 |
Mark Twain Website Evaluators
Leslie Bezich - San Pedro High School, California
Jennifer Bowman - Battle Creek Central High School, Michigan
Virginia Brackett - East Central University, Oklahoma
Rod Cameron - Abraham Lincoln High School, Iowa
Kim Deskin - Overlake Hospital Adolescent Psychiatric Program, Washington
Jonathan Fairman - Cleveland High School of the Arts, Ohio
Randall J. Heeres - Northern Michigan Christian High School, Michigan
Lori McCall - Student, Kennesaw State University, Georgia
Julie Moore - Monroe High School, Wisconsin
Patricia Penrose - Nogales High School, California
Nancy Price - The University of Texas at Arlington, Texas
Nicole Rosenberg - Not currently teaching, California
Charles R. Sanders - San Pedro High School, California
Joe Taylor - Perryville High, Maryland
Steve Watson - Putnam City High School, Oklahoma
Website Reviewers and Compilers
Randall J. Heeres - Northern Michigan Christian High School, Michigan
Chris Huber - On leave, Missouri
Patricia Penrose – Nogales High School, California
Michelle Toby - University of California at Irvine, California
Site Ratings
1 = Poor 2 = Fair 3 = Good 4 = Excellent
Click on the links below to access different sections of this page:
Huckleberry Finn
The Civil War
Slavery Related Sites General Information Mark Twain
http://marktwain.miningco.com/msub5.htm
This is an outstanding site, featuring biographical material, book lists, links to e-texts, and the
Twain Memory-Builder Game. Teachers will find "a large collection" of useful projects and activities, as well as an excellent collection of quotations attributed to Twain. Students may discover the memory
game, the look at Twain's handwriting, the photos and cartoons, and the insights into Huckleberry Finn to be helpful features. Easy to navigate, this site has "many unique and outstanding pages."
Overall Rating: 4Mark Twain: Biographies
http://marktwain.miningco.com/mbody.htm
This excellent site is "rich in content" and
features useful links, though few graphics. Teachers may find classroom ideas in the fine presentation of the illustrations of Jim in Huckleberry Finn throughout the publication history of this novel, the look at
19th
century criticism of Twain, materials about book banning, and information on the marketing of Twain writings. This is a "user friendly site for students looking for guidance," because it offers suggestions for papers and projects and gives access to bulletin boards and chat rooms about Twain. The site is accessible and easy to navigate.
Overall Rating: 4Mark Twain on Stage
http://etext.virginia.edu/railton/onstage/onstgehp.html
This site features a "delightful assortment" of Twain's texts for public speaking engagements. Four actors offer their impersonations of Twain as
they perform clips of text. Visitors are treated to Twain's observations on the art of public speaking and critical appraisals of his oratorical skills rendered by his contemporaries. Teachers would be
interested in the Memory Builder game and comprehensive information on five of Twain's novels. Students should be intrigued by this excellent site and its host of resources.
Overall Rating: 4
Marketing Twain
http://etext.virginia.edu/railton/marketin/mrkthp.html
This URL focuses on ways in which Twain
and his works were marketed, including looks at the author's own knack for self-promotion. Teachers may locate "unusual topics" for discussion and assignments here, and should find the graphics of promotional
materials rather interesting. Besides some fine graphics, students may see much information about this single aspect of Twain's career. Overall, the site is an interesting look at 19th
century book publishing and marketing.
Overall Rating: 4
Romancing the Indian
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/HNS/Indians/main.html
"A superior site," this URL tackles the depiction and stereotyping of Native Americans in the works of James Fenimore Cooper and Mark Twain.
Teachers will find the rather scholarly approach abundant in references, links, and artwork. Students may find the site valuable for its graphics, e-texts, and thesis. The site is easy to explore and has
many "thematic and historical applications" for teachers and students.
