The Understudy by W. W. Jacobs
The story follows the adventures of a young man named Tom, who is an understudy for a theater production. Tom is a hardworking and ambitious young man, and he is determined to make a name for himself in the theater. Tom is given the opportunity to take the lead role in the play, but he soon discovers that the lead actor is a fraud and is not as talented as he claims to be. Tom must decide whether to take the lead role and risk his reputation, or to stay in the background and remain an understudy. The story follows Tom as he navigates the world of theater and learns the importance of hard work and dedication. In the end, Tom is able to make a name for himself and prove that he is a talented actor.
By W. W. Jacobs · First published 1843 · Genre: Comedy, Fiction, Satire · 4,188 words
First lines
"Dogs on board ship is a nuisance," said the night-watchman, gazing fiercely at the vociferous mongrel that had chased him from the deck of the Henry William; "the skipper asks me to keep an eye on the ship, and then leaves a thing like that down in the cabin."
He leaned against a pile of empty casks to recover his breath, shook his fist at the dog, and said, slowly --
What this Textopian page supports
The Understudy is listed on Textopian as a novel by W. W. Jacobs, dated 1843 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: W. W. Jacobs
- Date: 1843 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Comedy, Fiction, Satire, Romance
- Length: 4,188 words
- Structure: 1 section, 130 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Understudy by W. W. Jacobs
- 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 Understudy?
- How does this novel by W. W. Jacobs fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Comedy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Bills Lapse by W. W. Jacobs
- Easy Money by W. W. Jacobs
- The Third String by W. W. Jacobs
- Breaking A Spell by W. W. Jacobs
- Peters Pence by W. W. Jacobs
- The Guardian Angel by W. W. Jacobs
Genres
- Comedy — The Understudy is a humorous short story by W. W. Jacobs, featuring a protagonist who is a bumbling understudy in a theater production.
- Fiction — The Understudy is a work of fiction, as it is a short story written by W. W. Jacobs.
- Satire — The Understudy is a satirical work, as it uses humor to criticize the theater industry and the protagonist's own foolishness.
- Romance — The Understudy contains some romantic elements, as the protagonist falls in love with the leading lady of the theater production.
Tags
Humorous stories · Short stories · afore · agin · arter · barge · bed · bit · collar · day · dick · dog