Huckleberry Finn and plan to rendezvous at midnight on Jackson's Island. The boys steal provisions and a raft, then set sail, imagining themselves as famous pirates. After landing on the island, they build a fire and cook supper, but their consciences trouble them about stealing, and they resolve to avoid theft in their future piratical adventures.
Chapter 15
Happy Camp of the Freebooters
Tom, Huck, and Joe enjoy a day of freedom on Jackson's Island, exploring, fishing, and swimming. They overhear cannon fire from the town, realizing the townspeople are searching for their drowned bodies. The boys feel a mix of pride and homesickness, and Tom secretly leaves a message before sneaking back to the island.
Chapter 16
Tom’s Stealthy Visit Home
Tom Sawyer sneaks away from Jackson's Island, swims to the Illinois shore, and takes the ferry to St. Petersburg. He eavesdrops on Aunt Polly, Sid, Mary, and Mrs. Harper as they mourn him and Joe Harper, believing the boys drowned. Overcome with emotion, Tom nearly reveals himself but instead leaves a sycamore scroll (later reconsidering) and kisses his sleeping aunt before returning to the island, where he rejoins Huck and Joe with a dramatic entrance.
Chapter 17
First Pipes—"I've Lost My Knife"
The boys' pirate adventure on Jackson's Island faces a crisis when Joe Harper and Huck Finn grow homesick and threaten to leave. Tom Sawyer convinces them to stay by revealing a secret plan, then the trio learns to smoke pipes, which leads to sickness and a dramatic thunderstorm that terrifies them.
Chapter 18
Pirates at Their Own Funeral
The town mourns the presumed deaths of Tom, Joe, and Huck, holding a funeral service. The boys, hiding in the church gallery, listen to their own eulogies before dramatically revealing themselves, leading to a joyful reunion.
Chapter 19
Tom Reveals His Dream Secret
Tom returns home and is warmly received by Aunt Polly and Mary. He fabricates a dream to explain his knowledge of their conversation, which Aunt Polly believes, reinforcing her superstitions. Meanwhile, Tom's jealousy over Becky Thatcher's attention to Alfred Temple leads him to spite her by flirting with Amy Lawrence, causing further emotional turmoil. Becky, in turn, uses Alfred to make Tom jealous, and Alfred retaliates by inking Tom's spelling book.
Chapter 20
The Cruelty of “I Didn’t Think”
Tom returns home to face Aunt Polly's anger after she learns from Sereny Harper that Tom and Joe Harper had secretly listened to the adults' conversation about the boys' supposed drowning. Tom confesses he came home not to mock them but to prevent their grief, and reveals he left a written message on a piece of bark. Aunt Polly, initially furious, softens when Tom admits he kissed her while she was asleep. She finds the bark in his jacket and forgives him, moved by his good-heartedness.
Chapter 21
Tom Takes Becky’s Punishment
Tom apologizes to Becky for his earlier behavior, but she rebuffs him, leading to a bitter quarrel. In school, Becky discovers Mr. Dobbins's hidden anatomy book and accidentally tears a page when Tom startles her. Fearing she will be blamed, she accuses Tom of spying. Later, when the master interrogates the students about the torn book, Tom impulsively confesses to the act, taking a severe whipping to save Becky. His noble act earns her gratitude and admiration, and he goes to bed that night planning revenge on Alfred Temple but ultimately feeling rewarded by Becky's praise.
Chapter 22
Eloquence—and the Master’s Guilded Dome
As vacation approaches, the schoolmaster Mr. Dobbins becomes increasingly severe, terrorizing the smaller boys and driving them to plot revenge. On Examination Evening, the boys execute a plan involving a signpainter's boy: a cat is lowered through a scuttle to snatch the master's wig, revealing his gilded bald head, which breaks up the meeting and brings vacation.
Chapter 23
Huck Finn Quotes Scriptures
Tom joins the Cadets of Temperance but finds that promising not to do something only makes him want to do it more. He resigns after the judge he hoped would die recovers, then dies. Tom enjoys his freedom but soon finds life dull. A revival sweeps the town, and everyone gets religion, leaving Tom feeling isolated. Even Huck Finn greets him with a Scripture quotation, breaking Tom's spirit. A terrible storm terrifies Tom, who thinks it is divine punishment. He later relapses into illness, and upon recovery finds his friends have also relapsed into their old ways.
