An Invocation by Ambrose Bierce
"An Invocation" is a short story written by Ambrose Bierce in 1890. The story follows a man who has been invited to perform an invocation at a funeral, but he struggles with the task as he is not sure what to say. Despite his doubts, he delivers the invocation and finds that it brings him a sense of peace and closure. Throughout the story, Bierce explores themes of mortality, religion, and the power of words.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1893 · Genre: Horror, Short Stories, Supernatural · 1,062 words
First lines
[Read at the Celebration of Independence Day in San Francisco, in 1888.]
Goddess of Liberty! O thou Whose tearless eyes behold the chain, And look unmoved upon the slain, Eternal peace upon thy brow, --
What this Textopian page supports
An Invocation is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1893 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: 1893 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Supernatural, Satire, Mystery
- Length: 1,062 words
- Structure: 1 section, 33 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for An Invocation 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 An Invocation?
- 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
- Reminded by Ambrose Bierce
- The Party Over There by Ambrose Bierce
- Mr Sheets by Ambrose Bierce
- In The Binnacle by Ambrose Bierce
- Two Dogs by Ambrose Bierce
- The Wise And Good by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Horror — The book, an overall collection of horror and supernatural stories, is famously known for its chilling narratives.
- Short Stories — Comprising numerous individual tales, it falls under the category of short stories.
- Supernatural — Many narratives in the collection involve supernatural elements and themes.
- Satire — Ambrose Bierce is known for his satirical writing style, and this is evident in several stories in the collection.
Tags
ghost story · supernatural · horror · fiction · short story · literary fiction · classic literature · american literature · gothic · mystery · thriller · suspense