Mr Fink's Debating Donkey
MR. FINK'S DEBATING DONKEY by Ambrose Bierce is a short story that follows the adventures of a talking donkey who becomes embroiled in a series of absurd debates with various animals and objects. The story is known for its satirical take on the nature of debate and the absurdity of some of the arguments presented. How may I assist you further?
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1893 · Genre: Satire, Short Stories, Fiction · 1,122 words
First lines
Of a person known as Peters I will humbly crave your leave An unusual adventure into narrative to weave -- Mr. William Perry Peters, of the town of Muscatel, A public educator and an orator as well.
Mr. Peters had a weakness which, 'tis painful to relate, Was a strong predisposition to the pleasures of debate.
What this Textopian page supports
Mr Fink's Debating Donkey is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1893 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: 1893 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Short Stories, Fiction, Allegory
- Length: 1,122 words
- Structure: 1 section, 22 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Mr Fink's Debating Donkey 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 Mr Fink's Debating Donkey?
- 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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- Art by Ambrose Bierce
- An Explanation by Ambrose Bierce
- The Lion The Bear And The Fox by Ambrose Bierce
- A Word To The Unwise by Ambrose Bierce
- The Shafter Shafted by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Satire — Ambrose Bierce is known for his biting wit and satirical style, often creating absurd situations for his characters
- Short Stories — As Bierce was a prolific short story writer, it's possible that this book encompasses a series of short stories
- Fiction — Considering the unlikely scenario of a debating donkey, it can be inferred that the book belongs to the Fiction genre
- Allegory — The title suggests that the donkey might represent a certain group or idea, which is indicative of Allegory genre
Tags
humor · satire · fiction · short story · animals · donkeys · debate · speech · public speaking · literature · classic · American literature