This paper focuses on Mark Twain's writing style and characterization in his fiction. The settings and characters of his fiction are in particular focus, specifically how Mark Twain draws on personal experiences and memories to make his characters and settings more relatable and realistic. A brief biography of Twain's life is given before the author goes into the specifics of characterization and settings.

Thesis advisor: Susan M. Shell / Mark Twain's understanding of the relationship between technology and society is complicated, and delivered through many of his individual works, including A Connecticut Yankee and The American Claimant. Through a close reading of Connecticut Yankee with additional support from The American Claimant I am to develop a fuller understanding of this relationship and how Twain's thought reflects on modern society. / Thesis (MA) — Boston College, 2012. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Political Science.

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Auburn University, 2007. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1997. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 199-205). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1997. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 199-205). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1997. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 199-205). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1968. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

This study is a historical examination of the attitude and behavior of Mark Twain (also known as Samuel Langhorne Clemens) in his relationship with his household servants during the Gilded Age (1870-1900) in Hartford, Connecticut. "Gilded Age" was coined by Twain in a satirical expose of the corrupt greed in business and politics. Twain suggested dishonesty was disguised beneath a thin golden veil of American propaganda. This period of self-elevation and lavish wealth was contrasted against a poor unskilled working class. Twain, who evolved from lower rungs of society to fortuned heights, makes an ideal study for hypocrisy. Serving as a symbol of the times, this investigation explores his ability to rise above or to succumb to the predisposed mentality of the day. Further, the same biases of class, race, and gender continue to be unresolved issues today in an inviolate hypocritical system of privilege, gilded by wording in a duplicitous Constitution.

Critics discussing Mark Twain's early skepticism have, to date, confined their explorations to short studies (articles or book chapters), brief references in passing, or buried their insights in discussions on other topics. Other critics ignore Twain's atheistic statements and see his beliefs as theistic or deterministic. Others ascribe his attitudes in the "dark writings" to late life disappointments. This study demonstrates that Twain's later attitudes towards religion, determinism, social reform and institutions were products of his family heritage, his social environment, and his early reading. Chapter 1 introduces the major premises of the study, and Chapter 2 reviews the critical background. Chapter 3 discusses the family and hometown influences: on Twain's skeptical thought, and Chapter A discusses Twain's early literary and philosophical influences. Chapter 5 examines Twain's early writings in letters and frontier tales and sketches, showing the development of his anti-religious attitudes. Chapter 6 concludes the study.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of North Texas, August, 2008. / Title from title page display. Includes bibliographical references.