Building Ships by Frank R. Stockton
Building Ships is a novel by Frank R. Stockton that tells the story of a young man named John who dreams of becoming a shipbuilder. The book follows his journey from apprentice to master builder, as he learns the trade and faces various challenges along the way. Along with its engaging plot, Building Ships also offers insight into the world of shipbuilding in the late 19th century.
By Frank R. Stockton · First published 1895 · Genre: Children's Literature, Instructional, Adventure · 1,107 words
First lines
It is a grand thing to own great ships, and to send them over the ocean to distant countries; but I will venture to say that few men have derived so much pleasure from their fine vessels, laden with all kinds of valuable freight, as many a boy has had in the possession of a little schooner, which would be overloaded with a quart of chestnuts. And it is not only in the ownership of these little crafts that boys delight; they enjoy the building of them quite as much.
And a boy who can build a good ship is not to be laughed at by any mechanic or architect, no matter how tall or how old he may be.
What this Textopian page supports
Building Ships 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: Children's Literature, Instructional, Adventure, Crafts & Hobbies, Historical Fiction
- Length: 1,107 words
- Structure: 1 section, 14 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Building Ships 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 Building Ships?
- How does this short story by Frank R. Stockton fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Children's Literature first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Dam by David Cory
- The Railroad by David Cory
- A New Voyage Round The World By A Course Never Sailed Before by Daniel Defoe
- The First Train by David Cory
- The Junk And Dhow by Rudyard Kipling
- The Extraordinary Adventure Of A Chief Mate by W. Clark Russell
Genres
- Children's Literature — The narrative is clearly aimed at young readers, focusing on the joys and processes of building model ships, a common childhood activity.
- Instructional — The text provides detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to build a model ship, making it educational.
- Adventure — The excitement and anticipation of launching the ship and imagining its journey across the water adds an element of adventure.
- Crafts & Hobbies — The focus on the construction and craftsmanship of model ships aligns with the interests of hobbyists.
Tags
shipbuilding · engineering · maritime · craftsmanship · innovation · technology · design · construction · nautical · history · industry · mechanics