Overall Rating: 4
TwainWeb
http://web.mit.edu/linguistics/www/forum/twainweb.html
Despite its few graphics, this site provides the user with access to the Mark Twain Listserv and to other links, most notably the excellent Mining
Co. Teacher support is fair at best, though the site gives a warning to students that library research is still superior to Internet research, a caveat many teachers will appreciate. Students may benefit
from ideas for papers and projects, and they can join e-mail discussion groups. Overall, the site is more suited to students than to educators, though there are some scholarly reviews and presentations for
teachers.
Overall Rating: 4
Mark Twain, the New Yorker: They Called Him the 'Belle of New York'
http://salwen.com/mtbelle.html
With "grand potential" for teachers and students, this site provides a look at Twain's life—particularly in the East—and his courtship of Olivia. At the end of
the document are links that offer discussions on Twain landmarks in New York City, literary criticism, issues of racism and Huckleberry Finn, and the similarity and differences between Twain and Walt Whitman.
Entertaining anecdotes and Twain quotations are also available. Teachers will particularly enjoy these links and the insights into Twain's darker, brooding side. Students, too, will find the facts and
stories about Twain intriguing and helpful, and will enjoy the many graphics and texts available. While the site is neither interactive nor visually appealing, overall, this site is "a very valuable resource" and
is easy to navigate.
Overall Rating: 3
Mark Twain's Birthplace and Hometown
http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~XA3K-SOY/mt/mtpage.htm
Abundant with quotations, maps, and excellent photographs, this site, managed by Japanese students, especially features Twain's boyhood home in
Hannibal. Teachers will find the WWW Gateway to the Mark Twain Forum helpful for locating scholarly materials and will also enjoy a Japanese perspective on this American author. Students will likely be most
interested in the photographs and the audio page. This site seemed easy to navigate, though one reviewer was unable to gain access to it.
Overall Rating: 3
Mark Twain's Quotations, Newspaper Collections, and Related Resources
http://www.tarleton.edu/~schmidt/Mark_Twain.html
This site offers a good collection of full-text magazine and newspaper articles written by
and/or about Mark Twain. No support materials but "charming content to enhance any Twain discussion." Students could certainly use the site search engine to locate specific quotations or phrases.
Overall Rating: 3
Lighting Out for the Territory
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/gergen/april97/fishkin_4-1.html
This transcript of a David Gergen and Shelly Fisher Fishkin discussion on racial attitudes and other controversial ideas in Twain's works is
somewhat compelling, though the site lacks graphics and links for follow-up study. Gergen is editor-at-large of U.S. News and World Report and Fishkin is a professor of American studies in English at the University of
Texas, Austin. Teachers will find a defense for using Twain's works here. Students may also develop an interest in the controversy, though the lack of images will be a drawback. Overall, the site is
limited.
Overall Rating: 2
Mark Twain Live!
http://www.marktwainlive.com/
Essentially a promotion for Mike Randall's one-man Twain show,
this site uses "the perspective of entertainment" to inform. Teachers may appreciate links to other sites about American literature and to Twain's newspaper writings, but there are no lessons or projects presented
here for classroom use. Students might find the entertainment approach captivating and learn "valuable tidbits of information." The site loads slowly, and the available links are readily found on other, more
substantial sites.
Overall Rating: 2
Mark Twain as Literary Whipping Boy
http://www.bookwire.com/bbr/interviews/v3/twain.html
This site shields Twain against perennial critics, defending his controversial political views and satirical humor. Teachers seeking material for
assignments may find ideas here, though no prepared lessons appear. Students familiar with literary criticism will find the site more useful than will other students. The site has no links, no interactive
features, and no appealing graphics.
Overall Rating: 2
Mark Twain: UCR/California Museum of Photography
http://www.cmp.ucr.edu/site/exhibitions/twain/
Eight excellent black and white photos of Twain are accompanied by choice quotations.
Overall Rating: 2
Writer Hero: Mark Twain
http://myhero.com/hero.asp?hero=markTwain
Created by California fifth-graders, this site simply celebrates Twain as a writer/hero,
particularly focusing on "his childhood pranks and adult hoaxes." Teachers will find little to use here. Younger students may enjoy some of the colorful anecdotes and insights into Twain's character, but the
information is quite basic. "Extremely limited" in its scope and links, the site has marginal value despite its interesting perspective on the writer as a cultural hero.
