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.