Đọc truyện và nghe truyện bằng tiếng Anh cũng là cách để chúng ta luyện có hiệu quả hai kĩ năng nghe và đọc hiểu đấy. Hôm nay chúng ta cùng nghe và đọc tiểu thuyết Những cuộc phiêu lưu của Tom Sawyer cùng Engzy nhé.
Những cuộc phiêu lưu của Tom Sawyer là một quyển tiểu thuyết được nhà văn Mark Twain viết với bút pháp độc đáo, miêu tả tâm lý, cử chỉ, hành động của một chú bé sống tại một ngôi làng nghèo bên sông Mississippi. Tác giả đã miêu tả xuất sắc tính cách, tâm lý, hành động của chú bé thông minh, nghịch ngợm nhưng dũng cảm và có một tấm lòng nhân hậu giàu tình nghĩa.
Cốt truyện:
Vào những năm 1840, cậu bé tinh nghịch và giàu trí tưởng tượng Tom Sawyer sống với người cô Polly và anh họ trong phố Mississippi River của St. Petersburg, Missouri. Sau khi trốn học vào ngày thứ sáu và làm bẩn quần áo mình khi đánh nhau, Tom bị phạt phải sơn hàng rào vào thứ bảy. Đầu tiên, Tom thất vọng vì bị mất ngày nghỉ. Tuy nhiên, sau đó cậu đã rất thông minh khi khuyến khích các bạn phải trao đổi rất nhiều “kho báu” để đổi lấy quyền được làm công việc của mình. Sau đó, cậu nhận ra rằng để làm cho ai đó ao ước một điều gì, chỉ cần làm nó khó có thể đạt được. Cậu đổi những “kho báu” mà mình đạt được bằng cách lừa các bạn sơn bằng những tấm vé để nghe kinh thánh vào ngày chủ nhật. Cậu nhận được đủ vé để vào nghe kinh thánh. Tuy nhiên, cậu để vuột mất vinh quang khi trả lời David và Goliath là hai trong số những môn đệ của chúa Giêsu.
Tom yêu Becky Thatcher – một cô gái mới trong phố. Cậu khuyến khích cô có thể “đính hôn” với cậu chỉ bằng cách hôn mình. Becky hôn Tom. Nhưng tình yêu của họ sụp đổ khi Becky biết Tom trước đó đã “đính hôn” với một cô gái khác – Amy Lawrence. Một thời gian ngắn sau khi bị Becky xa lánh, Tom đồng hành cùng Huckleberry Finn – con trai của một kẻ say rượu – đến nghĩa địa vào đêm để thử tìm ra “phương thuốc” cho căn bệnh mụn cóc từ một con mèo chết. Tại nghĩa địa, họ chứng kiến vụ giết bác sĩ Robinson được thực hiện bởi một kẻ bản xứ Injun Joe. Quá sợ hãi, Tom và Huck đã chạy thục mạng và thề một lời thề máu không nói cho bất kì ai về những gì họ đã thấy. Injun Joe đã đổ tội cho Muff Potter – một kẻ say rượu không may – về tội ác trên. Tom rất lo lắng và cảm thấy tội lỗi. Tom, Huck và Joe Harper – một người bạn của Tom – chạy đến một hòn đảo để trở thành những tên cướp biển. Khi đang bơi và tận hưởng tự do mới mẻ, các cậu nhận ra mọi người đang tìm kiếm xác họ. Tom lẻn về nhà một đêm để quan sát các thay đổi. Sau một lúc hối hận về nỗi khổ của những người thân yêu, Tom nảy ra ý tưởng xuất hiện vào đám tang của chính mình để làm mọi người kinh ngạc. Cậu cũng bảo Joe và Huck làm như vậy. Sự trở lại của họ sẽ ngập tràn trong sự vui mừng. Họ sẽ trở thành người hùng và là sự ghen tị của các bạn.
Trở lại trường, Tom nhận được sự yêu mến của Becky vì đã nhận trách nhiệm cho cuốn sách mà cô xé rách. Ngay sau đó, Muff Potter ra tòa. Tom đã vượt qua nỗi sợ hãi và ra làm chứng chống lại Injun Joe. Muff Potter trắng án nhưng Injun trốn qua cửa sổ của tòa án.