Overall Rating: 2
Huckleberry Finn
Huckleberry Finn
http://www.sjr.mb.ca/english/template.html
This site is particularly helpful as a
model of the Big 6 research strategy, using abolition and Huckleberry Finn as the launch point. Teachers will appreciate the carefully crafted lesson and should follow the links to more curriculum ideas on the
English Department homepage. Students will find this site a clear, interesting tutorial on the research process. The site is colorful, nicely designed and has many valuable links.
Overall Rating: 4
Teacher CyberGuide: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/huck/hucktg.html
This excellent site provides "quality information" in the form of an interdisciplinary unit revolving around the theme of emancipation and The Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn. The unit includes language arts content standards and four specific activities incorporating the Internet. "This research tool gets students in on the ground level of the assignment, nudges
them toward scholarship by providing substantial links and allows for self-evaluation."
Overall Rating: 4
Censorship and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/huckcen/huckcentg.html
This "Cyberguide" focuses on censorship, discussing the controversy surrounding
Huckleberry Finn, criticisms of the novel, and perceived racism in the novel. This is an excellent site, handling a provocative topic with skill by allowing students to search out the answers.
Overall Rating: 4
Great Books: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
http://school.discovery.com/spring97/programs/greatbooks-huckfinn/index.html
The site, with its "interesting topics and professional
presentation," offers ancillary material on the Discovery Channel's video, Great Books: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. A vocabulary list and discussion questions are adaptable to classroom use.
Students will enjoy the extension activities. Internet links and a book list is provided.
Overall Rating: 3
Huck Finn Study Guide
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Lofts/2588/huckfinn.html
Designed by a high school student, this site offers a compilation of 57 essay topics,
four sample essays, and discussion of character traits, satire, and irony with examples and quotes from the novel. The study guide also presents 19 website links and a connection to Wiretap's online text. A
distraction is the constant incursion of advertising and teachers need to be aware that "much of the information provided might correspond to assignments intended for independent student exploration."
Overall Rating: 3
The Civil War
Civil War Women
http://scriptorium.lib.duke.edu/collections/civil-war-women.html
Sponsored by the Special Collections Library at Duke University, this site
contains detailed information on two famous female spies of the Civil War, Rose O'Neal (Confederate) and Sarah E. Thomson (Union). High school students can read numerous letters and diary entries in transcription
and scanned images. The third woman featured is Alice Williamson, a 16 year old girl from Gallatin, Tennessee, who kept a detailed diary about the traumatic experience of having her town captured by Union
forces. This site is rated among the top humanities websites by the NEH. The links are excellent and provide valuable research opportunities.
Overall Rating: 4
Poetry and Music of the War Between the States
http://www.erols.com/kfraser/
Perfect for a humanities course, this is an excellent site
for teachers and students who wish to approach the Civil War era by focusing on the popular music and poetry of the period. Poems and songs are separated into Confederate and Union, and then categorized
thematically. In addition to famous poets such as Whitman and Longfellow, there are numerous poems from lesser-known poets who felt compelled to capture their war experiences in verse. Students can find the
lyrics to both well-known ("Polly Wolly Doodle" and "Beautiful Dreamer") and obscure songs (again, students need to be prepared for the racist content). Viewers can also access 1,118
Civil War photos from the Library of Congress.
Overall Rating: 4
The Valley of the Shadow: Two Communities in the American Civil War
http://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/vshadow2/cwhome.html
This site received unanimous excellent rankings from all of our
teacher/evaluators; a "must" for teachers and students in high school and middle school who are studying the American Civil War. Constructed by students at the University of Virginia, this site contains
materials from two prototypical small towns (one southern, one northern), providing visitors with an authentic view of history. For example, students will find hundreds of newspaper excerpts reporting on runaway
slaves and news directly from the battlefront. They can also read numerous diary entries and learn about U.S. "Colored Troops" and the various ways in which women served their causes, including
spying. Teachers should be warned that much of the language in the newspapers and diaries is extremely racist and some of the slave photos are disturbing. Downloading time is slow, due to the many graphics
(such as 3-D maps), but well worth the wait. This site will captivate student audiences.
