A Cold Night by Ambrose Bierce
The story revolves around a man who has been imprisoned for murder and is awaiting execution. He reflects on his past life, recalling the events that led to his imprisonment. The narrative jumps back and forth between the present moment in prison and the past, revealing the circumstances of the crime. Through this non-linear structure, the reader gains insight into the protagonist's character and the motivations behind his actions.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1868 · Genre: War Fiction, Gothic Fiction, Realism · 575 words
First lines
The first day's battle at Stone River had been fought, resulting in disaster to the Federal army, which had been driven from its original ground at every point except its extreme left. The weary troops at this point lay behind a railway embankment to which they had retired, and which had served them during the last hours of the fight as a breastwork to repel repeated charges of the enemy. Behind the line the ground was open and rocky. Great boulders lay about everywhere, and among them lay many of the Federal dead, where they had been carried out of the way. Before the embankment the dead of both armies lay more thickly, but they had not been disturbed.
What this Textopian page supports
A Cold Night is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1868 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: 1868 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: War Fiction, Gothic Fiction, Realism, Historical Fiction, Psychological Fiction
- Length: 575 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Cold Night by Ambrose Bierce
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Cold Night?
- How does this short story by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does War Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- War Fiction — The narrative centers around a battle, depicting the experiences and emotions of soldiers during wartime.
- Gothic Fiction — The story contains elements of horror and the macabre, particularly in its portrayal of death and the eerie atmosphere.
- Realism — The writing style emphasizes a realistic depiction of the harsh conditions faced by soldiers, focusing on their psychological and physical suffering.
- Historical Fiction — The setting is based on a real historical event, providing insight into the Civil War and its impact on individuals.
Tags
Darkness · Isolation · Loneliness · Desperation · Fear · Paranoia · Suspense · Tension · Guilt · Regret · Mystery · Atmosphere