A Seasonable Joke by Ambrose Bierce
"A Seasonable Joke" is a short story written by Ambrose Bierce, first published in 1896. The story follows a man who is determined to find the perfect joke to impress his friends at a dinner party. However, every time he thinks he has found the perfect joke, it falls flat and he becomes increasingly frustrated. In the end, he realizes that the best jokes are those that are seasonal and relevant to the current moment, rather than trying to be clever or complex.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1899 · Genre: Satire, Fiction, Short Stories · 22 words
First lines
A Spendthrift, seeing a single swallow, pawned his cloak, thinking that
Summer was at hand. It was.
What this Textopian page supports
A Seasonable Joke is listed on Textopian as a fable by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1899 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: 1899 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Fiction, Short Stories, Humor, Literary Fiction
- Length: 22 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Seasonable Joke 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 Seasonable Joke?
- 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
- His Fly Speck Majesty by Ambrose Bierce
- Mad by Ambrose Bierce
- Oil Of Dog by Ambrose Bierce
- The Pun by Ambrose Bierce
- The Writer And The Tramps by Ambrose Bierce
- The Yearly Lie by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Satire — Ambrose Bierce is infamous for his satirical style and social criticism, both of which are evident within 'A Seasonable Joke'.
- Fiction — The book is structured as a traditional narrative or story, making it fall under the genre of fiction.
- Short Stories — Ambrose Bierce primarily wrote in short form, and this book, like his others, is also a compilation of his short stories.
- Humor — 'A Seasonable Joke' retains a humorous undertone throughout, poking fun at society and human folly.
Tags
humor · satire · short stories · American literature · classic fiction · irony · wordplay · parody · absurdity · surrealism · dark humor · gothic