Mark Twain’s Lasting Influence

Samuel Clemens’ experiences during childhood and as a riverboat captain greatly influenced his later life and his life’s work. Building on these life experiences, Clemens (pen name Mark Twain) wrote The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, considered to be one of the great American novels, shaping the landscape of American literature for generations to come. After watching these clips, students will characterize Clemens’ childhood, explore how his early life experiences impacted his later life, and examine his influence on others during his time and on American literature.

Learning Objectives:

Students will aim to:

• Describe and characterize Samuel Clemens’ childhood.
• Determine the how clemens’ childhood impacted his later life and work.
• Recognize how experiences shape a person.
• Analyze how an environment can shape a person and in turn how that that person will shape others.

About the Author:

Alexis Nelson (she/her) is a middle school English and Reading teacher and has been in the education field for nearly ten years. Currently, she is designing English curriculum, developing and revising educational materials, and is involved in several other educational endeavors. She has resided in South Florida for her entire life.