Proud and Lazy by Oliver Optic

Name: Proud and Lazy
Author: Oliver Optic

The story follows a boy named Tommy Woggs, characterized by his pride and laziness. He believes he is superior to his peers, which alienates him from other children. Despite his father's wealth, Tommy's education and respect from others cannot be bought, leading to his struggles in school. Initially resistant to authority, he faces consequences when his teacher, Miss Dale, enforces discipline using a stick, teaching him the importance of obedience. Tommy's pride leads him to boast about his trip to New York, but his stories soon bore his classmates. His laziness manifests when he pretends to be sick to avoid school, but his father, a doctor, sees through the ruse and insists he attend. After a failed attempt to skip school, Tommy is influenced by two mischievous boys, Joe Birch and Ben Tinker, who encourage him to "hook jack" and skip school without consequences. The boys spend their day in the woods, where they smoke cigars, an act Tommy reluctantly participates in to fit in. This decision leads to him feeling ill, and upon returning home, he is discovered to have been smoking. His father learns of his truancy and the smoking incident, resulting in punishment for all involved. Ultimately, Tommy's experiences teach him valuable lessons about pride, laziness, and the consequences of his actions. He resolves to improve his behavior, recognizing that overcoming bad habits takes time and effort. The narrative emphasizes the importance of obedience, the dangers of pride, and the value of genuine respect and hard work.

By Oliver Optic · First published 1870 · Genre: Children's Literature, Educational Fiction, Moral Tale · 4 chapters · 6,556 words

First lines

Tommy Woggs was a funny little boy. He was very proud and very lazy. He seemed to think he was a great man, and that other people lived only to serve and obey him.

None of the boys and girls liked him, because he used to order them round, and because he thought himself so much better than they were.

What this Textopian page supports

Proud and Lazy is listed on Textopian as a novella by Oliver Optic, dated 1870 CE.

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

Work type: Novella
Author: Oliver Optic
Date: 1870 CE
Language: English
Genres: Children's Literature, Educational Fiction, Moral Tale, Coming-of-Age, Realistic Fiction
Length: 6,556 words
Structure: 4 chapters, 241 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for Proud and Lazy by Oliver Optic
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

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Similar titles

Genres

Children's Literature — The book is primarily aimed at a young audience, focusing on moral lessons and the behavior of children.
Educational Fiction — The narrative emphasizes the importance of education, obedience, and the consequences of laziness and pride.
Moral Tale — The story conveys clear moral lessons about humility, respect, and the value of hard work.
Coming-of-Age — The protagonist, Tommy, experiences growth and learning through his mistakes and interactions with peers.