Discretion by Ambrose Bierce (1877)
"Discretion" is a short story written by Ambrose Bierce in 1893. The story follows the character of John Horton, a man who has been accused of murdering his business partner. Despite his protests of innocence, Horton is sentenced to death and is awaiting execution in his cell. As he waits, he reflects on his past and the events that led him to this point, including his own lack of discretion in dealing with his business partner. The story raises questions about justice, morality, and the nature of humanity, as Horton grapples with his own mortality and the consequences of his actions.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1877 · Genre: Satire, Short Stories, Fiction · 121 words
First lines
SHE:
I'm told that men have sometimes got Too confidential, and Have said to one another what They -- well, you understand.
I hope I don't offend you, sweet, But are you sure that "you're" discreet?
HE:
What this Textopian page supports
Discretion is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1877 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: 1877 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Short Stories, Fiction, Romantic, Historical
- Length: 121 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Discretion 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 Discretion?
- How does this short story by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Satire first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- A Hasty Inference by Ambrose Bierce
- The Key Note by Ambrose Bierce
- A Matter Of Method by Ambrose Bierce
- A Black List by Ambrose Bierce
- The Penitent Thief by Ambrose Bierce
- The Debaters by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Satire — Ambrose Bierce is well known for his satirical writing and often criticizes society in his works. 'Discretion' likely follows this pattern.
- Short Stories — Bierce mainly wrote short stories and the book 'Discretion' can be anticipated to be a collection of such.
- Fiction — Ambrose Bierce primarily wrote fiction, so this genre is likely relevant to 'Discretion'.
- Romantic — Given Bierce's ability to touch upon human emotions in his stories, 'Discretion' might have elements of romance.
Tags
mystery · thriller · suspense · detective · crime · fiction · literature · classic · american · gothic · horror · supernatural