An Undress Uniform by Ambrose Bierce
"An Undress Uniform" is a short story by Ambrose Bierce, first published in 1896. The story follows the narrator, a Union soldier during the American Civil War, who is assigned to retrieve an undress uniform from a dead Confederate officer. As he searches for the uniform, he reflects on the absurdity of war and the futility of the conflict. Despite the grim subject matter, Bierce's writing is characterized by its dark humor and satire, making "An Undress Uniform" a thought-provoking and unsettling read.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1898 · Genre: Fiction, War, Historical Fiction · 92 words
First lines
The apparel does "not" proclaim the man -- Polonius lied like a partisan, And Salomon still would a hero seem If (Heaven dispel the impossible dream!) He stood in a shroud on the hangman's trap, His eye burning holes in the black, black cap.
And the crowd below would exclaim amain: "He's ready to fall for his country again!"
What this Textopian page supports
An Undress Uniform is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1898 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: 1898 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fiction, War, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Drama
- Length: 92 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for An Undress Uniform by Ambrose Bierce
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering An Undress Uniform?
- How does this short story by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Party Manager And The Gentleman by Ambrose Bierce
- An Apologue by Ambrose Bierce
- A Reply To A Letter by Ambrose Bierce
- A Treaty Of Peace by Ambrose Bierce
- The Ingenious Patriot by Ambrose Bierce
- A Statesman by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Fiction — Ambrose Bierce is known for his fiction and this title follows that pattern.
- War — Considering the use of 'uniform' in the title and Bierce's own experiences in the Civil War, this book could involve war themes.
- Historical Fiction — This genre relies on Bierce's historical context which often informs his tales.
- Literary Fiction — Ambrose Bierce's writing often focuses on in-depth character studies, emotional themes and complex language that fits into Literary Fiction.
Tags
war · military · uniform · comedy · satire · humor · irony · fiction · short story · American literature · 19th century literature · classic literature