Final answer:
Mark Twain was an influential American writer and humorist known for novels like The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. He used his literature to criticize slavery and social codes and addressed corruption in American society during the Gilded Age. Twain's contributions make him a significant figure in English studies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mark Twain, born Samuel Longhorn Clemens, was an influential American writer and humorist. He is best known for his novels and short stories, including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Twain's works often featured regional humor, satire, and dialect, and he is considered one of the most important figures of American Literary Realism. He is sometimes referred to as the 'Great American Novel'.
Twain used his literature to criticize slavery and the hierarchical social codes of the American South, subtly influencing the beliefs and identities of generations of readers. Through his writing, he addressed the corruption and lust for power in American society during the Gilded Age. Twain's contributions to American literature make him a significant figure in English studies.