A Challenge by Ambrose Bierce (1893)
The book "A CHALLENGE" by Ambrose Bierce is a short story that follows the tale of a man who is challenged to spend a night in a haunted house. Despite his initial hesitation, the man agrees to the challenge and spends the night in the house, only to discover that it is indeed haunted by the ghost of a former occupant. The story explores themes of bravery, fear, and the supernatural, and is a classic example of Bierce's dark and suspenseful writing style.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1893 · Genre: Satire, Short Stories · 268 words
First lines
A bull imprisoned in a stall Broke boldly the confining wall, And found himself, when out of bounds, Within a washerwoman's grounds.
Where, hanging on a line to dry, A crimson skirt inflamed his eye.
With bellowings that woke the dead, He bent his formidable head, With pointed horns and gnarly forehead; Then, planting firm his shoulders horrid, Began, with rage made half insane, To paw the arid earth amain, Flinging the dust upon his flanks In desolating clouds and banks, The while his eyes' uneasy white Betrayed his doubt what foe the bright Red tent concealed, perchance, from sight.
What this Textopian page supports
A Challenge is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1893 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Ambrose Bierce
- Date: 1893 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Short Stories
- Length: 268 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Challenge by Ambrose Bierce
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Challenge?
- How does this short story by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Satire first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- A Man by Ambrose Bierce
- Two Methods by Ambrose Bierce
- The Life Saver by Ambrose Bierce
- A Bulletin by Ambrose Bierce
- A Bad Night by Ambrose Bierce
- The Night Of Election by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Satire — Ambrose Bierce's 'A Challenge' is renowned for its satirical tone, which is a common characteristic in Bierce's writing style.
- Short Stories — 'A Challenge' is a shorter work by Ambrose Bierce, which fits well within the short stories genre.
Tags
horror · thriller · mystery · suspense · gothic · supernatural · fiction · short story · classic · literature · american literature · 19th century literature