An Ancient Theatre
An Ancient Theatre is a short story written by Frank R. Stockton that tells the tale of an ancient Greek theatre that has been uncovered after being buried for centuries. The story follows the adventures of two young men who explore the ruins and discover a hidden treasure within the walls of the theatre.
By Frank R. Stockton · First published 1895 · Genre: Historical, Educational, Non-fiction · 468 words
First lines
I suppose you are all familiar with pictures of the Colosseum at Rome, but unless you have carefully studied detailed descriptions of this edifice it is impossible for you to properly comprehend the grand style in which the ancients amused themselves.
This great theatre, the ruins of which are now standing in Rome, and which will probably stand for hundreds of years longer, was built nearly eighteen hundred years ago. It is a vast oval building, four stories high, and capable of containing ninety thousand spectators!
What this Textopian page supports
An Ancient Theatre is listed on Textopian as a short story by Frank R. Stockton, dated 1895 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: 1895 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical, Educational, Non-fiction, Cultural, Architectural
- Length: 468 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for An Ancient Theatre 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
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering An Ancient Theatre?
- How does this short story by Frank R. Stockton fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Stage As It Was Once by Charles Kingsley
- Fiction Fields Of Australia by Frederick Sinnett
- At The Play by Gilbert Parker
- King Byrge And His Brothers by George Borrow
- The Cossack An Ancient Ballad From The Malo Russian by George Borrow
- The Romance Of Rostand by G. K. Chesterton
Genres
- Historical — The text provides a detailed historical account of the Colosseum, its construction, and its use in ancient Rome.
- Educational — The writing style and content aim to inform and educate the reader about the historical significance and architectural details of the Colosseum.
- Non-fiction — The narrative is based on factual information and historical events, without any fictional elements.
- Cultural — The text explores the cultural practices and societal norms of ancient Rome, particularly in relation to public entertainment and spectacles.
Tags
theatre · ancient · drama · performance · literature · storytelling · historical · culture · art · characters · conflict · tragedy