TOM LOSES A TOOTH
Introduction
The material is taken from the novel “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” by
Mark Twain. Tom, a little kid, is the subject of this chapter. Tom is a
mischievous youngster who avoids going to school by pulling pranks on his
aunt Polly. As Tom’s trick goes wrong and he gets a taste of his own
medicine, the chapter takes on a lighter and more comedic tone.
About The Author
Samuel Langhorne Clemens was an American writer, comic, businessman,
publisher, and lecturer who used the pen name Mark Twain. He was named
“the father of American literature” by William Faulkner and hailed as the
“greatest humourist the United States has produced.” He is well known for
writing The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and The Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn (1885).
Tom’s Pranks
Tom dreads attending school on Monday mornings. Tom was constantly
looking for a way to get out of this monotony. He ponders over what may
persuade Aunt Polly to let him stay at home. He chooses to use his swollen
toe as an excuse. Tom begins to grunt loudly and conveys his discomfort.
Sid, his brother, is awakened by Tom’s moaning. Tom decides to terrify Sid
by acting more dramatic.
As a result, he begs Sid to tell everyone to forgive him. On hearing this, Sid
goes to bring Aunt Polly. “O, auntie, my sore toe is mortified!” Tom cries.
Tom exaggerates his discomfort by using the incorrect term, which makes
Aunt Polly chuckle. The conversation demonstrates their affection for each
other, and while she should rebuke him, she finds his pranks amusing. Aunt
Polly notices his deception and can’t help but giggle.
Tom then informs Aunt Polly that his tooth was actually aching more than his
toe. He informs her that his tooth is shaking. She believes the tooth should be
pulled out. Tom is afraid, so he insists that the tooth isn’t hurting anymore
and that he’ll go to school. But, Aunt Polly ties one end of a thread to his
bedstead and the other end to his tooth. He rushes away when she lunges at
him with a hot coal, and the string jolts his tooth out. The tooth was hanging
against the bedside as she pulled.
Tom could have escaped the excruciating pain of having his tooth extracted if
he had just confessed that he was pretending rather than using his tooth as an
excuse. Because of the gap left by his missing teeth, Tom developed new
spitting skills.
Answer the following questions within fifteen words:
(1) Which one of Tom’s tooth had come loose?
Ans: One of Tom’s upper front teeth had come loose.
(2) How are Sid and Mary related to Tom?
Ans: Sid is Tom’s brother and Mary is Tom’s cousin sister.
(3) Why did Tom ask Sid not to stir him?
Ans: Tom pretended to have a sore toe and that is why Tom asked Sid not to stir him.
(4) Why did Tom pretend his toe was paining?
Ans: Tom pretended so to stay home not going to school.
Exercise 3:
Answer the following questions within twenty five words:
Answer: Tom remembered hearing from a doctor that a certain ailment could force a patient
be bedridden for three days and cause the loss of a finger.
(2) How did Aunt Polly react to the news that Tom was dying?
Ans: Aunt Polly could not believe the news. She was shocked. Her face turned pale and
lips quivered. She nervously rushef upstairs to Tom’s bedside.
(3) How was Tom’s loose tooth taken out?
Ans: Aunt Polly tied one end of the silk thread to Tom’s tooth and the other end of the
thread to the bed-post. Then she gave a pull and the tooth came out uprooted.