Mùa hè đến, Tom và Huck đi tìm kho báu trong một ngôi nhà bị ma ám. Sau khi lên tầng trên, họ nghe thấy một tiếng động phía dưới. Nhìn xuống cái hố tầng dưới, họ thấy Injun Joe đang giả dạng là một người Tây Ban Nha điếc và mù. Hắn và một kẻ đồng lõa bù xù đang lên kế hoạch để chôn kho báu mà chúng đánh cắp. Từ chỗ ẩn nấp của mình, Tom và Huck thích thú với cái ý nghĩ đào nó lên. Trong một sự trùng hợp hiếm có, Tom và Huck đã đào được một hột một đầy vàng. Khi chúng thấy dụng cụ của Tom và Huck, chúng bắt đầu nghi ngờ rằng có ai đó đã chốn vào căn nhà và định đánh cắp kho báu của chúng thay vì chôn nó như chúng dự định.
Huck bắt đầu theo dõi Injun Joe mọi đêm, cố tìm cơ hội để chiếm được số vàng. Trong khi đó, Tom có chuyến picnic đến McDougal’s Cave với Becky và các bạn cùng lớp. Trong cùng một đêm, Huck thấy Injun Joe và kẻ đồng lõa đang loay hoay với một chiếc hộp. Cậu đi theo và chợt nghe thấy chúng đang lên kế hoạch tấn công Widow Douglas – một cư dân ở St. Petersburg. Huck chạy đi tìm kiếm sự giúp đỡ nhằm ngăn chặn tội ác và cậu trở thành một anh hùng vô danh.
Tom và Becky lạc trong hang và sự vắng mặt của họ không được phát hiện cho tới sáng hôm sau. Người trong phố đổ xô đi tìm họ nhưng không có tác dụng. Tom và Becky hết thức ăn và nến và dần dần yếu đi. Tình hình càng trở nên tồi tệ trong khi Tom tìm lối ra, cậu phát hiện Injun Joe cũng đang ở trong hang để ẩn nấp. Cuối cùng, ngay lúc những người tìm kiếm bỏ cuộc, Tom tìm được lối ra. Cả phố ăn mừng và cha của Becky, Judge Thatcher, khóa cái hang lại, để mặc cho Injun Joe đến chết.
Một tuần sau, Tom dẫn Huck đến cái hang và tìm thấy hộp chứa vàng. Tiền trong đó sẽ được chia cho họ. Widow Douglas nhận Huck làm con nuôi khi Huck cố gắng trốn khỏi cuộc sống văn minh. Tom hứa với cậu, cậu có thể gia nhập “băng cướp” của mình nếu Tom trở lại. Huck đồng ý một cách miễn cưỡng.
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Aunt Polly Decides Her Duty
“Tom!” No answer. “TOM!” No answer. The old lady looked around the room. “When I find you, I—” She did not finish. With her head down, she was looking under the bed. Only the cat came out. She went to the open door and looked toward the garden. No Tom was there. She shouted: “You, Tom!” There was a little noise behind her. She turned and caught a small boy, stopping him before he could escape. “What were you doing in that corner?” “Nothing.” “Nothing! What is that on your hands and face?” “I do not know, Aunt Polly.” “I know. You have been eating sweets. I have told you a hundred.
