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Stephen Crane, "The Open Boat"

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Fact and Fiction

"The Open Boat" offers some interesting insights into the relationship between fact and fiction, as Crane wrote his story after he wrote a newspaper article about his experience. Consider the changes and deletions he made in his fictional version. For additional context, look at the site on Stephen Crane and the Commodore: A Prelude to the Spanish-American War, the Library of Congress site on Crane, and a description of Mosquito Inlet today.

Naturalism

"The Open Boat" is often cited as the prime example of Naturalism in American literature. Extensive online definitions have been offered by Donna Campbell. Read this brief but good commentary by Karen Bernardo on "The Open Boat." his essay on naturalism in the story online.

Does such an approach make the story more of a philosophy lesson than a fictional work of art? What meanings are gained and lost by interpreting "The Open Boat " through the lens of naturalism?

Related Texts

Compare the themes and style of "The Open Boat" with one of more of the following, finding key similarities and differences:

• The theme of the swimmer (see the collection of texts from George Landow)
  
  
• Man and nature: Another Crane story, most notably "The Men in the Storm"
  
  
• Fate: Texts by other authors which have often been compared to the story; in particular, Emerson's essay on "Fate"
  
  
• Crane's religious perspective: his poems on religion
  
  
• Imagery or theme in any other works by Crane
  
  

The Story and Art: Impressionism

Stephen Crane's style has often been characterized as impressionistic because of his "vivid renderings of moments of visual beauty and uncertainty" and " 'discontinuous' rendering of action" (Donald Vanouse). Consider the characteristics of French Impressionism as described on the Paris Web Museum (with links to images of important paintings) and point out similarities with the story.

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