The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Modernizing Pudd’nhead’s Calendar”

In this activity, students will demonstrate their understanding of the relationship of Pudd’nhead Wilson’s aphorisms to the chapters they introduce by creating their own aphorisms for several of the novel’s chapters.

The aphorisms that introduce the chapters of Pudd’nhead Wilson are among Mark Twain’s most well-known sayings. These aphorisms serve to characterize David Wilson, comment on the book’s action, and support the book’s themes. In this activity, you will demonstrate your understanding of aphorisms and Twain’s use of this device by choosing three chapters and replacing Twain’s aphorisms with more updated choices.

• Choose three of the aphorisms that serve as epigraphs in The Tragedy of Pudd’nhead Wilson.
• Make sure that you understand how each of these epigraphs characterizes Wilson, comments on the plot of the chapter it introduces, and points to theme.
• Find a contemporary replacement for each of the three aphorisms. You can mine any kind of classroom-appropriate source you like to find your modern aphorisms. Some potential sources are songs, social media, poetry, books, comics, television, video games, and movies.