Tom Sawyer and the Use of Novels Essay -- Literary Analysis, Louis D.

Louis D. Rubins tom turkey sawyer beetle and the Use of Novels approaches Mark Twains The Adventures of Tom sawyer beetle from an alternative prospective then most. Tom Sawyer has been frequently utilize as a study of Southern American history. For example, simply by looking at the discussions in class about the fiction, most topics reviewed pore on history, such as racism and religion. Rubin conversely argues that, In using Tom Sawyer as a factual guide to liveness on the big river, we neglect it as literature and instead asks, What, in short, is this novel about as a novel? (210). Tom Sawyer and the Use of Novels removes history from the conversation and focuses in on place background signal, characters, and plot, the schematics of literature. While some of what Rubin discusses I agree with, other claims I find hard to fully accept. In reviewing all three of these traits of Tom Sawyer, Rubin is able to argue that the novel is less about the American historical timefr ame in which it takes place, but much about the feelings and emotions of what American life inwardness.The first particle of the novel Rubin dissects is the setting. These paragraphs discussing setting in the review I found the most trouble with. If Rubins goal was to focus less on the historical aspects of the novel, how would he be able to fully discuss the novels setting? Setting is the thing that places the novel in its historical subtext. Ironically, Rubin writes that the setting is in truth key All novels take place somewhere, of course, but in this typeface the somewhere is very important (211). Instead of focusing on time, an unlifelike measure, Rubin highlights the natural world found in the text, proper(postnominal)ally Cardiff Hill, by discussing specific scenes. Rubin writes ... ...lops through Toms own separate interactions with apiece character, each having its own conclusion. Rubin writes however The plot structure of the novel is directed toward that t he novels end (210).In summation, Louis Rubin does something different with his review of Mark Twains The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Focusing on the novel as a piece of literature and exploring setting, characters, and plot, Rubin is able to break the stigma that Tom Sawyer is strictly a historical story. While there are some subtle overlooks and complications with Rubins Tom Sawyer and the Use of Novels, the essay is able to go over and evaluate the novels real purpose outside of be a snapshot of American history. Rubin ends his essay by writing It may not provide us with all the facts we want about American life, but it can tell us what American life means (216).