The Coachman by Frank R. Stockton
The Coachman is a short story by Frank R. Stockton about a man who takes a job driving a coach for a wealthy family. The story follows the coachman's adventures and misadventures as he tries to navigate his new position while also dealing with the eccentricities of his employers.
By Frank R. Stockton · First published 1890 · Genre: Children's Literature, Fiction, Realism · 867 words
First lines
When a boy sees a coachman driving two showy, high-stepping horses along the street, or, better still, over a level country road, with his long whip curling in the air, which whip he now and then flirts so as to make a sharp, cracking noise over the horses' heads, and occasionally brings down with a light flick upon the flanks of the right or left horse, -- the carriage, shining with varnish and plate, rolling along swiftly and smoothly, -- the little boy is apt to think that coachman must be a very happy mortal.
What this Textopian page supports
The Coachman 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: Children's Literature, Fiction, Realism, Social Commentary, Adventure
- Length: 867 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Coachman 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 The Coachman?
- 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 centered around a child's perspective and ambitions, making it highly relatable and engaging for young readers.
- Fiction — The story is a work of imagination, focusing on the life and experiences of a coachman, which are fictionalized for narrative effect.
- Realism — The detailed and vivid descriptions of the coachman's life, both glamorous and harsh, provide a realistic portrayal of his experiences.
- Social Commentary — The contrast between the coachman's hardships and the opulence of the party inside the house offers a critique of social disparities.
Tags
adventure · fantasy · moral dilemma · humor · narrative · character study · social commentary · irony · folklore · dialogue · suspense · conflict