Chapter 24
The Salvation of Muff Potter
Tom and Huck struggle with their guilty consciences as Muff Potter's murder trial unfolds. Despite their fear of Injun Joe, Tom ultimately testifies in court, revealing the truth about the graveyard murder and causing Injun Joe to flee.
Chapter 25
Splendid Days and Fearsome Nights
Tom Sawyer is celebrated as a hero after testifying in court, but his nights are haunted by fear of Injun Joe's revenge. Huck Finn shares this terror, and despite rewards and a detective's efforts, Injun Joe remains at large, leaving both boys in a state of constant dread.
Chapter 26
Seeking the Buried Treasure
Tom Sawyer's desire to find buried treasure leads him to recruit Huck Finn. They attempt to dig under a dead-limb tree based on the position of its shadow at midnight, but after exhausting labor they realize they may have misjudged the time. They decide to try the haunted house next, despite their fears of ghosts and dead men.
Chapter 27
Real Robbers Seize the Box of Gold
Tom and Huck postpone their treasure hunt due to superstitions about Friday and a bad dream. They play Robin Hood instead. The next day, they venture into the haunted house, where they hide upstairs and witness Injun Joe (disguised as a deaf and dumb Spaniard) and his accomplice enter. The men discuss their plans and hide a box of silver and gold. The boys are terrified but escape after the men leave, realizing the tools they left behind may have revealed their presence.
Chapter 28
XXVII: Trembling on the Trail
Tom and Huck plan to find the hidden treasure by investigating the mysterious No. 2 room in a tavern, while Tom struggles with doubts about whether his adventure was real or a dream.
Chapter 29
XXVIII: In the Lair of Injun Joe
Tom and Huck attempt to retrieve the treasure from the haunted room but are foiled when Tom discovers Injun Joe asleep inside. They flee in terror and decide to watch the tavern nightly until Injun Joe leaves, then snatch the box.
Chapter 30
XXIX: Huck Saves the Widow
Tom learns Judge Thatcher's family has returned, and he spends a joyful day with Becky. A picnic is planned for the next day, and Tom and Becky decide to stay at Widow Douglas's house instead of with friends. Meanwhile, Huck overhears Injun Joe and his companion plotting revenge against the Widow Douglas. Huck races to the Welshman's house to warn him, and the Welshman and his sons go to confront the men, resulting in gunfire.
Chapter 31
Tom and Becky in the Cave
Huck Finn visits the Welshman early Sunday morning to learn the outcome of the previous night's confrontation. He reveals that the Spaniard is actually Injun Joe, and the Welshman promises to keep Huck's involvement secret. The chapter focuses on Huck's fear and his struggle to keep his knowledge hidden.
Chapter 32
Found and Lost Again
Tom and Becky become lost in the cave after wandering away from the group during a picnic. They face hunger, despair, and a terrifying encounter with Injun Joe. Despite their efforts to find an exit, they grow weaker and more hopeless as time passes.
Chapter 33
Turn Out! They're Found!
The village of St. Petersburg mourns the lost children, but in the middle of the night, bells ring out announcing their rescue. Tom and Becky are found and brought home. Tom recounts his adventure of finding an exit from the cave. Later, Tom learns that Judge Thatcher has sealed the cave with a boiler-iron door, and he reveals in horror that Injun Joe is trapped inside.
Chapter 34
XXXIII: The Fate of Injun Joe
Injun Joe is found dead inside McDougal's Cave, having starved to death. Tom Sawyer feels relief and pity. After the funeral, Tom reveals to Huck that the stolen treasure is hidden in the cave, and they set out to retrieve it, discovering a cross marked by candle-smoke that leads them to the treasure's location.
Chapter 35
Floods of Gold
At the widow's party, Tom reveals that he and Huck have found a fortune of over twelve thousand dollars, stunning the guests and overshadowing Mr. Jones's planned surprise about Huck's heroism.
Chapter 36
Respectable Huck Joins the Gang
Tom and Huck's newfound wealth causes a stir in St. Petersburg, elevating their status. Huck struggles with the constraints of civilized life under Widow Douglas's care and runs away. Tom convinces him to return for a month in exchange for membership in Tom's robber gang.
Chapter 37
Conclusion
The narrator concludes the chronicle of Tom Sawyer's boyhood, noting that the story must end before it becomes the history of a man. Most characters are still alive and prosperous, and the author hints at possibly continuing the story of the younger ones in the future.
Chapter 38
Endnotes
This chapter provides explanatory notes on regional language, naming conventions, and the source of the schoolgirl compositions quoted earlier in the book.
