The Sailor-Boy's Tale | Essays and Criticism

  • Rites of Passage

    In the following essay, the author discusses Dinesen’s story in terms of rites of passage.

  • Fairy Tale Form

    In the following essay, the author explores the fairy tale form and the initiation theme of Dinesen’s story.

  • Themes of The Marvelous and Initiation

    In the following essay, the author examines the themes of ‘‘the marvelous’’ and initiation in ‘‘The Sailor-Boy’s Tale’’ and other well-known stories.

  • Anecdote as Destiny: Isak Dinesen and the Storyteller

    In the following essay excerpt, the author analyzes ‘‘The Sailor-Boy’s Tale,’’ in the context of its similarity to Coleridge’s ‘‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,’’ especially its ‘‘exploration of isolation and community.’’