“The Man that Corrupted Hadleyburg”

• What is the setting of Mark Twain's The Man that Corrupted Hadleyburg?


  The story is set in the middle-class town of Hadleyburg.
• What event sparks the plot in The Man that Corrupted Hadleyburg?

  A stranger offers the townspeople a bag of gold, tempting them and exposing their dishonesty.
• What does the story primarily focus on?

  The characters’ reactions, dialogues, and insecurities when faced with the temptation of the gold.
• What type of language does Twain use in the story?

  Twain uses common language and dialect.
• How does Twain approach the narration of the story?

  He remains objective and does not insert bias or editorialize the events.
• What are key characteristics of realist literature present in the story?

  The focus on middle-class characters and the complex ethical dilemma of honesty.