Haïta the Shepherd by Ambrose Bierce
"Haïta the Shepherd" is a collection of short stories written by Ambrose Bierce in 1899. The book follows the adventures of Haïta, a shepherd who lives in a small village nestled in the mountains. Throughout the stories, Haïta encounters various characters and situations that test his wit, courage, and compassion. The tales are known for their humor, satire, and social commentary, as Bierce pokes fun at the absurdities of society and human nature. The stories also explore themes of love, loss, and redemption, as Haïta navigates his way through life's challenges. Overall, "Haïta the Shepherd" is a delightful and entertaining read that showcases Bierce's mastery of storytelling and his ability to craft memorable characters and situations.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1891 · Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tale, Short Story · 2,470 words
First lines
IN the heart of Haïta the illusions of youth had not been supplanted by those of age and experience. His thoughts were pure and pleasant, for his life was simple and his soul devoid of ambition. He rose with the sun and went forth to pray at the shrine of Hastur, the god of shepherds, who heard and was pleased. After performance of this pious rite Haïta unbarred the gate of the fold and with a cheerful mind drove his flock afield, eating his morning meal of curds and oat cake as he went, occasionally pausing to add a few berries, cold with dew, or to drink of the waters that came away from the hills to join the stream in the middle of the valley and be borne along with it, he knew not whither.
What this Textopian page supports
Haïta the Shepherd is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1891 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: 1891 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Fairy Tale, Short Story, Allegorical Literature, Philosophical Fiction
- Length: 2,470 words
- Structure: 1 section, 34 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Haïta the Shepherd 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 Haïta the Shepherd?
- How does this short story by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Man And The Fish Horn by Ambrose Bierce
- The Lion And The Thorn by Ambrose Bierce
- The Piping Fisherman by Ambrose Bierce
- The Lion And The Boar by Ambrose Bierce
- The Dog And The Reflection by Ambrose Bierce
- Premonition by Bliss Carman
Genres
- Fantasy — The story involves mystical creatures, such as a devil named 'Hagga', and supernatural elements, demonstrating a clear alignment with the Fantasy genre
- Fairy Tale — The narrative of 'HAÏTA THE SHEPHERD' is similar to those found in fairy tales, with its simple morals and use of supernatural beings
- Short Story — As 'HAÏTA THE SHEPHERD' is a brief narrative without several subplots, its length and structure are consistent with the classification of a Short Story
- Allegorical Literature — The story uses characters and events symbolically to represent abstract ideas and principles, indicating its inclusion in the Allegorical Literature genre
Tags
fantasy · adventure · magic · mythology · folklore · supernatural · gothic · horror · surreal · symbolism · allegory · parable