A Matter of Method by Ambrose Bierce
"A Matter of Method" is a short story by Ambrose Bierce, first published in 1891. The story follows a man named John who has developed a unique method of solving mathematical problems. He claims that his method is based on a series of simple and logical steps, but he refuses to reveal the details of his process, insisting that it is a matter of method rather than intelligence or talent. Despite his secrecy, John's method proves to be incredibly effective, and he becomes renowned for his ability to solve complex problems with ease. However, as the story progresses, it becomes clear that there may be more to John's method than he initially let on, and the true nature of his "method" is left ambiguous and open to interpretation.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1896 · Genre: Satire, Historical Fiction, Psychological Thriller · 107 words
First lines
A Philosopher seeing a Fool beating his Donkey, said:
"Abstain, my son, abstain, I implore. Those who resort to violence shall suffer from violence."
"That," said the Fool, diligently belabouring the animal, "is what I'm trying to teach this beast -- which has kicked me."
"Doubtless," said the Philosopher to himself, as he walked away, "the wisdom of fools is no deeper nor truer than ours, but they really do seem to have a more impressive way of imparting it."
What this Textopian page supports
A Matter of Method is listed on Textopian as a fable by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1896 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Fable
- Author: Ambrose Bierce
- Date: 1896 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Historical Fiction, Psychological Thriller, War, Short Stories
- Length: 107 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Matter of Method 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 Matter of Method?
- How does this fable by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Satire first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- A Hasty Inference by Ambrose Bierce
- Discretion by Ambrose Bierce
- The Key Note by Ambrose Bierce
- The Overlooked Factor by Ambrose Bierce
- Slickens by Ambrose Bierce
- The Penitent Thief by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Satire — Ambrose Bierce is commonly known for his biting wit and satirical writing style.
- Historical Fiction — Bierce often pencils historical contexts and timelines into his stories.
- Psychological Thriller — Psychological complexities and dark thematic overtones are recurrent in Bierce's works.
- War — Many of Bierce's works reflect his traumatic experiences in the Civil War.
Tags
mystery · thriller · detective · crime · fiction · literature · classic · american · gothic · horror · suspense · intrigue