What Is Mark Twain's Impact On American Literature

844 Words2 Pages

Kandis Eggemeyer
Mrs.Cuba
ELA lll.6
February, 22 2017
Mark Twain
Mark Twain made a huge impact on the American literature used today. His real name is Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain was his pen name). The pen name has to do with his love of the Mississippi River, and his time as a pilot of the beautiful and functional steamboats of the time. The name “Mark twain” was an old term used on the river which meant two fathoms or twelve feet, which indicated safe water.
He only went to school until about 12 years old because due to his father's death his family was in need of some source of income. He loved to write in bed, which he saw that it as an exercise. People say that no one ever heard him speak without being inspired, and no one ever saw him …show more content…

Early in their marriage, they lost their toddler son to diphtheria in 1866. His daughter died at the age of 24 of spinal meningitis. Adding to his grief, he was out of the country when it happened. Sam’s youngest daughter was diagnosed with severe epilepsy. She died in 1909 when she was 29 years old due to a heart attack. Many years, his relationship with this middle daughter was distant. In June 1904, while Sam traveled, his wife died after a long illness. He became bitter and was losing his memory and sense of humor. He was having volcanic rages and he experienced many periods of depressed indolence. Sam Clemens died on April 21, 1910 at age 74 in Redding, Connecticut. Sam died to angina pectoris, but they say that he died of a broken heart.
One of many modern American literature books comes from a book by Mark Twain called “Huckleberry Finn”. The book had to take two years to write and he often put it aside. It was finally published in 1884. There was another book called “The Prince and the Pauper” which was published in 1881. In 1883, he bought out “Life on the Mississippi”. There is a National forest named after him for his achievements in his life and how he affected people's …show more content…

When his last daughter died, Twain came to his first symptoms of the disease of mental depression.Mark Twain’s house was designated a National Historic landmark.
“Never put off till tomorrow what may be done day after tomorrow just as well.”
― Mark Twain
“Don’t go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first.”
― Mark Twain

Work Cited
"Mark Twain Quotes (Author of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn)." Mark Twain Quotes (Author of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn). N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2017.

History.com Staff. “Mark Twain.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 2010, www.history.com/topics/mark-twain. Accessed 23 Feb. 2017.

“Mark Twain.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 1 Sept. 2016, www.biography.com/people/mark-twain-9512564#synopsis. Accessed 23 Feb. 2017.

“The First Truly American Writer.” SUCCESS, 22 Sept. 2015, www.success.com/article/the-first-truly-american-writer. Accessed 23 Feb. 2017.

“Our Forests.” Mark Twain National Forest - National Forest Foundation, www.nationalforests.org/our-forests/find-a-forest/mark-twain-national-forest. Accessed 23 Feb.

Open Document