A Growler by Ambrose Bierce (1894)
"A GROWLER" is a short story by Ambrose Bierce, first published in 1893. The story follows a man named John Horton, who has been hired to retrieve a growler of beer from a remote location. However, upon arriving at the location, he discovers that the growler is actually a dead body, and he must figure out what happened to it before he can return it to its owner. The story is known for its suspenseful and mysterious plot, as well as its use of vivid imagery and atmospheric setting.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1894 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Satire, Short Stories · 270 words
First lines
Judge Shafter, you're an aged man, I know, And learned too, I doubt not, in the law; And a head white with many a winter's snow (I wish, however that your heart would thaw) Claims reverence and honor; but the jaw That's always wagging with a word malign, Nagging and scolding every one in sight As harshly as a jaybird in a pine, And with as little sense of wrong and right As animates that irritable creature, Is not a very venerable feature.
What this Textopian page supports
A Growler is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1894 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: 1894 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Satire, Short Stories, War Literature
- Length: 270 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Growler 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 Growler?
- How does this short story by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- A Hasty Settlement by Ambrose Bierce
- The Desperate Object by Ambrose Bierce
- A Man by Ambrose Bierce
- A Harmless Visitor by Ambrose Bierce
- The Life Saver by Ambrose Bierce
- A Bad Night by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Historical Fiction — Ambrose Bierce's work including 'A Growler' often draws heavily from the author's own experiences in the American Civil War, placing it in the Historical Fiction genre.
- Satire — Bierce's work is often characterized by his biting wit and satirical view of humanity, making Satire a fitting genre.
- Short Stories — 'A Growler' is one of Bierce's many short stories, making this a relevant genre.
- War Literature — Bierce's exploration of the violence and humanity in war, as in 'A Growler', fits within the genre of War Literature.
Tags
gothic · horror · supernatural · mystery · thriller · fiction · short story · american literature · classic · 19th century literature · literary fiction · psychological horror