Tom Sawyer, Ch. 21-29 Notes

Tom Sawyer, Ch. 21-29 Notes

By Emily Houdersheldt

Chapter 21:

Eloquence and the Master's Gilded Dome​

The finals of the school happen​

Chapter 21

Mr. Dobbins is harsher than normal

As the end of the school year approaches, Mr. Dobbins is even harsher than normal, punishing every little misstep. He is preparing the students for their big community presentation, where they showcase what they've learned.

The boys are playing tricks on Mr. Dobbins, but he is punishing them harshly and swiftly. They hatch a plot to have one final prank on him...​

Chapter 21

Chapter 22:

Huck Finn Quotes Scripture​

Measles makes its way through the community

Tom joins the "Cadets of Temperance," which means he has to promise not to swear, drink, or smoke. He finds that this makes him want to do these things even more. Tom hopes to hold out until July 4th, so he can show off his fancy uniform, but realizes he won't make it that far. ​

What does Tom pin his hopes on, instead?

Chapter 22

Multiple Choice

Tom decides to quit the Cadets of Temperance AFTER which event?

• Judge Frazer's death and funeral

• The 4th of July

• Muff Potter's trial

• Huck Finn's graduation

Chapter 22

Tom gets sick...and so does everybody else

Tom spends some days enjoying the summer freedom, but soon becomes bored. Then, Tom comes down with a case of the measles, as does most of the town, and he is sick for a couple of weeks. When he gets better, he goes searching for fun. Unfortunately, everyone seems to have gotten more religious because of the measles.

​He does eventually discover a "relapsed" Huck and Joe eating a stolen melon.​

Chapter 23:

The Salvation of Muff Potter​

Tom makes a brave choice

Chapter 23

Muff Potter is on Trial for the murder of Dr. Robinson

Huck and Tom share that neither of them have ever told anyone what they saw. They continue to bring Muff Potter treats, even while they feel terribly guilty for what's going to happen to him.​

What will happen to Muff, if he's convicted?

Multiple Choice

What will happen to Muff Potter, if he is convicted?

• He will hang.

• He will be shot.

• He will be exiled.

• He will be in prison for life.

Chapter 23

The trial's going Injun Joe's way, until...

Tom makes a decision to testify on Muff Potter's behalf.

He tells his side of the story, with plenty of convincing details. The jury seems to be swaying to Muff's side, so...​

Open Ended

What does Injun Joe do?

Chapter 24:

Splendid Days and Fearsome Nights​

Tom and Huck worry about Injun Joe's return...

Chapter 24

Tom's confession

The night before the conclusion of the trial, Tom Sawyer went to the lawyer's office and confessed that he had witnessed the crime.

Huck has "lost faith in mankind" since Tom confessed, and both boys worry about Injun Joe returning.​

Chapter 25:

Seeking the Buried Treasure​

Tom and Huck decide to hunt treasure

Chapter 25

Tom & Huck search for treasure

Tom decides he wants to hunt for buried treasure. He finds Huck Finn, and the two discuss where to find treasure, what the loot be, and how kings have hundreds of diamonds but only one name. Then, they look for the nearest dead-limbed tree, since such trees are typical hiding places for treasure. When they arrive, they discuss what they would do with the treasure. Huck plans to spend it all on pie and soda, and Tom decides that he would get married, an idea that Huck finds absurd.

Multiple Choice

Where do the boys decide to search next?

• A haunted house

• An abandoned shack

• An empty cave

• A tree

Chapter 26:

Real Robbers Seize the Box of Gold​

Tom and Huck search the haunted house and get a little more than they bargained for...

Open Ended

Why don't the boys search the haunted house on Friday?

Chapter 26

Searching the haunted house

The boys plan on searching the house, but realize it's Friday and that it's unlucky to search on Fridays.

​They go back the next day and begin hunting through the haunted house, bringing their pick and spade. They go to the second floor and hide, and that's when two men show up: a "deaf and mute Spaniard" and a "ragged, unkempt character."

Multiple Choice

Who is the "deaf and mute Spaniard"?

• Muff Potter

• Injun Joe

• Joe Harper

• Doc Robinson

Chapter 26

A plan for revenge

The boys are excited when Injun Joe and his companion decide to bury their $600 in the house. However, when the men go to bury the treasure, they find a hidden treasure box that has gold coins. The boys think they'll be able to steal both treasures, but Injun Joe decides to hide it somewhere else, because he's suspicious of the new tools with fresh dirt on them.

Multiple Choice

Injun Joe is suspicious and begins to climb to the second floor...but the boys are saved by...

• the stairs breaking

• a gunshot outside

• a man yelling

• Injun Joe's partner

Chapter 26

Revenge...

Injun Joe and his partner leave, planning to hide the treasure in hiding place "Number Two - under the cross." The boys head home, dreaming of the treasure, until Tom thinks that maybe Injun Joe's plan for revenge deals with them.

Chapter 27:

Trembling on the trail​

The boys decide to figure out who the mystery figure is...

Chapter 27

Not a dream

The next day, after not sleeping well, Tom considers the possibility that the haunted house events were a dream. Huck disagrees with him. The two boys speculate about where hiding place “Number Two” might be, deciding that “Two” probably refers to a room number in one of the town’s two taverns. Tom visits the first tavern and learns that a lawyer occupies room number two. In the second tavern, room number two remains locked all the time.

Chapter 27

The Investigation continues

Tom makes a plan to try to figure out who is in the second hotel room. He decides to find all the keys he can, and tells Huck to wait by the door to see if anyone leaves.

Chapter 28:

In the Lair of Injun Joe​

The boys discover where Injun Joe sleeps

Multiple Choice

Who do the boys discover in the second hotel room?

• Injun Joe

• Muff Potter

• Huck Finn

• Joe Harper

Chapter 28

Temperance Tavern

Tom sneaks into the hotel and finds his way into the locked room. Then, he comes tearing out, yelling for Huck to follow him. Tom reveals that Injun Joe is sleeping in the room.

The tavern is supposed to be "alcohol-free", so the boys realize the locked room is where the alcohol is served.​

Chapter 29:

​Huck saves the widow

Huck finds out Injun Joe's plans for the Widow Douglas

Chapter 29

Tom goes on a picnic

The Thatchers return, and Becky convinces her mother to let her have the picnic. All of the kids in town (except Huck :( ) are invited, and they go out to MacDougal's Cave, where they explore for a few hours before going on to have their picnic.

Tom convinces Becky to go to the Widow Douglas's house for ice cream.​

Multiple Choice

Adults go along on the picnic.

• True

• False

Chapter 29

While Tom is at the picnic, Huck follows...

Huck keeps watch over Injun Joe's room, and Injun Joe and his companion exit. Huck follows them, thinking they'll bury the treasure and he can see where it is.

But, instead...

Multiple Choice

Where does Injun Joe go?

• McDougal Cave

• Widow Douglas's house

• Haunted house

• Peterson Island

Chapter 29

What is Injun Joe's purpose?

Injun Joe wants to get revenge on Widow Douglas...because her husband was a judge who was "hard" on Injun Joe - including having him horsewhipped in front of the town.

What does Injun Joe plan to do to the Widow Douglas?

Multiple Choice

What is Injun Joe's plan?

• To murder Widow Douglas

• To cut Widow Douglas's ears and nostrils

• To beat Widow Douglas up

Chapter 29

Huck saves the widow

There are some guests at Widow Douglas's house, so Injun Joe and his companion have to wait. Huck quietly backs up, then sprints to the Welshman's house, where he tells them what he saw.

The man and his two sons take their guns and rush to her house, and Huck hears some gunshots.​