A Ship and a Man by Ambrose Bierce
A Ship and a Man by Ambrose Bierce is a short story that explores the themes of isolation, loneliness, and the human desire for connection. The narrator, a sailor who has been at sea for an extended period, finds himself drawn to a mysterious man he encounters on shore. Despite their initial reservations, the two form a bond as they spend time together, sharing stories and experiences. However, the sailor soon realizes that the man is not what he seems, leading to a tragic and thought-provoking conclusion.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1899 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Naval Fiction · 143 words
First lines
Seeing a ship sailing by upon the sea of politics, an Ambitious Person started in hot pursuit along the strand; but the people's eyes being fixed upon the Presidency no one observed the pursuer. This greatly annoyed him, and recollecting that he was not aquatic, he stopped and shouted across the waves' tumultous roar:
"Take my name off the passenger list."
Back to him over the waters, hollow and heartless, like laughter in a tomb, rang the voice of the Skipper:
"T ain't on!"
What this Textopian page supports
A Ship and a Man 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: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Naval Fiction
- Length: 143 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Ship and a Man 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 Ship and a Man?
- How does this fable by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Mr Sheets by Ambrose Bierce
- Vice Versa by Ambrose Bierce
- A Whipper In by Ambrose Bierce
- The Returned Californian by Ambrose Bierce
- The Two Cavees by Ambrose Bierce
- A Bulletin by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Historical Fiction — The book provides a story set in a historical setting where the protagonist, the man, goes on a journey in a ship, indicating relevance to the genre of Historical Fiction.
- Adventure — The journey taken on a ship implies a probable adventure element to the book's storyline.
- Naval Fiction — The title as well as storyline suggests importance of naval and maritime elements.
Tags
ghost story · supernatural · maritime · adventure · mystery · thriller · horror · fiction · classic · american literature · short story · psychological horror