ParentsPick

Captains Courageous — Content Guide for Parents

By Rudyard KiplingPenguin Publishing GroupISBN 9780451523815187 pages
Captains Courageous

Found in this book

  • ViolenceBrief
  • Scary contentBrief
  • Gender rolesBriefTraditional roles

Not found

  • Religion
  • Race & culture
  • Profanity
  • Climate
  • Sexual content
  • Gender & orientation

Content themes

Factual summary of themes present in this book. No opinion — just the facts.

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Summaries and source quotes for every theme.

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Example theme card

Religion

PRESENT

Contains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.

About this book

The only one of Kipling's novels to be cast in an American setting, "Captains Courageous" endures as one of literature's most cherished and memorable sea adventures. Harvey Cheyne, spoiled millionaire's son, tumbles overboard from a luxury liner--only to be rescued by the crew of a Gloucester schooner. Thus begins the boy's second voyage into the rugged rites and ways of sailors. Like all Kipling's masterworks, "Captains Courageous" is an interweaving of art and moral purpose. Angus Wilson has said that it shows "delicacy of craft and violence of feeling, exactitude and wile impressionism, subtlety and true innocence." A popular favorite since its first publication in 1897, the novel remains a classic story of youthful initiation--and a lively tribute to the author's famous code of bravery, loyalty, an honor among men.

Frequently asked questions

  • Is Captains Courageous appropriate for a 7-year-old?

    The captain hits Harvey early on after Harvey accuses him of theft and demands to be taken ashore, and the story otherwise has no fighting. A reviewer describes a gruesome scene where two boys pull up a fishing line with a dead man on it, and the sea is shown as dangerous.

  • Does Captains Courageous have violence?

    Found (Brief): The captain hits Harvey early on after Harvey accuses him of theft and demands to be taken ashore, and the story otherwise has no fighting.

  • Does Captains Courageous have scary content?

    Found (Brief): A reviewer describes a gruesome scene where two boys pull up a fishing line with a dead man on it, and the sea is shown as dangerous.

  • Does Captains Courageous have religion?

    Not found in the sources we checked.

  • Does Captains Courageous have race & culture?

    Not found in the sources we checked.

  • Does Captains Courageous have profanity?

    Not found in the sources we checked.

  • Does Captains Courageous have climate?

    Not found in the sources we checked.

  • Does Captains Courageous have sexual content?

    Not found in the sources we checked.

  • Does Captains Courageous have gender roles?

    Found (Brief, Traditional roles): The story follows a spoiled boy who is made to work and become a man at sea, and a review describes it as being about instilling manliness in him.

  • Does Captains Courageous have gender & orientation?

    Not found in the sources we checked.

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