Mark Twain's art of grotesque exaggeration.

This thesis uncovers truths and lies in the works of Mark Twain. It examines the way in which Twain's lies of exaggeration bring about truth. In his early newspaper writings, Twain developed a technique of exaggeration that often burlesques the journalism genre using a mock-serious tone, italics, and framing. These writings not only entertained but sometimes horrified readers by exposing human folly. Roughing It adds an element of contrast to the exaggeration. By amplifying both his good and bad experiences in the West, Twain is able to uncover the duality of man mirrored in the duality of nature. Revisiting Twain's most famous works, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, after studying his art of exaggeration, unearths new depths of Twain's social commentary through the contrast of the characters of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn.