Tame Snakes by Frank R. Stockton
Tame Snakes is a short story written by Frank R. Stockton that tells the tale of a man who befriends and tames a snake, only to have it turn on him in the end. The story explores themes of trust, betrayal, and the dangers of underestimating one's enemies.
By Frank R. Stockton · First published 1895 · Genre: Children's Literature, Animal Fiction, Short Story · 364 words
First lines
We have often heard of the tamed snakes belonging to the serpent-charmers of India and Africa, but it is seldom that the harmless serpents of civilized countries have been domesticated. But the common snake, sometimes called the garter-snake, which harmlessly shows its dark green and yellow colors among the grass and bushes, has been tamed and has shown quite a fair amount of respect and affection for its human friends.
What this Textopian page supports
Tame Snakes 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, Animal Fiction, Short Story, Folklore, Educational
- Length: 364 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Tame Snakes 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 Tame Snakes?
- 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?
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Genres
- Children's Literature — The narrative is simple, engaging, and suitable for a young audience, focusing on the taming of animals and their interactions with humans.
- Animal Fiction — The story centers around the taming and behavior of snakes, making it a prime example of fiction involving animals.
- Short Story — The work is concise and focuses on a single theme, characteristic of short stories.
- Folklore — The narrative includes elements of folklore, such as the anecdotal style and the moral lesson about human-animal relationships.
Tags
adventure · humor · fantasy · animals · snakes · taming · narrative · short story · folklore · imagination · conflict · morality