Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Mark Twain- The Prince and the Pauper


Realistic Fiction

Due to the diffrences of each other's lifestyles, the boys exchange roles, with Tom Canty brought into the palace, and Prince Edward attempting to escape from the clutches of Tom's father. Finally Edward attaches himself to a discredited nobleman, Miles Hendon, who offers to help him return to the palace. Meanwhile, news reaches them that King Henry VIII has died and Edward is the rightful king.

After a series of adventures, including a stint in prison, Edward manages to exchange places with Tom just as the latter is about to celebrate his coronation. Tom is eager to give up the throne, but the nobles refuse to believe that the beggarly child is the rightful king, until he produces the Great Seal that he had hidden before leaving the palace. Later, Miles is rewarded with a raised noble rank of an Earl and the unique family right to sit in the presence of the king. As for Tom, in gratitude in supporting the new King's claim to the throne, Edward names him "The King's Ward," a privileged position he holds for the rest of his life. In the end, Edward and Tom finally switch back and they all live happily for quite some time. In the afterword, it is mentioned that Edward dies at a young age.

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