Comparing Time In The Prince And The Pauper
Sanne Kramer
Ms. Watkins
American Literature 5th
13 October, 2014
Comparing Time in the Prince and the Pauper Twain’s first attempt at the historical fiction genre was The Prince and The Pauper whose intended audience was children. This novel has been set in 1547 at the end of King Henry VIII’s rule and the beginning of King Edward VI’s rule.While historically accurate, Twain uses authorial license in The Prince and the Pauper such as the Kings duties, becoming king, social hierarchy and the causes of crime and the types of crime committed in both the novel and in 1547. Many scholars believe that Mark Twain was influenced by modern and humanistic ideas to write this novel. This has also been shown in one of his letters to …show more content…
Both in the novel and in real life they have many things in common in terms of the Kings duties however there were also some inaccuracies that Twain made to enhance the restrictions and hardships that the King faces as well as the common persons view of a King. One of these inaccuracies was that a king’s job was only to act appropriately and be a king merely for the joy, riches and power according to Tom when he imagined being the prince himself (Twain, 36). However is almost immediately corrected in when Tom meets Edward who has been placed with so much power and restrictions that he said “Twould be worth my father’s kingdom but to enjoy it once!” when Tom tells him about playing in the river. This enhances not only the readers interest in the novel, but also shows that Twain has used this inaccuracy to create a more dramatic effect of the restrictions placed on a king not only the common persons view of kings and also shows the correlation between the novel and 1547 …show more content…
However since this is a historical fiction and the audience is bent to be for children there have been a few twists that have been made in some areas. Overall the historical data that was used has shown to be very accurate according to many scholars and historians and is entertaining to all ages.
Works Cited: Feller, Thomas R. "The Prince And The Pauper." Masterplots, Fourth Edition (2010): 1-4. Literary Reference Center. Web. 12 Oct. 2014.
"The British Monarchy." Edward VI (r.1547-1553). N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2014. The National Archives| Education | Crime and Punishment." The National Archives| Education | Crime and Punishment. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2014.
Twain, Mark. "Mark Twain Project :: Letters :: SLC to William Dean Howells, 11 March 1880 : An Electronic Text." Mark Twain Project :: Letters :: SLC to William Dean Howells, 11 March 1880 : An Electronic Text. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2014.
Twain, Mark. The Prince and the Pauper. Boston: James R. Osgood &, 1881.
Ms. Watkins
American Literature 5th
13 October, 2014
Comparing Time in the Prince and the Pauper Twain’s first attempt at the historical fiction genre was The Prince and The Pauper whose intended audience was children. This novel has been set in 1547 at the end of King Henry VIII’s rule and the beginning of King Edward VI’s rule.While historically accurate, Twain uses authorial license in The Prince and the Pauper such as the Kings duties, becoming king, social hierarchy and the causes of crime and the types of crime committed in both the novel and in 1547. Many scholars believe that Mark Twain was influenced by modern and humanistic ideas to write this novel. This has also been shown in one of his letters to …show more content…
Both in the novel and in real life they have many things in common in terms of the Kings duties however there were also some inaccuracies that Twain made to enhance the restrictions and hardships that the King faces as well as the common persons view of a King. One of these inaccuracies was that a king’s job was only to act appropriately and be a king merely for the joy, riches and power according to Tom when he imagined being the prince himself (Twain, 36). However is almost immediately corrected in when Tom meets Edward who has been placed with so much power and restrictions that he said “Twould be worth my father’s kingdom but to enjoy it once!” when Tom tells him about playing in the river. This enhances not only the readers interest in the novel, but also shows that Twain has used this inaccuracy to create a more dramatic effect of the restrictions placed on a king not only the common persons view of kings and also shows the correlation between the novel and 1547 …show more content…
However since this is a historical fiction and the audience is bent to be for children there have been a few twists that have been made in some areas. Overall the historical data that was used has shown to be very accurate according to many scholars and historians and is entertaining to all ages.
Works Cited: Feller, Thomas R. "The Prince And The Pauper." Masterplots, Fourth Edition (2010): 1-4. Literary Reference Center. Web. 12 Oct. 2014.
"The British Monarchy." Edward VI (r.1547-1553). N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2014. The National Archives| Education | Crime and Punishment." The National Archives| Education | Crime and Punishment. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2014.
Twain, Mark. "Mark Twain Project :: Letters :: SLC to William Dean Howells, 11 March 1880 : An Electronic Text." Mark Twain Project :: Letters :: SLC to William Dean Howells, 11 March 1880 : An Electronic Text. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2014.
Twain, Mark. The Prince and the Pauper. Boston: James R. Osgood &, 1881.