Qhetorical Analysis Of Tom's 'Tom Sawyer'

Quote #1 “Tom said to himself that it was not such a hallow world after all. He had discovered a great law of human action… in order to make a man or a boy covet a thing, it is only necessary to make the thing difficult to attain.” Twain 17.
Situation: Tom is supposed to white was a fence as punishment for ditching school the previous day. As kids walk by, Tom tricks them into paying him to do his work for him.
Importance/Analysis: This scene instantly made me admire Tom. His actions and revelation demonstrate how clever and mischievous he is and how he utilizes his power over the other boys for his own personal gain. Tom is aware that he is smarter and more mature than the others and takes advantage of that. This scene drew me into the book and had me wondering what clever ploy Tom Sawyer would pull next to entertain me.
Quote #2 "The little girls “showed off” in various ways, and the little boys “showed off” with such diligence … And above it all the great man sat and beamed a majestic judicial smile upon all the house, and warmed himself in the sun of his own grandeur—for he was “showing off,” too." Twain 35.
Situation: The setting is Tom’s classroom and Judge Thatcher is in the room and everyone is trying to “show off” including the Judge and the teacher.
Importance/Analysis: This scene depicts the message that everyone wants to win the approval or admiration of others and will do things including lying to receive that approval. Twain begins by showing that everyone wants approval including adults and then demonstrates that with the situation in the classroom. When Tom presents the teacher with the tickets the teacher is fully aware that Tom has not memorized what he was required to memorize, and probably cheated or...

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...do. As a child you are always thinking about yourself even if you aren’t selfish. The thought process of “how will this affect the people around me” just does not compute or even show up in younger people and Tom’s actions definitely show that he does think about it more as he matures.

5. Symbol: Identify and analyze a significant symbol in the work and write a well-organized, one-paragraph discussion of the symbol.
The cave that Tom and Becky become lost and trapped in at the end of the novel is a symbol of adversity that Tom must overcome to culminate his maturation. Throughout the entire book Tom is maturing through various situations and the cave is the last obstacle he must overcome. A cave is also a tunnel where someone passes through the darkness and into the light and where many characters in movies and other novels go to contemplate life and evolve.