A Serenade by Ambrose Bierce (1879)
"A Serenade" is a short story by Ambrose Bierce, first published in 1896. The story follows a young man named Paul who lives in a small town and spends his evenings playing his violin for the residents of the town. One evening, he plays a particularly beautiful serenade for a woman named Marie, who is sitting alone on her balcony. Despite their mutual attraction, Marie is engaged to be married to another man, and Paul's serenade goes unreciprocated. The story explores themes of love, loss, and the power of music to evoke emotions.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1879 · Genre: Horror, Gothic Fiction, Short Story · 128 words
First lines
"Sas agapo sas agapo," He sang beneath her lattice. "Sas agapo'?" she murmured -- "O, I wonder, now, what "that" is!"
Was she less fair that she did bear So light a load of knowledge? Are loving looks got out of books, Or kisses taught in college?
Of woman's lore give me no more Than how to love, -- in many A tongue men brawl: she speaks them all Who says "I love," in any.
What this Textopian page supports
A Serenade is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1879 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: 1879 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Horror, Gothic Fiction, Short Story, Supernatural
- Length: 128 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Serenade 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 Serenade?
- How does this short story by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Horror first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- The Damned by Algernon Blackwood
- Charity by Ambrose Bierce
- The Haunted Valley by Ambrose Bierce
- For Merit by Ambrose Bierce
- Reminded by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Horror — Ambrose Bierce is a well-known author in the Horror genre, and this story includes disturbing concepts and a dark atmosphere that are typical of his work.
- Gothic Fiction — A SERENADE includes eerie, suspenseful elements and deals with feelings of fear and unease, characteristics of Gothic Fiction.
- Short Story — Considering Ambrose Bierce's writing style and the length of A SERENADE, it matches the characteristics of a Short Story.
- Supernatural — The story contains supernatural elements which is a key feature of this genre.
Tags
gothic fiction · supernatural · mystery · romance · horror · fantasy · magical realism · psychological horror · suspense · thriller · ghost story · haunting