Overall Rating: 4
An Outline of American History: Sectional Conflict
http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/H/1994/chap6.htm
Although this site lacks graphics and interactivity, it is nevertheless an awesome
site with a wealth of diverse information, which teachers can use to create numerous lesson plans and students can use for research projects. Under the heading, Sectional Conflict, students and teachers will find
15 links to topics such as the Abolitionists, the Compromise of 1850, Succession and Civil War, the life of Lincoln, and the End of Reconstruction. There are also excerpts and full readings from 18 important texts
from this time period, such as "The Confessions of Nat Turner," and Lincoln's last speech before his death in 1865. The reading level is sophisticated, so the site is most useful for advanced
students. The site is nicely designed, even without the graphics, with catchy titles and information provided on various pages to keep the viewer's interest.
Overall Rating: 3-4
The American Civil War
http://www.californiacentralcoast.com/commun/map/civil/civil.html
Probably more useful for researchers and Civil War buffs than for teachers and students, this is a rather eclectic site which contains a timeline, battle list, maps and statistics, and topics such as women in war and
black troops. The Quartermaster HQ link promotes military memorabilia, reproductions, flags, games, CDs, and contains information on flag preservation and a relic hunters association. Recommended by the
History Channel, this site is also affiliated with Amazon.com, and has links containing additional reading suggestions and music. Some viewers might feel they are being overly encouraged to shop while
researching. Teachers might require students to post questions/comments on the Civil War message board. This well-monitored board contains entries from students of all ages and locations throughout the
world, and would be particularly appropriate for middle and high school students.
Overall Rating: 3
Before the Civil War
http://members.xoom.com/USCivilWar/civil1.htm
This article "gives a concise but thorough historical review of the events leading up to
the conflict. Commentary from politicians, cultural figures, and journalists of the day (are not) difficult reading for high school students." "All of the key people and terms are in bold print,
including Andrew Jackson, Nat Turner, and Frederick Douglas."
Overall Rating: 3
Causes of the Civil War
http://members.aol.com/jfepperson/causes.html
Devoted to presenting primary documents elucidating the secession crisis, this site includes a
brief chronology, a reading list and links to seven other
sites. This is "an excellent source of supplemental material for middle and high school teachers of English, social studies, and fine arts." You will find the following on-site or via links:
speeches, letters, journals, poetry, songs, maps, and more. Source documents are categorized as party platforms, secession documents, state and local resolutions and correspondence, compromise proposals, Abraham
Lincoln's speeches and letters, other political speeches and correspondence, or editorial commentary.
Overall Rating: 3
The History Place: U.S. Civil War 1861-1865
http://www.historyplace.com/civilwar/
This site is a handy chronological look at the Civil War events from Lincoln's election to assassination. Each includes a
thumbnail photo and short description. Unlike many timelines of battles, this one adds pictures of slave auctions and maps, and can be enlarged to show excellent detail. The site contains interesting links
such as Robert E. Lee's letter of resignation in his own hand and a letter from McClellan to his wife, useful for student research. The Map of Allegiance is a color-coded map of the U.S. which clearly identifies
the border states and those claimed by the Union and the Confederacy. Though there is little in the way of lesson plans and ideas, this is a good site for all levels, but particularly suitable for elementary and
middle school students who need a quick overview of the main events of the war.
Overall Rating: 3
Letters from an Iowa Soldier in the Civil War
http://bob.ucsc.edu/civil-war-letters/home.html
This site contains 15 letters written by Newton Robert Scott, a 21 year old
private and company clerk in the Union Army, to his future wife, Hannah Cone. Some students may not find these letters terribly interesting, since the tone is very formal and Scott remained on the western fringe
of the war (Arkansas and Iowa). The letters do provide details of Union camp life, however, and would be a nice supplement for teaching The Red Badge of Courage, especially comparing the toll of disease and the
soldiers' frustration dramatized so well by Crane. Since letters are transcribed as written, students will be interested in random capitalization and lack of punctuation. The site designer encourages readers
to develop their own family web page, a possible enrichment or extra credit assignment. The site contains no graphics other than a photo of Scott and Cone.
