On Monday Morning
Author: Mark Twain (Adapted from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer)
Class: 7th Standard | Type: Supplementary | Syllabus: SCERT New Syllabus
About the Author
Mark Twain (1835–1910), born Samuel Langhorne Clemens, was one of the greatest American writers and humorists. He is best known for his novels The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884). His writing captures the spirit of American childhood, small-town life, and sharp social commentary with wit and humour. The pen name "Mark Twain" comes from a riverboat term meaning "two fathoms deep," reflecting his early career as a Mississippi steamboat pilot.
Detailed Summary
The story begins on a Monday morning with Tom Sawyer feeling thoroughly miserable. Monday mornings are always dreadful for him because they mark the beginning of another long, painful week at school. He lies in bed, wishing that the weekend holiday had never happened, as it only makes going back to school feel worse — like returning to prison.
Tom hatches a plan: if he were sick, he could stay home from school. He carefully examines himself for signs of illness. First, he checks for general sickness but finds nothing. Then he thinks he has a stomach ache, but it quickly fades away. He then discovers that one of his upper front teeth is loose and considers using it as an excuse. However, he quickly realises that Aunt Polly would simply pull the tooth out, which would hurt. So he decides to save the tooth as a backup plan and searches for something better.
Tom recalls hearing a doctor talk about an ailment involving a sore finger that could keep someone in bed for weeks. He pulls out his sore toe from under the sheet and decides to pretend it is dying. He begins groaning loudly, hoping to wake his half-brother Sid, who is sleeping beside him. Despite Tom's increasingly dramatic groans, Sid sleeps on undisturbed. Tom grows frustrated and finally shakes Sid awake.
Once awake, Sid becomes genuinely alarmed by Tom's groaning and moaning. Tom plays the part of a dying boy with great theatrical skill. He tells Sid to forgive everyone on his behalf, and even asks Sid to give his window-sash and one-eyed cat to the new girl in town. Tom's performance is so convincing that his own imagination begins to produce real sensations of pain.
Terrified, Sid rushes downstairs and tells Aunt Polly that Tom is dying. Aunt Polly initially dismisses it as nonsense but rushes upstairs with Sid and Mary following behind. Her face turns white with worry. When she reaches Tom's bedside and asks what is wrong, Tom dramatically reveals that his "sore toe is dying."
Aunt Polly is overcome with relief. She sinks into a chair, laughing and crying at the same time. She scolds Tom for giving her such a fright and tells him to stop the nonsense. The groans stop instantly and the pain in the toe magically vanishes. Tom then mentions his loose tooth, hoping for some sympathy. Aunt Polly decides to pull it out. Tom suddenly begs her not to and even says he does not want to stay home from school anymore — the very opposite of his original plan.
Aunt Polly sees through Tom's scheme completely. She realises that all the drama was because Tom wanted to skip school. She lovingly scolds him, saying he always tries to break her old heart with his mischief. She then ties one end of a silk thread to the loose tooth and the other end to the bedpost, and suddenly pushes a hot chunk of fire close to Tom's face. Tom jerks back, and the tooth is yanked out, now hanging from the bedpost by the thread.
Characters
| Character | Description |
|---|---|
| Tom Sawyer | The main character — a mischievous, imaginative boy who hates school and tries every trick to avoid going. He is dramatic, clever, and lovable despite his pranks. |
| Sid | Tom's half-brother who shares his bedroom. He is caring and genuinely concerned when he believes Tom is ill. He rushes to inform Aunt Polly. |
| Aunt Polly | Tom and Sid's guardian (Tom's aunt). She is loving but firm. She sees through Tom's tricks but worries about him. She uses a traditional method to pull Tom's loose tooth. |
| Mary | Tom's cousin who follows Aunt Polly upstairs to check on Tom. She is briefly mentioned. |
Glossary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Panting | Breathing quickly |
| Exertions | Physical or mental effort |
| Aggravated | Irritated; annoyed |
| Snort | A cry or sound made to show unhappiness or annoyance |
| Anxiously | Tensely; with worry or nervousness |
| Loop | A curve or circle formed by a string or thread |
| Feeble | Weak; lacking strength |
| Investigated | Examined or looked into carefully |
| Reflected | Thought carefully about something |
| Vanished | Disappeared completely |
Themes and Moral Values
- Childhood Mischief and Imagination: The story humorously portrays how children use their vivid imagination and dramatic skills to avoid responsibilities like school. Tom's elaborate performance shows the creativity and resourcefulness of a young mind.
- Family Love and Care: Despite Tom's constant mischief, Aunt Polly rushes to his side in genuine concern. Her reaction — a mix of relief, laughter, and tears — shows the depth of her love. Sid, too, shows genuine worry for his brother. Family bonds remain strong despite the pranks.
- Honesty vs. Deception: Tom's plan to deceive his family backfires. His fake illness leads to his loose tooth being pulled out — a painful consequence he was trying to avoid. The story gently teaches that dishonesty and pretence often lead to unintended and unpleasant outcomes.
- Humour and Satire: Mark Twain uses humour to depict universal childhood experiences. The exaggerated groaning, the dramatic "dying" scene, and the ironic twist at the end make the story both entertaining and insightful. It satirises how children overreact to avoid school.
- Consequences of Actions: Tom's scheme to stay home from school not only fails but also results in losing his tooth. The moral is clear: trying to escape responsibilities through deception often creates worse problems than the original situation.