M a r k T w a i n times not to eat those sweets.” Her hand was raised in the air—it started down—it was very near— “Oh! Look behind you, Aunt!” The old lady turned. The boy ran. In a moment he was up on the high board fence. Then he was on the far side of it. His Aunt Polly was surprised. Then she laughed a little. “That boy! I never know what he will do next. And he knows that I do not want to hit him. But I should. And if he does not go to school this afternoon, I must make him work tomorrow. He does not like work. Especially on Saturday, when there is no school, he does not like work. All the other boys will be playing. But I must try to make him a good boy. He is my dead sister’s son, and it is my duty. I must do my duty.” Tom did not go to school and he had a very happy afternoon. He came home late. He hurried to do his share of the evening work. His brother Sid had already finished his share. Sid was a quiet boy, who had no adventures and also no troubles. While Tom sat eating, his Aunt Polly asked questions. She hoped to learn about his afternoon. “Tom, was it warm in school?” “Yes, Aunt Polly.” “Did you wish to go swimming, Tom?” Tom began to feel afraid. What did she know about his after noon? “No, Aunt Polly. Not very much.” She touched his shirt. It was dry. But Tom knew what she would touch next. He said quickly, “Some of us put water on our heads because we were hot. My hair is not dry yet.” He watched her face. Yes, she believed him. He was safe. And Aunt Polly was glad to believe that he had been good. The summer evenings were long. Tom walked along the street, whistling like a bird. Then he stopped whistling. He had met a stranger, a boy a little larger than he was. The boy’s clothes were new and good, and he was wearing shoes. Tom would wear shoes and good clothes like these only to church on Sunday. Tom looked and looked. The boy’s clothes seemed to become better and better, and his own clothes seemed to grow poorer. Neither boy spoke. If one moved, then the other moved. But they moved only to the side, in a circle. They remained face to face and eye to eye. Then Tom said: “I can beat you!” “Try.” “I can.” “No, you can’t.” “Yes, I can.” “No, you can’t.” “I can.” “You can’t.” “Can!” “Can’t!” A moment of quiet. Then Tom said: “I could beat you with one hand.” “Do it. You say you can do it.” “That hat!” “Hit it off my head if you can.” “I will.” “You are afraid.” “I am not afraid.” “You are.” “I am not.” “You are.” More moving in a circle. Now they were shoulder to shoulder, each trying to make the other fall back. And then suddenly they were both rolling in the dust. Each pulled at the other’s hair, and each hit the other’s nose. And now through the dust Tom appeared, sitting on the new boy, beating him with hard, closed hands. “Have you had enough?” said he. The boy tried to get free. He was weeping with anger. “Have you had enough?”
Then the new boy said, “Enough!” Tom let him stand up and walk away. But as soon as Tom turned, the new boy threw a stone, hitting Tom’s back. Therefore, Tom followed him home, and waited. The boy did not come out again. His mother came and said that Tom was a bad child. She told him to go home. It was late when Tom got there. Very quietly and carefully, he entered through a window. But his aunt was waiting for him. She had learned from Sid about Tom’s afternoon. Now she saw his clothes and she knew that he had been fighting. She knew what she must do. Tom would work all day on Saturday.
S t r o n g D e s i r e — W i s e A c t i o n
SATURDAY MORNING CAME. ALL THE SUMMER WORLD WAS BRIGHT and fresh and full of life. Tom appeared in front of the house with paint and a big brush. He looked at the fence, and all joy left him. A deep sadness settled upon his heart. The fence was long and high. He wet the brush and moved it along the top board. He did it again, and did it again. He looked at what he had done. The painted part was very, very small. The whole fence was very large. He sat down. He felt that he could not continue. Jim, a boy who worked for the family, came through the gate. He was going to get water, and he was singing happily. Tom said, “Jim, I will get the water, if you will paint.” Jim said, “No. I must get the water.” “Are you afraid of Aunt Polly? She won’t hurt you. She talks about it, but talk never hurts. It never hurts except when she weeps, also. You should not be afraid of her. Jim, I will give you one of my playthings. And I will show you my foot. I will show you where I hurt it.” Jim was only human. He took the plaything and he put his head down to look at the foot. In another moment he was running down the street. Tom was painting as fast as possible. And Aunt Polly was returning to the house. But Tom began to think of the pleasure planned for this day. His hands moved more slowly. Soon the other boys would come and laugh at him for working. From his pocket he took everything that he owned. He looked at it. There was nothing of real value. It was not enough to buy another boy’s help. At this dark moment, a wonderful idea came to him. It was like a great, bright light. He took his brush and went quietly to work. Ben Rogers appeared soon. Tom had been especially afraid of Ben’s laugh. Ben was eating an apple. Also as he walked, he was making noises like those of a big riverboat. He would shout loudly. Then he would say, “Dingdongdong,” like a bell. Then he would shout again, and say, “Dingdongdong,” again, and make other strange noises. He was the boat, and he was the captain of the boat, and the boat bell. “Turn her!” he shouted. “Slow her! Stop!” He made a slow, careful turn, came close beside Tom, and stopped. Tom continued his painting. He did not look at the boat. Ben