The Open Boat is the story of four survivors drifting in a lifeboat after a shipwreck. The four spend thirty hours in the sinking boat, becoming by turns morose, hopeful, angry, and heartsick. Eventually they sight land and decide to abandon their vessel, daring difficult currents and sharks to swim for shore. Three of the four men gain the rocks and reflect back on their experience, bemoaning their lost companion.
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The most popular website for book notes. SparkNotes was created by students for students, and their summaries are accessible and extremely well-written. Besides the usual plot overview, chapter summaries, and character analysis, SparkNotes differentiates itself with a section discussing themes, motifs, and symbols.