Johndonkey by Ambrose Bierce (1898)
John Donelly, written by Ambrose Bierce, is a novella that follows the story of an unscrupulous lawyer who seeks to gain wealth and power through questionable means. The protagonist, John Donelly, is portrayed as a cunning and manipulative individual who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. Throughout the novella, Bierce employs a dark and satirical tone to critique the corrupt nature of society during the Gilded Age in America. The story raises questions about morality, ethics, and the consequences of unchecked ambition.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1898 · Genre: Satire, Fiction, Short Stories · 197 words
First lines
[There isn't a man living who does not have at least a sneaking reverence for a horse-shoe. -- "Evening Post".]
Thus the poor ass whose appetite has ne'er Known than the thistle any sweeter fare Thinks all the world eats thistles. Thus the clown, The wit and Mentor of the country town, Grins through the collar of a horse and thinks Others for pleasure do as he for drinks, Though secretly, because unwilling still In public to attest their lack of skill.
Each dunce whose life and mind all follies mar Believes as he is all men living are -- His vices theirs, their understandings his; Naught that he knows not, all he fancies, "is".
What this Textopian page supports
Johndonkey 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: Satire, Fiction, Short Stories, Horror, Historical
- Length: 197 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Johndonkey 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 Johndonkey?
- 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
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Genres
- Satire — Ambrose Bierce is known for his satirical writing style and biting social criticism. 'JOHNDONKEY' likely employs these elements, considering Bierce's background.
- Fiction — As 'JOHNDONKEY' is a work by Ambrose Bierce, it would fall under the category of fiction.
- Short Stories — Bierce's writing often takes the form of short stories.
- Horror — Although it's dependent on the specific plot of 'JOHNDONKEY', Bierce has written numerous horror stories and it could potentially be a genre for this book.
Tags
gothic · horror · fantasy · supernatural · mystery · thriller · suspense · literary fiction · classic · american literature · short stories · dark humor