Matter for Gratitude
"Matter for Gratitude" is a short story by Ambrose Bierce, first published in 1891. The story follows a man named John Horton, who has lost his wife and daughter in a tragic accident. Haunted by their memory, John becomes obsessed with finding a way to bring them back to life. He spends all of his wealth on various experiments and rituals, but nothing seems to work. As the years pass, John becomes increasingly isolated and alone, unable to shake off the grief that consumes him. In the end, he realizes that the only thing he can truly be grateful for is the time he had with his loved ones before they were taken from him.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1891 · Genre: Satire, Short Stories, War Literature · 502 words
First lines
[Especially should we be thankful for having escaped the ravages of the yellow scourge by which our neighbors have been so sorely afflicted. -- "Governor Stoneman's Thanksgiving Proclamation."]
Be pleased, O Lord, to take a people's thanks That Thine avenging sword has spared our ranks -- That Thou hast parted from our lips the cup And forced our neighbors' lips to drink it up.
What this Textopian page supports
Matter for Gratitude 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: Satire, Short Stories, War Literature, Horror
- Length: 502 words
- Structure: 1 section, 11 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Matter for Gratitude by Ambrose Bierce
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Matter for Gratitude?
- 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
- Truth And The Traveller by Ambrose Bierce
- The Disinterested Arbiter by Ambrose Bierce
- The Mandarin And The Butterfly by L. Frank Baum
- The Birth Of Virtue by Ambrose Bierce
- The Sphinx by Edgar Allan Poe
- Graves And Goblins by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Genres
- Satire — Ambrose Bierce is well known for his satirical writings. Most of his plots involved exposing the hypocrisies of his age.
- Short Stories — Bierce is primarily known for his highly effective short stories, which often deliver shock endings.
- War Literature — Based on Bierce's personal experiences in the Civil War, his war stories remain among his most popular and enduring works.
- Horror — Bierce often incorporated elements of horror and supernatural mystery into his writings.
Tags
Fiction · Short Story Collection · Gothic Fiction · Supernatural Fiction · Horror Fiction · Mystery · Detective Fiction · Crime Fiction · Historical Fiction · Literary Fiction · Classic Literature · American Literature