A Nightmare by Ambrose Bierce (1865)
"A Nightmare" is a short story written by Ambrose Bierce, first published in 1894. The story follows a man who, after experiencing a vivid and terrifying dream, becomes convinced that he is living in a nightmarish reality. As he struggles to distinguish between his dreams and reality, the narrator's grip on sanity begins to slip, leading to a haunting and unsettling conclusion.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1865 · Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller · 137 words
First lines
I dreamed that I was dead. The years went by: / The world forgot that such a man as I / Had ever lived and written: other names / Were hailed with homage, in their turn to die.
Out of my grave a giant beech upgrew.
Its roots transpierced my body, through and through, / My substance fed its growth. From many lands / Men came in troops that giant tree to view.
'T was sacred to my memory and fame -- / My monument. But Allen Forman came, / Filled with the fervor of a new untruth, / And carved upon the trunk his odious name!
What this Textopian page supports
A Nightmare is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1865 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: 1865 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Horror, Mystery, Thriller, Psychological, Fantasy
- Length: 137 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Nightmare 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
Similar titles
- The Man And The Viper by Ambrose Bierce
- The House by Arthur Willis Colton
- The Shrieking Pit by Arthur J. Rees
- The Woman And The Devil by Ambrose Bierce
- Fallen by Ambrose Bierce
- The Victor And The Victim by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Horror — The title 'A Nightmare' implies a horrific or frightening event, which aligns with the horror genre.
- Mystery — The plot of the book involves unexplainable and mysterious events.
- Thriller — The book contains high levels of suspense and tension, typical of the thriller genre.
- Psychological — The plot delves into the protagonist's psychological state, defining it as a psychological genre.
Tags
horror · gothic · supernatural · fiction · short story · psychological · thriller · suspense · dark · macabre · grim · eerie