Alarm and Pride by Ambrose Bierce
Alarm and Pride is a short story by Ambrose Bierce, published in 1898. The story follows the journey of a man named John as he navigates through a series of unexpected events that challenge his sense of self and identity. As John experiences these events, he finds himself caught between two conflicting emotions: alarm and pride. Alarm stems from the uncertainty and danger that surrounds him, while pride emerges from his growing sense of self-worth and accomplishment. Throughout the story, Bierce employs a unique narrative structure, alternating between John's first-person perspective and an omniscient third-person point of view. This unconventional approach creates a sense of tension and uncertainty, mirroring John's emotional state as he struggles to make sense of his experiences. Ultimately, the story raises questions about the nature of identity and self-perception, challenging readers to reflect on their own beliefs and values. By exploring the complexities of human emotion through a masterful blend of language and narrative technique, Bierce crafts a thought-provoking tale that lingers long after the final sentence has been read.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1874 · Genre: Satire, Historical Fiction, Short Stories · 144 words
First lines
"Good-Morning, my friend," said Alarm to Pride; "how are you this morning?"
"Very tired," replied Pride, seating himself on a stone by the wayside and mopping his steaming brow. "The politicians are wearing me out by pointing to their dirty records with "me", when they could as well use a stick."
Alarm sighed sympathetically, and said:
"It is pretty much the same way here. Instead of using an opera-glass they view the acts of their opponents with "me"!"
What this Textopian page supports
Alarm and Pride is listed on Textopian as a fable by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1874 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: 1874 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Historical Fiction, Short Stories, Horror, Literary Fiction
- Length: 144 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Alarm and Pride 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
- For Merit by Ambrose Bierce
- Charles And Peter by Ambrose Bierce
- An Exhibit by Ambrose Bierce
- Francine by Ambrose Bierce
- The Following Pair by Ambrose Bierce
- Uncoloneled by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Satire — Ambrose Bierce is known for his satirical style and biting social commentary, based on the author's writing style.
- Historical Fiction — Alarm and Pride could deal with historical events or periods considering Ambrose Bierce's large body of work based on history.
- Short Stories — Ambrose Bierce often wrote in the short story format.
- Horror — Bierce often incorporated elements of horror into his work, making it possible for Alarm and Pride to fall into this genre.
Tags
gothic fiction · horror · supernatural · mystery · thriller · suspense · psychological · literary fiction · american literature · 19th century literature · short stories · anthology