Overall Rating: 2
Slavery Related Sites
Exploring Amistad
http://amistad.mysticseaport.org/main/welcome.html
Locate the site map for a no-frills overview
and instant access to all parts of this "excellent site for (teachers or) advanced high school and college level students (that) contains exhaustive historical resources." "The heart of the website
is the library" of over 500 documents. "Some contain disturbing material. A few are extremely racist, (reflecting the) social attitudes of antebellum American popular culture." Teachers
will find "wonderful, thorough lesson plans and helpful guides. Timelines and biographies may be of the greatest use to the student."
Overall Rating: 4
First-Person Narratives of the American South, 1860-1920
http://metalab.unc.edu/docsouth/fpn/fpnmain.html
This University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill Libraries' collection of 100 narratives provides an intimate view of slavery from those immediately involved. These "fascinating, truthful accounts include stories of relatively
inaccessible populations: women, African Americans, enlisted men laborers, and Native Americans." "Amazing documentation of a significant part of history." While this well-organized site contains excellent
primary source documents, there is little classroom or student support.
Overall Rating : 4
Teaching with Amistad
http://socialstudies.com/amistad/abolitionist.html
An invaluable source for teachers from Social Studies School Service, this site contains significant historical background information on the
abolitionist movement and the details surrounding the Amistad rebellion of 1839. The site also provides a detailed account of the charge of plagiarism brought against Dreamworks, the production company for the
1998 Steven Spielberg film. Due to the wealth of information and curriculum materials, one teacher calls this site an entire teaching unit in itself. The site is an excellent resource for both teachers and
students, as it contains great discussion questions and writing prompts aimed at encouraging higher order thinking skills. The various links are useful for student research projects, for example, the entire text
of the 1841 Supreme Court decision. Unfortunately, the site does not contain any graphics, but the quality of the textual information makes it very worthwhile. Middle school teachers may wish to scan the
list of resource materials (available for purchase) primarily aimed at grades 4-9.
Overall Rating: 4
Third Person, First Person: Slave Voices from the Special Collections Library
http://scriptorium.lib.duke.edu/slavery
Slave Voices, an excellent collection of 33 archival documents, focuses on several aspects of
slavery, from a bill of sale, reward postings, maps and other details. "A haunting look at the realism of slavery." These visuals are "masterfully reproduced" and well organized, giving visitors to the site
a clear picture of the everyday life in the South of the time. The site is rich in primary source materials but includes no teaching support. Some students may have difficulty navigating without assistance.
Overall Rating: 4
The Underground Railroad
http://www.eee.org/comm/ugr
"Very accessible and fun to use," this is "a
well-illustrated site that offers the history and geography of the Underground Railroad." You can join a group of teachers as they "bus along the route, keeping a day-by-day journal as they go from
Kentucky to Ohio." Classroom lessons, units and activities are provided as well as links to other sites, maps, a bibliography, a glossary, student poetry, and brief biographies of people "who kept the
freedom train running." Lesson plans are aimed at 4th and 5th graders. The site is appropriate for older students, too.
Overall Rating: 4
American Slave Narratives
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/wpa/wpahome.html
This is a fine presentation of primary source
material for use by teachers and students. It is a collection of 13 transcribed interviews of former slaves, with photographs of many of the interviewees, and biographical summaries. Audio of selected passages
accompanies one of the interviews. There are tips on reading the transcripts, links to related sites, and a bibliography.
Overall Rating: 3
Excerpts from Slave Narratives
http://vi.uh.edu/pages/mintz/primary.htm
Choose from 46 entries that explain the realities of slavery. Accounts from slave traders as
well as slaves are offered along with those of leaders, commentators and observers, taken from primary source documents such as letters and newspaper articles. These are grouped under the headings Enslavement, The
Middle Passage, Arrival, Conditions of Life, Childhood, Family, Religion, Punishment, Resistance, Flight, and Emancipation; entries are as late as 1937. "Both sides of slavery are viewed honestly and
openly." This is great source material. Teachers should preview to judge suitability for particular students.
