The Little Man and his Little Gun

This story revolves around a young boy who discovers a magical gun that can bring anything he imagines into existence. However, the gun's power comes with unintended consequences, and the boy must learn to control it before chaos erupts in his life.

By L. Frank Baum · First published 1904 · Genre: Children's Literature, Fable, Humor · 2,000 words

First lines

There was a little man and he had a little gun, / And the bullets were made of lead, lead, lead. / He went to the brook and shot a little duck, / And the bullet went right through its head, head, head.

THERE was once a little man named Jimson, who had stopped growing when he was a boy, and never started again. So, although he was old enough to be a man he was hardly big enough, and had he not owned a bald head and gray whiskers you would certainly have taken him for a boy whenever you saw him.

• Open reader

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• Master Cherry Gives The Wood Away by Carlo Collodi
• The Prodigal Centipede by Oliver Herford
• The Terrible Dog Fish by Carlo Collodi
• The Wondrous Wise Man by L. Frank Baum
• The Cowardly Lion And The Hungry Tiger by L. Frank Baum

Genres

• Children's Literature — The narrative is simple and engaging, aimed at a young audience with themes of adventure and humor.
• Fable — The story conveys a moral lesson about pride and the consequences of one's actions, typical of fables.
• Humor — The comedic elements, including the little man's misadventures and misunderstandings, provide humor throughout the story.
• Fantasy — The whimsical nature of the characters and situations, such as a man with a little gun, adds a fantastical element.

Tags

Fiction · Novel · Adventure · Fantasy · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Critique of Society · Commentary on Power · Commentary on Class · Commentary on Politics · Moral Lesson

What this Textopian page supports

The Little Man and his Little Gun is listed on Textopian as a short story by L. Frank Baum, dated 1904 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Short story
• Author: L. Frank Baum
• Date: 1904 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Children's Literature, Fable, Humor, Fantasy, Adventure
• Length: 2,000 words
• Structure: 1 section, 45 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The Little Man and his Little Gun by L. Frank Baum
• 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

More by L. Frank Baum

• The Enchanted Buffalo (1919)
• The Tigers Eye: A Jungle Fairy Tale (1902)
• A Kidnapped Santa Claus (1902)
• The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900)
• Tip Manufactures a Pumpkinhead (1906)
• The Marvelous Powder of Life (1905)
• The Flight of the Fugitives (1907)
• Tip Makes an Experiment in Magic (1903)
• All works by L. Frank Baum