The Water-Devil. a Marine Tale
The Water-Devil is a short story by Frank R. Stockton about a sea captain who encounters a mysterious creature while sailing in the Pacific Ocean. The creature, which resembles a giant octopus, attacks the ship and nearly destroys it before being defeated by the captain's quick thinking and bravery. The story is a classic example of American adventure fiction from the late 19th century.
By Frank R. Stockton · First published 1893 · Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery · 16,962 words
First lines
In the village of Riprock there was neither tavern nor inn, for it was but a small place through which few travellers passed; but it could not be said to be without a place of entertainment, for if by chance a stranger -- or two or three of them, for that matter -- wished to stop at Riprock for a meal, or to pass the night, there was the house of blacksmith Fryker, which was understood to be always open to decent travellers.
The blacksmith was a prominent man in the village, and his house was a large one, with several spare bedrooms, and it was said by those who had had an opportunity of judging, that nobody in the village lived better than blacksmith Fryker and his family.
What this Textopian page supports
The Water-Devil. a Marine Tale is listed on Textopian as a novella by Frank R. Stockton, dated 1893 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novella
- Author: Frank R. Stockton
- Date: 1893 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery, Historical Fiction, Drama
- Length: 16,962 words
- Structure: 1 section, 192 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Water-Devil. a Marine Tale 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
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Genres
- Adventure — The plot revolves around a thrilling marine tale with elements of exploration and danger.
- Fantasy — The story includes fantastical elements such as mythical creatures and supernatural occurrences.
- Mystery — The narrative involves solving enigmas and uncovering hidden truths.
- Historical Fiction — The setting and context are influenced by historical maritime culture and practices.
Tags
marine · tale · adventure · fantasy · mythology · ocean · creature · narrative · folklore · mystery · exploration · seafaring