Aller au contenu
The Library
of Alexandria

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Complete, Chapter 1 summary

Chapter 1 of 35 · 10 min to read the chapter

In Chapter 1, Tom escapes Aunt Polly’s punishment for stealing jam, skips school, and nearly hides his swimming until Sid exposes the wrong thread on his collar. He then fights a well-dressed newcomer and returns home with damaged clothes, making his aunt firmly decide on Saturday work as punishment.

What happens

  1. Aunt Polly catches Tom with jam, but he distracts her and escapes over the fence.
  2. She struggles between affection and duty, deciding that Saturday work should punish his expected absence from school.
  3. Tom skips school, helps little with the wood, and tries to conceal his swimming during supper.
  4. Sid notices the wrong thread on Tom’s collar, exposing his trick and provoking threats.
  5. Tom practices whistling, confronts a well-dressed newcomer, and wins their fight before the stranger hits him with a stone.
  6. Tom follows the boy home, then returns late to Aunt Polly, whose inspection of his clothes confirms Saturday punishment.

Free for 3 months

Get the full summary of Les Aventures de Tom Sawyer, édition complète, free

  • 200,000+ classics as eBooks, audiobooks and 15-minute summaries, and print and large print at cost
  • Up to 5 readers in your home on one plan
Commencez 90 jours gratuitsNothing to pay today. 0,14 USD a day in the first year, then 0,27 USD a day.

In this chapter

What to notice

Aunt Polly states the conflict between her sense of duty and her affection for Tom. This explains why his tricks so often defeat her attempts at punishment.

Quick check

What exposes Tom’s attempt to hide his swimming?

Free for 3 months

Get the full summary of Les Aventures de Tom Sawyer, édition complète, free

  • 200,000+ classics as eBooks, audiobooks and 15-minute summaries, and print and large print at cost
  • Up to 5 readers in your home on one plan
Commencez 90 jours gratuitsNothing to pay today. 0,14 USD a day in the first year, then 0,27 USD a day.
200,000+ classics to read, hear and hold

15-minute summaries today, eBooks and audiobooks as each book opens, and printed books, large print included, at cost.

Try 3 months free