Stephen Crane, "The Open Boat" (1897)

Discussion Questions:

1.) Why is only the Oiler given a name (Billie)? Why are the others only referred to generally?

2.) Why is it that only the Oiler dies and not anyone else?

3.) What is the view of nature presented in this story?

4.) What is the view of the men presented in this story?

5.) How do the men in the open boat relate to each other?

6.) What "patterns" or "repetitions" do you find in the story? How are these important to understanding the story?

7.) Where does the narrator seem to "intrude" into the story? Is this distracting? Is it effective?

8.) What do you think about the ending to the story (after we find out that Billie the Oiler dies)? Is it truthful, or is the narrator being ironic?

9.) Why did Crane use the structure he did -- the seven sections with Roman numerals?

Pathways to Interpretation:

1. Consider the biographical context and connections

2. Consider the historical context and connections

3. Consider the "literary periods" and similar works.

4. Use the "elements of fiction."

5. Look for "patterns."

6. Always Ask Questions!

7. Click here for a short "catalog" of approaches.

Patterns in "The Open Boat" -- (note: the page numbers are for the NAAL 6th ed.)

1.) Uses of and references to COLORS:

2.) References to NATURE:

• 903
• 909 -- also "fate"
• esp. 914 -- 3rd paragraph of section VI
• esp. 917 -- top of page

3.) References to ANIMALS:

• 904 -- the boat
• 905 -- the gulls
• 908 -- the boat
• 909 -- the mouse (!)
• 912 -- branded (!)
• 913 -- babes
• 914 -- the shark
• 916 -- the shark

4.) The RELATIONSHIP of the Men:

• 905
• 907 -- the "best experience"

5.) Repetition of ROWING passage:

• 906
• 910
• 912

6.) Repetition of DROWNING passage:

• 909
• 912
• 914 -- adds idea of injustice
• 917
• 918

7.) Use of the name BILLIE for the Oiler:

• 911 -- Willie?
• 912 -- Billie
• 913 -- Billie x2
• 916 -- Billie x4
• 917 -- Billie
• He's the only one with / given a name (by Crane)
• He's the only one who drowns
• WHY?

8.) Hints or Clues or Foreshadowing about the Oiler:

• 197 -- the Oiler is practical, pragmatic, grounded
• 200 -- none of them were prepared for the shipwreck
• 200 -- the Oiler is even more tired -- a very "off hand" comment, no?
• 206 -- the Oiler overdoes it
• 209 -- the Oiler overdoes it
• 211 -- the Oiler overdoes it

9.) References to DEATH or DEAD SLEEP:

• 910
• 913
• 916
• 919 x2

Other Notes and Questions:

10.) The ENDING -- are they really "interpreters"?

• 904 -- they know very little; they are restricted
• 906 -- they can't see their progress
• 908 -- they celebrate too early
• 909 -- Narrator: they know nothing! they talk without knowledge!
• 915 -- does he understand about the soldier of the Legion at Algiers?
• 919 -- the ending: haughty? arrogant? they are sadly mistaken?

11.) Do the men in "The Open Boat" overcome nature, or are they spared by nature?

12.) Viewed from above / outside -- p. 904

13.) Approximates average experience? -- p. 904 -- NO!

14.) Use of the phrase "Willy Nilly" -- p. 904

WHAT ELSE?

OTHER PATTERNS?

OTHER QUESTIONS?