A Possibility by Ambrose Bierce
"A Possibility" is a short story written by Ambrose Bierce, first published in 1892. The story follows a man who is haunted by the possibility of his own death, as he becomes increasingly paranoid and isolated from society. Despite his efforts to prove his own mortality, the man is unable to shake off the feeling of impending doom, leading him down a path of madness and despair. Through the use of vivid imagery and psychological insight, Bierce explores the themes of mortality, paranoia, and the human psyche in this thought-provoking tale.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1897 · Genre: Philosophical Fiction, Satire, Speculative Fiction · 179 words
First lines
If the wicked gods were willing (Pray it never may be true!) That a universal chilling Should ensue Of the sentiment of loving, -- If they made a great undoing Of the plan of turtle-doving, Then farewell all poet-lore, Evermore.
If there were no more of billing There would be no more of cooing And we all should be but owls -- Lonely fowls Blinking wonderfully wise, With our great round eyes -- Sitting singly in the gloaming and no longer two and two, As unwilling to be wedded as unpracticed how to woo; With regard to being mated, Asking still with aggravated Ungrammatical acerbity: "To who? To who?"
What this Textopian page supports
A Possibility is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1897 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: 1897 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Philosophical Fiction, Satire, Speculative Fiction, Short Stories
- Length: 179 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Possibility by Ambrose Bierce
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Possibility?
- How does this short story by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Philosophical Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- A Transposition by Ambrose Bierce
- To A Stray Dog by Ambrose Bierce
- Six And One by Ambrose Bierce
- To The Bartholdi Statue by Ambrose Bierce
- The Van Nessiad by Ambrose Bierce
- Subterranean Phantasies by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Philosophical Fiction — The book explores philosophical ideas and viewpoints within the narrative.
- Satire — The author uses satire and humor to critique societal norms and human behavior.
- Speculative Fiction — The narrative delves into potential scenarios and possibilities, characteristic of speculative fiction.
- Short Stories — The narrative is segmented into several shorter tales, fitting the short stories genre.
Tags
mystery · thriller · fantasy · speculative fiction · short story collection · gothic fiction · supernatural · horror · psychological horror · literary fiction · classic literature · American literature