Pudd’nhead Wilson Ch. 11-16

Reading Questions

Chapter 11

• Chapter 11 starts at PW’s house. The twins are there and the three characters are looking over PW’s calendar. Tom interrupts and joins the party.

What does Tom say to embarrass David Wilson in front of the twins?

“Well, how does the law come on? Had a case yet?”

WHY does Tom ask Wilson this question?

He knows that Wilson has not ever had a case and he is passive aggressively being MEAN – this is in his character!

PW handles himself very well (Pg. 57)

After this – PW takes Tom’s fingerprints as well as Luigi’s & Angelo’s (not siamese twins or siamese twins?)

Foreshadowing??

How do the twins stand up for PW after Tom makes fun on his palm

reading?

They say that they have seen people perform palmistry before and it is astonishing! “If it isn’t a science, and one of the greatest of them too, I don’t know what its other name ought to be.”

What happens when Wilson reads Luigi’s palm?

It is brought to light that Luigi once killed a man. This is the same thing that is written on the piece of paper that Luigi wrote. Tom is shocked!

Read quote on pg. 61. Foreshadow?

Why did Luigi once kill a man?

• A servant snuck into their room in the palace one night to kill Luigi and Angelo and steal the knife. It was under Luigi’s pillow (they were in bed together – Siamese??). The servant went to kill Angelo and Luigi was awake, grabbed the knife and killed the man.

What does Tom do when Wilson attempts to read his palm?

• Overreacts and pulls away his palm! He must be hiding something!

Why do you think Tom does this?

• He doesn’t want Tom, Luigi & Angelo to find out any of his secrets.

• What are his secrets??

Who was John Buskstone and where does he take the twins and

Tom?

• Buckstone is a good natured, ignorant, energetic, middle-aged Irishman.

• He was a great politician in a small way (what does this mean?)

• He is part of the rum party and takes them to a hall where they are having a meeting.

What does Tom say that offends Luigi?

• Pg. 66 – Tom is drunk and he all of a sudden notices the close resemblance of the twins.

• Philopena: A game in which a person, on finding a double-kernelled almond or nut, may offer the second kernel to another person and demand a playful forfeit from that person to be paid on their next meeting.

What is Luigi’s response and how does this altercation end?

• Luigi gets MAD!! • He kicked Tom! This was very disrespectful! • Someone yells, “Fire” and the fire department

comes and puts out a nonexistent fire

CHAPTER 12

Chapter 12 starts with Judge Driscoll and Pembroke Howard fishing

What new character was introduced as another F.F.V.? (first

family of Virginia)

• Pembroke Howard – he is called the “Great Lawyer”

• Howard tells Judge Driscoll that Luigi kicked Tom the previous night

Rather than fight back, what did Tom do to Luigi after the

altercation?

• Tom took Luigi to court. This was considered to be weak and shameful.

• At first Judge Driscoll thinks it is a lie.

Who was Luigi’s attorney, and how did the case end?

• Pudd’nhead Wilson was Luigi’s attorney.• Tom won the case and Luigi was fined $5.

What does Judge Driscoll want Tom to do to Luigi?

• Judge Driscoll wants Tom to challenge Luigi to a duel.

• What is a duel? Why is it honorable?

Judge Driscoll is MAD at Tom! He rips up the will and tells Tom to get out of his sight before he spits on him. He then writes up a cartel to challenge Luigi to a duel himself.

What does Tom plan to do to win back his uncle’s affection (and earn

a place back in his will)?

• He is going to sell everything that he has already stolen to pay off his gambling debts and stop gambing!

CHAPTER 13

• Chapter 13 starts with Tom moping around

Who does Tom go to see at the beginning of the chapter?

• Tom goes to see Wilson. He doesn’t have anywhere else to go and his ‘friends are scarce these days’

Upon hearing of more thefts in the town, what lie does Tom tell to not

raise suspicion?

• He says that some of his things have been missing – his uncle’s watch, his pencil case (which he later found) and a gold ring.

What was stolen from Luigi?

• Luigi’s Indian dagger is also stolen.

What is the reward for the stolen goods or for the thief?

• $500 for the thief and $500 for the knife.

At the end of the chapter, what do the town justice and constable ask

Wilson to do?

• They ask Wilson to run for mayor because the town was about to become a city.

• He accepted!

CHAPTER 14

• Fragment

Why is Luigi so willing to accept the duel from the Judge?

• Because Luigi is an honorable man

Realizing that he might not survive the duel, what does the Judge do secretly

for Tom the night before the duel?

• He restored the will but decided that if he survived the duel he would keep it hidden away until he reforms (what does that mean?)

Tom overhears Pembroke Howard being a witness to the redrawn up

will and is relieved!

Who is it that informs Tom of the duel between the Judge and Luigi?

• Roxy tells Tom about the duel

• What does Tom’s response tell us about his character? (pg. 83)

Who wins the duel, and does the loser of the duel die?

• Roxy’s nose gets skinned• Angelo gets hit in the hand• A bullet snipped off some of the Judge’s hair

What secret does Tom reveal to Roxy within the chapter?

• About his debt – Roxy comes up with a plan to talk to the people he owes money to. He will pay them a little each month and then when his uncle dies he will pay the rest off.

CHAPTER 15

• Fragment

How do the townspeople react to the duel?

• They were ecstatic over the idea that such honor was displayed in Dawson’s Landing! People liked PW even more because he was associated with the people in the duel. Wilson even won the election and became mayor.

In discussing the knife with David Wilson, what accusation does Tom make about Luigi and the knife?

• Tom says that since no one has seen this knife, it probably doesn’t exist.

In talking with the Judge, what reason did Tom give for not

wanting to duel against Luigi?

• Tom tells the Judge that Luigi is a confessed assassin

What happens to all of the stolen goods Tom has taken with him to

St. Louis?

• Another thief steals the stuff!

CHAPTER 16

• The chapter starts with Tom being EXTREMELY depressed for losing things that are not even his!

What selfless idea does Roxy have for Tom to pay off his gambling

debts?

• He will sell her into slavery for the $600 that she is worth.

What does Roxy make Tom promise about the deal?

• That he will buy her back in a years time

Where did Tom sell Roxy?

• DOWN THE RIVER! • HE is the WORST SON EVER

Did Roxy know that she was being sold down the river?

• No! She found out when she was on the boat going DOWN stream