A First Sight of the Sea
A First Sight of the Sea is a short story by Frank R. Stockton about a young boy named Tommy who has never seen the ocean before and his experience when he finally gets to see it for the first time. The story follows Tommy's journey from his home in the country to the seaside town where he stays with his uncle and aunt, and culminates in his first glimpse of the sea. Throughout the story, Stockton uses vivid descriptions and imagery to convey the wonder and excitement that Tommy feels as he discovers this new world.
By Frank R. Stockton · First published 1890 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Educational · 862 words
First lines
If you have ever seen the ocean, you will understand what a grand thing it is to look for the first time upon its mighty waters, stretching away into the distance, and losing themselves in the clouds and sky. We know it is thousands of miles over to the other shore, but for all that we have a pretty good idea of that shore. We know its name, and have read about the people who live there.
What this Textopian page supports
A First Sight of the Sea is listed on Textopian as a short story by Frank R. Stockton, dated 1890 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Frank R. Stockton
- Date: 1890 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Educational, Children's Literature, Fantasy
- Length: 862 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A First Sight of the Sea by Frank R. Stockton
- 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 A First Sight of the Sea?
- How does this short story by Frank R. Stockton fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The First Sight Of Green Fields by Charles Lamb
- The Gift Of The Sea by Rudyard Kipling
- Sunrise On The Coast by Andrew Barton Paterson
- To All That Love The Far And Blue by Robert Louis Stevenson
- Wonders Of The Sea Or Daily Miracles by Charles Kingsley
- First Sight Of The Sea by George Macdonald
Genres
- Historical Fiction — The narrative is set in a historical context, focusing on Vasco Nunez de Balboa's discovery of the Pacific Ocean.
- Adventure — The story involves exploration and the excitement of discovering new lands.
- Educational — The text provides historical information and geographical knowledge, especially through the character of Johnny Green.
- Children's Literature — The inclusion of a character like Johnny Green and the simplified explanation of historical events suggest it is aimed at a younger audience.
Tags
sea · ocean · nature · exploration · adventure · discovery · landscape · impression · beauty · reflection · journey · experience