Drawing the Long Bow
Drawing the Long Bow is a short story written by Frank R. Stockton. It tells the tale of a man who boasts about his ability to draw a long bow, but when he finally gets the chance to prove it, he fails miserably. The story is a commentary on the dangers of overconfidence and the importance of humility.
By Frank R. Stockton · First published 1883 · Genre: Tall Tales, Humor, Historical Fiction · 950 words
First lines
When a man has a bow and arrows as long as those used by some of the natives of Brazil, so that he has to lie down on his back, and hold the bow with his foot when he shoots, he may well be said to draw a long bow, but it is not of these people that I now intend to speak. Without describing any particular school of archery, I merely wish to give a few instances where "the long bow" has been drawn in words, about feats with the bow and arrows.
What this Textopian page supports
Drawing the Long Bow is listed on Textopian as a short story by Frank R. Stockton, dated 1883 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: 1883 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Tall Tales, Humor, Historical Fiction, Adventure, Folklore
- Length: 950 words
- Structure: 1 section, 12 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Drawing the Long Bow 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 Drawing the Long Bow?
- How does this short story by Frank R. Stockton fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Tall Tales first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Waters Deep And Shallow by Frank R. Stockton
- The Queens Museum by Frank R. Stockton
- Topsy Turvy by Jules Verne
- Tricks Of Light by Frank R. Stockton
- The Character Of Quoodle by G. K. Chesterton
- Saving The Toll by Frank R. Stockton
Genres
- Tall Tales — The book is centered around exaggerated and incredible stories about archery feats.
- Humor — The tone and content of the stories are intended to amuse and entertain the reader.
- Historical Fiction — The book references historical figures and events, albeit in a highly fictionalized manner.
- Adventure — The stories involve adventurous and daring feats with bows and arrows.
Tags
adventure · fantasy · humor · short stories · narrative · imagination · folklore · myth · wit · satire · character development · dialogue