The Great Whitewashing

A set of vocabulary flashcards based on the adapted story of Tom Sawyer and the Great Whitewashing, focusing on key objects, measurements, and thematic definitions derived from the text.

Whitewash

A white liquid mixture used for painting surfaces like fences.

Thirty yards

The specific length of the wooden fence that Tom was assigned to paint.

Nine feet

The height of the fence Tom had to paint, and also the depth of water Ben Rogers claimed to be drawing as the Big Missouri.

Buffalo Girls

A popular song of the day that Jim sang while fetching water from the town pump.

Town pump

The location a hundred yards away where the village children gathered to rest, quarrel, and tell stories while getting water.

Leather strap

The object Aunt Polly was holding in her hand when she returned to the house after checking on the boys.

Big Missouri

The name of the large riverboat that Ben Rogers was pretending to be.

Ting-a-ling-ling

The sound Ben Rogers made to mimic the bells of a riverboat.

Three coats

The number of layers of whitewash the fence had received by the time Tom ran out of paint.

Rule of human action

The discovery that in order to make someone want a thing badly, it is only necessary to make the thing difficult to get.

Work

In the context of Tom's discovery, something that a person is obliged to do.

Play

In the context of Tom's discovery, something that a person does for pleasure or for the fun of it.

Green bottle glass

One of the items Tom acquired from the other boys to look through.

Long-handled brush

The specific tool Tom used to apply the whitewash to the fence.