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The Adventures of Tom Sawyer has 35 chapters.
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Chapters35 items
Y'all Come In
The novel opens by introducing Tom Sawyer, a clever and mischievous boy who lives with his Aunt Polly in St. Petersburg, Missouri.
The Glorious Whitewasher
As punishment for skipping school, Aunt Polly orders Tom to whitewash the fence on a Saturday morning. Tom is miserable at first because all his friends will see him doing chores…
Busy at War and Love
With his fence-painting profits, Tom buys enough Sunday school tickets to earn a prize Bible, though he has not actually memorized any scripture.
Showing Off in Sunday School
Tom arrives at Sunday school and uses the tickets he collected by trading with other children to claim a prize Bible, even though he has not earned it honestly.
The Pinch-Bug and His Prey
During the Sunday church service, Tom is bored and fidgety. He entertains himself with a pinch-bug he has brought in a box, releasing it during the sermon.
Tom Meets Becky
Tom arrives at school late and chooses to sit on the girls' side as punishment, which turns out to be a lucky accident when he ends up next to Becky Thatcher, the new girl he has…
Tick-Running and a Heartbreak
Tom and his friend Joe Harper struggle to pay attention in school and instead entertain themselves by playing with a tick on their shared slate.
A Pirate Bold to Be
After his rejection by Becky, Tom wanders into the woods feeling sorry for himself and fantasizes about dramatic escape scenarios.
Tragedy in the Graveyard
Tom sneaks out at night to meet Huck in the graveyard, where they plan to test a folk remedy for warts using a dead cat.
Dire Prophecy of the Howling Dog
Tom and Huck flee the graveyard in a panic after witnessing the murder. They hide in an old tannery and try to calm down, interpreting a howling dog nearby as a death omen directe…
Conscience Racks Tom
After witnessing Injun Joe frame Muff Potter for Dr. Robinson's murder, Tom is tormented by guilt.
The Cat and the Pain-Killer
Tom's guilt and anxiety make him withdrawn and miserable, worrying Aunt Polly enough that she tries various folk remedies on him.
The Pirate Crew Set Sail
Feeling misunderstood and unappreciated, Tom decides to run away and become a pirate. He recruits Huck Finn and Joe Harper, who are also nursing their own grievances.
Happy Camp of the Freebooters
Life on Jackson's Island starts out as pure fun. The boys swim, explore, fish, and eat, enjoying total freedom.
Tom's Stealthy Visit Home
Unable to resist, Tom secretly swims back to the Missouri shore and sneaks into Aunt Polly's house at night. He overhears Aunt Polly, Sid, Mary, and Joe Harper's mother grieving a…
First Pipes — I've Lost My Knife
The boys settle into their pirate life on Jackson's Island, attempting to smoke corncob pipes for the first time. The novelty quickly wears off as they feel sick, though they pret…
Pirates at Their Own Funeral
Back in town, the community believes Tom, Huck, and Joe have drowned. A funeral service is held for the three boys.
Tom Reveals His Dream Secret
After the triumphant return, Tom basks in his fame at school and in the neighborhood. He eventually confesses to Aunt Polly that he visited home during the night while the boys we…
The Cruelty of 'I Didn't Think'
Aunt Polly confronts Tom directly about why he did not tell her he was alive when he snuck home during the island adventure.
Tom Takes Becky's Punishment
At school, Becky accidentally tears a page in the schoolmaster's prized anatomy book while snooping through his desk.
Eloquence — and the Master's Gilded Dome
The school year winds down with an elaborate examination day performance. Students recite memorized speeches and poems, and the schoolmaster endures public humiliation when a pran…
Huck Finn Quotes Scripture
Summer vacation arrives but quickly loses its appeal for Tom. He joins the Cadets of Temperance hoping the forbidden nature of swearing and smoking will make virtue feel exciting,…
The Salvation of Muff Potter
Muff Potter's murder trial reaches its climax. Tom, tormented by guilt over staying silent while an innocent man faces execution, breaks his oath of secrecy and testifies in court.
Splendid Days and Fearsome Nights
Tom is celebrated as a hero after the trial, but his nights are haunted by nightmares about Injun Joe. During the day he enjoys his fame, but after dark he is terrified that Injun…
Seeking the Buried Treasure
Tom convinces Huck to go treasure hunting, explaining that robbers always bury gold under haunted houses or dead trees.
Real Robbers Seize the Box of Gold
Tom and Huck watch in shock as Injun Joe and his partner retrieve the buried treasure from the haunted house and carry it off to a new hiding spot.
Trembling on the Trail
Tom and Huck try to decode the mysterious clue about 'Number Two' and figure out where Injun Joe has hidden the treasure.
In the Lair of Injun Joe
Tom finally gets his chance to sneak into the tavern room while Injun Joe is absent. He discovers the room is unlocked, slips inside, and finds the treasure box — but Injun Joe is…
Huck Saves the Widow
Huck is keeping his nightly watch when he overhears Injun Joe and his partner plotting to attack the Widow Douglas as revenge against her late husband.
Tom and Becky in the Cave
During a community picnic, Tom and Becky wander deep into McDougal's Cave and become hopelessly lost. The rest of the group leaves without realizing the two children are missing.
Found and Lost Again
Tom and Becky are still lost in the cave, and Tom's attempts to find a way out grow increasingly desperate. He explores different passages with a kite string as a guide, hoping to…
'Turn Out! They Are Found!'
Tom finally discovers a way out of the cave by following a tiny spot of light that leads to an opening near the river.
The Fate of Injun Joe
When Tom learns the cave has been sealed, he immediately tells the adults that Injun Joe is trapped inside. A group goes to the cave and opens it, only to find Injun Joe dead just…
Floods of Gold
Tom tells Huck about the treasure and reveals he knows where it is — back in the cave. The two boys return to the cave through Tom's secret exit and navigate to the chamber where…
Respectable Huck Joins the Gang
Huck is now living with the Widow Douglas, who is trying to civilize him with regular meals, clean clothes, school, and church.
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