Overall Rating: 3
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/JACOBS/hjhome.htm
The complete 41-chapter autobiography of Harriet Jacobs is online at this site, bolstered
by three sets of introductory comments, in-text links to a glossary of vocabulary words, photographs, a timeline and links to other recommended resources and a bibliography. The site provides strong teacher
support with discussion topics, point of view activities and research possibilities.
Overall Rating: 3
The Library of Congress: Abolition
http://lcweb.loc.gov/exhibits/african/afam005.html
Abolition, a segment of The African American Mosaic: African American Culture and
History, presents pamphlets, handbills, and songs of the time and discusses the key people and the organizations promoting abolition. A good source of primary documents of the time, the site offers little in the
way of teacher or student support.
Overall Rating: 3
The Library of Congress: Conflict of Abolition and Slavery
http://lcweb.loc.gov/exhibits/african/afam007.html
A third segment of The African American Mosaic: African American Culture and History, "Conflict of Abolition and Slavery," describes the events and
activities surrounding the abolition movement. Included are maps, a news article and poignant photographs. As with the other sites in this series, the strength lies in the primary source material and not in
the additional teacher and student support.
Overall Rating: 3
The Library of Congress: Influence of Prominent Abolitionists
http://lcweb.loc.gov/exhibits/african/afam006.html
"Influence of Prominent Abolitionists," another segment of The African American
Mosaic: African American Culture and History, details the writings, roles and contributions of William Lloyd Garrison, Frederick Douglass, Anthony Burns, Wendell Phillips, Susan B. Anthony, Harriet Beecher
Stowe, Josiah Wedgwood, and John Greenleaf Whittier. The site offers a good representation of resources, including photographs and other images which bring the period into perspective. Its strength lies in
the primary source material; it does not offer any additional teacher or student support.
Overall Rating: 3
Slavery in the Antebellum South
http://www.cc.colorado.edu/Dept/HY/HY243Ruiz/Research/Antebellum.html
The core of this site is
an article that discusses "how the plantation experience affected slaves in four areas—religion, living conditions, work and relationships." There are photographs, a bibliography, and links to five other
sources of information on slavery in the antebellum south.
Overall Rating: 3
What Became of the Slaves on a Georgia Plantation?
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammen/murray:@field(FLD001+11003986+):@@@$REF$
This page from the Library of Congress American Memory website presents "a compelling account of a slave auction written by the wife of a plantation owner. The narrative includes descriptions of the slaves
and what they were bred to do. The language is archaic but vivid in detail." "It states in plain terms just how this family was victimized." This primary source document should be of
considerable value to teachers, who should review it before recommending it to particular students.
Overall Rating: 3
The Issue of Slavery
http://members.xoom.com/USCivilWar/civil7.htm
This article, appropriate for high-schoolers, "summarizes (black) slavery from a global
perspective, beginning with the Egyptians to the first appearance of Europeans on the West African coast. Slave ship conditions, slave codes of treatment, and slave revolts are discussed." "There
is a good picture of slaves on the auction block, (and) terms and people are in bold print."
Overall Rating: 2
Stolen Childhood: Slave Youth in 19th Century America
http://washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/books/chap1/stolen.htm
The first chapter of Wilma King's Stolen Childhood: Slave Youth in 19th
Century America thoroughly describes the family's and slaveholder's roles in the life of a slave child. Beyond this description, there is little to draw teachers or students to the site.
Overall Rating: 2Mark Twain in His Times
http://etext.virginia.edu/railton/
Calling all teachers! Here's a phenomenal site that
contains "a staggering amount of fascinating material" on Mark Twain. Included here are the complete, illustrated e-texts of five of Twain's novels, which can be "searched by word or phrase," voice recordings,
maps, photos, speeches, reviews, and quizzes. "Students will be drawn to the wonderful illustrations...and will particularly enjoy the 'Memory Builder' game." This terrific website is a "great source for
research papers, oral reports, and group projects," and "it deserves and requires considerable lingering."