said, “Hello! You are in trouble.” No answer. Tom moved his brush gently, and looked at the result. Ben came nearer. Tom wished for the apple, but he did not turn from his work. Ben said: “Hello, you must work, must you?” Tom turned suddenly. “Oh, Ben, is it you? I did not see you.” “I am going swimming, I am. Do you wish you could go with me? Or would you rather work?” Tom said, “What do you mean? Work?” “That is work.” Tom returned to his painting. “It may be work and it may not be. But it is fine for Tom Sawyer.” “Do you mean that you enjoy it?” “Enjoy it? Does a boy have a chance to paint a fence every day?” Here was a new idea. Ben stopped eating his apple. Tom moved his brush—stepped away to look at the result—added a little paint here and there—stepped away again. Ben watched. He was more and more interested. Then he said: “Tom, let me paint a little.” Tom thought. Then he said, “No, Ben. Aunt Polly wants this fence to be perfect. If it was the fence behind the house, you could help. But this fence, beside the street, must be done very carefully. There is not one boy in a thousand who can do it well.” “Oh, Tom, let me try. Only a little. I will be careful. Tom, I will give you part of my apple.” “No, Ben. I am afraid—” “I will give you all of it!” Tom gave the brush to Ben slowly, but with joy in his heart. And, while the boy who a few moments before had been a riverboat worker and became hot in the sun, Tom sat under the tree, eating the apple and planning how to get more help. There were enough boys. They came along the street, stopped to laugh, but remained to paint. After Ben, Bill Fisher painted. Then Johnny Miller came. Each one paid to be allowed to work. In the middle of the afternoon, Tom was very rich. He had many playthings, a small cat with one eye, a piece of broken blue glass, and much more. And he had not worked, and the whole fence had been painted three times. There was no more paint. With more paint, Tom would soon have owned everything belonging to the other boys. And the other boys in the village would have owned nothing. Tom had discovered a great law of human action. A man or a boy will desire something if it is not easy to get.
To m a s a n A r m y O f f i c e r — D e l i g h t f u l S a d n e s s
TOM WENT TO REPORT TO AUNT POLLY. SHE WAS SITTING BESIDE
AN open window. She was half asleep, and she was holding the sleeping cat. She was surprised to see Tom. She thought that he had run away from his work long ago. Tom said, “May I go and play now, Aunt?” “Already? How much have you done?” “It is all done, Aunt.” “Tom, is that true? It makes me sad if you do not tell the truth.” “It is true, Aunt; it is all done.” She went to see, and her surprise was very great. “You can work when you want to, Tom. But you do not often want to. Go and play. But remember to come home again.” And she gave him a large apple. She did not see him take a piece of cake as he passed through the kitchen. Tom hurried to the center of the village. There two armies of boys had met for a battle. Tom was the leader, the General, of one army, and his good friend, Joe Harper, was the General of the other. Tom and Joe did not fight. They sat together and sent their orders to the armies.
When the battle was finished, they agreed to have another battle on another day. Then the armies marched away, and Tom started to go home alone. As he passed Jeff Thatcher’s house, he saw a new girl in the garden. She had blue eyes and yellow hair. She was beautiful. Tom had loved a girl named Amy Lawrence. A week ago she had said that she loved him. He had been happy and proud. But now in a moment she was gone from his heart. He watched the new girl until she discovered him. Then he looked at other places, as if he had not seen her. And he began to jump, and dance, and walk on his hands, so that she would continue to watch him. She walked toward the house, and Tom’s heart was sad. But she threw a flower over the fence. Then she was gone. Tom looked around. There was no person to see him. Slowly he picked up the flower. He put it under his shirt, near his heart. And he stayed near the fence until darkness came. Then he went home to eat. He was full of joy. His aunt wondered why. Later that evening his brother Sid was a bad boy. He took some sweets. But his aunt did not believe that Sid could be bad. She gave Tom the blow that she should have given to Sid. She learned the truth later, and was sorry. But she said nothing to Tom. Therefore, Tom was very sorry for himself. He began to wish that he would die. She would feel sorry then. He could see himself being carried home from the river, dead, his hair wet, his troubles past. He went out into the darkness, and went to the river. It would be good to drown—if he could drown without pain. He thought of his flower, and took it from inside his shirt. Would the new girl be sad if he died? Would she put her arms around him? Or would she turn coldly away? This picture brought him much delightful suffering. He kept it a long time in his mind. Then he started home.
He stopped near the Thatcher house. There was a light in one window. Was that the new girl’s room? He lay down on the ground below the window, with her flower in his hands. He would lie there and die in the cold. In the morning, she would look out the window, and see him. The window opened suddenly. He heard the voice of a woman who worked for the Thatchers. She threw water out of the window, and it fell on him. Tom jumped up and ran. Sid opened his eyes and saw Tom, ready for bed, looking at his wet clothes. Tom’s wild eyes made Sid afraid. He did not dare to speak. But he would remember and tell his aunt
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