The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Lesson Plan

Discuss the symbolism of the storm which hits Jackson Island.

There are several storms which occur at different points in the narrative (see the symbol section for a description of the general symbolism of storms). Student discussion should include some of the general symbolism, but the storm in chapter 16 has several unique characteristics.

• The way Twain depicts the arrival of this storm makes clear it seems to originate in some unnatural way, almost as if it is the boy's unconscious guilt which condenses in the air instead of water vapor and electrical charge.
• The internal psyche of the boys is upset because they feel guilt over their acts of theft, their silence about...