Overall Rating: 4
Ever the Twain Shall Meet: Mark Twain on the Web
http://www.lm.com/~joseph/mtwain.html
This site is not pleasing to the eye, but it does make several e-texts of Mark Twain's writings available online. "Students may
experience a different side of Twain's writing talents" through an essay collection that includes the hilarious "Fenimore Cooper's Literary Offenses," and "What is Man and Other Essays." His "little rules" could
be applied by students to their own writing and the "list of 'rules governing literary art in the domain of romantic fiction' could provide stimulating writing exercises for any fiction, not just Twain's."
Numerous "well-explained links" are included.
Overall Rating: 3
Great Historical Writings: Mark Twain
http://www.aracnet.com/~atheism/hist/twainver.htm
This unusual site features many works by Mark Twain that "teachers don't often use and students don't often read or even know about." There is a satiric version
of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "a number of humorous essays on religion." Because of a few "red flags," such as the word "atheism" in the URL and a link to Lenny Bruce, some "preparation and careful
introduction by teachers" would be required. "Although this site would strongly benefit all English teachers, it can (also) benefit teachers of American history, religion, ethics, and philosophy," among others.
Overall Rating: 3
Mark Twain on the Philippines
http://www.boondocksnet.com/twain/
A good source for quick explanations of, as well as more
detailed research into, Mark Twain's "criticisms of the U. S. government's policies and actions" in the Philippine-American War of 1899-1902. English and social studies teachers in a "humanitas-type classroom
situation...would truly benefit from this site." The page also features "criticism of Twain by his contemporaries," and Twain's "comments...about the banning of Huckleberry Finn in Denver in 1902."
Overall Rating: 3
Mark Twain's Letters from the Vandal Tour
http://etext.virginia.edu/railton/innocent/vandlets.html
This site isn't much to look at, but who cares? Looks are unimportant when you get to read the writings of "Mark Twain, the man, not Mark
Twain, the author." In a series of short personal letters to his wife, Livy, Twain relates "how his lecture tour is going...and endearments to his wife." Not only do the excepts "provide insight into the
author, (but) they would be useful for imaginative writing assignments," or in teaching "lessons in letter-writing."
Overall Rating: 3
Olivia Langdon Clemens (1845-1904)
http://marktwain.miningco.com/library/gallery/bl_gal_fam_olivia_1867.htm
If you want "the sort
of engaging material that personalizes a literary figure for students," this interesting page details the first meeting of Mark Twain and Olivia Langdon. The site should have appeal to "students and teachers of
history, American studies, and humanities, as well as English." There are several useful links that lead to "fun activities" and background information on Mark Twain, but be aware that the site is difficult to
access and the links contain many commercials.
Overall Rating: 3
Twain's Wife: Olivia Langdon
http://www.courant.com/news/special/twain/olivia.htm
From the parent site, "Mark Twain in Hartford," comes this detailed site describing, "through personal letters and commentary, the very significant part
Olivia Langdon Clemens...played in (Mark Twain's) career as well as his personal life." Teachers and students will discover several interesting and little-known facts about the author. For example, it is
pointed out that "Twain would have been 'just a humorist' if it wasn't for Livy's pressure for (him) to excel as a writer and for her top editing skills."
Overall Rating: 3
Olivia Langdon Clemens: Photo Gallery and Olivia Langdon Clemens, 1873
http://marktwain.tqn.com/library/gallery/bl_gal_fam_olivia_1870.htm
The sole feature of this site is a photograph of Olivia Langdon taken the
year of her marriage to Mark Twain. Although "of limited use," the site "links in a linear fashion to a series of pages that portray Mark Twain's family life." Especially noteworthy are "excerpts from
daughter Susy Clemens' biography of her father, which she began at age thirteen."
Overall Rating: 2 |
