The Survivor's Story
The story revolves around a passenger who boards a ship in Philadelphia bound for Liverpool. The passenger, a young man, is the sole survivor of a shipwreck and recounts his ordeal to a friend in a calm and matter-of-fact manner. He describes how he boarded the ship, the storm that struck, and the subsequent sinking of the vessel. The narrator then details his struggles to stay alive on a makeshift raft, including fending off sharks and dealing with hunger and thirst. Eventually, he is rescued by a passing ship and returns home.
By Edward Everett Hale · First published 1869 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Drama · 1,699 words
First lines
Fortunately we were with our wives.
It is in general an excellent custom, as I will explain if opportunity is given.
What this Textopian page supports
The Survivor's Story is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edward Everett Hale, dated 1869 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Edward Everett Hale
- Date: 1869 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Drama, Survival, Psychological Fiction
- Length: 1,699 words
- Structure: 1 section, 33 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Survivor's Story by Edward Everett Hale
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Survivor's Story?
- How does this short story by Edward Everett Hale fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- The Stokers Story by Edward Everett Hale
- The Wife Of Biddefords Story by Edward Everett Hale
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- In The Misty Seas by Harold Bindloss
- The Heart Of Grief by Edith Nesbit
Genres
- Historical Fiction — The plot is set in a specific historical period and incorporates real historical events and figures.
- Adventure — The narrative involves a journey or quest with significant physical challenges and risks.
- Drama — The story focuses on intense character development and emotional themes.
- Survival — The central theme revolves around characters overcoming extreme conditions to survive.
Tags
Survival · Shipwreck · Maritime · Disaster · Tragedy · Loss · Grief · Memoir · Biographical · Historical · Nautical · Adventure