Mendax by Ambrose Bierce (1896)
MENDAX, written by Ambrose Bierce, is a short story that follows the tale of a man named John who discovers that his wife has been unfaithful to him. The story explores themes of betrayal, deception, and the consequences of one's actions. Can I help you with anything else?
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1896 · Genre: Satire, Short Stories, Historical · 358 words
First lines
High Lord of Liars, Pickering, to thee / Let meaner mortals bend the subject knee! / Thine is mendacity's imperial crown, / Alike by genius, action and renown.
No man, since words could set a cheek aflame / E'er lied so greatly with so little shame! / O bad old man, must thy remaining years / Be passed in leading idiots by their ears -- / Thine own (which Justice, if she ruled the roast / Would fasten to the penitential post) / Still wagging sympathetically -- hung / the same rocking-bar that bears thy tongue?
What this Textopian page supports
Mendax is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1896 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: 1896 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Short Stories, Historical, Social Commentary, Fiction
- Length: 358 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Mendax by Ambrose Bierce
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Similar titles
- The Writer And The Tramps by Ambrose Bierce
- The Yearly Lie by Ambrose Bierce
- From The Minutes by Ambrose Bierce
- Johndonkey by Ambrose Bierce
- Magnanimity by Ambrose Bierce
- One Moods Expression by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Satire — Ambrose Bierce is known for his satirical style, and MENDAX, without a doubt, reflects that. The book contains elements of social criticism and humor as the main indicators of the genre.
- Short Stories — Similar to most of his works, MENDAX consists of short stories, making this format a hallmark of Bierce's style.
- Historical — Many of the plots in MENDAX are set in a particular historical period, introducing readers to certain historical events through a satirical lens.
- Social Commentary — Just like many of his other works, Bierce uses MENDAX to comment on and critique societal norms and behaviors, making it a part of the social commentary genre.
Tags
dark humor · satire · fiction · short stories · gothic · supernatural · irony · parody · absurdity · surrealism · symbolism · allegory