Opportunity by Ambrose Bierce (1897)
"Opportunity" is a short story by Ambrose Bierce, first published in 1899. The story follows a man named John who has been hired to work on a ranch in the western United States. John is given the opportunity to prove himself and earn more money, but he struggles with the demands of the job and the harsh conditions of the ranch. As he works hard to prove himself, John begins to question whether the opportunities he has been given are truly worth the sacrifices he must make. The story explores themes of ambition, hard work, and the American Dream.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1897 · Genre: Satire, Short Stories, Historical · 881 words
First lines
THIS is not a country of equal fortunes; outside a Socialist's dream no such country exists or can exist. But as nearly as possible this is a country of equal opportunities for those who begin life with nothing but nature's endowments -- and of such is the kingdom of success.
In nine instances in ten successful Americans -- that is Americans who have succeeded in any worthy ambition or legitimate field of endeavor -- have started with nothing but the skin they stood in. It almost may be said, indeed, that to begin with nothing is a main condition of success -- in America.
What this Textopian page supports
Opportunity is listed on Textopian as an essay by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1897 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Essay
- Author: Ambrose Bierce
- Date: 1897 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Short Stories, Historical
- Length: 881 words
- Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Opportunity 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 Opportunity?
- How does this essay 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 — The main elements of Bierce's writing style often involve sardonic view of human nature making his works fit the satire genre.
- Short Stories — Bierce's work often consist of short, succinct stories, which is a common trend in this book.
- Historical — Bierce's works typically depict the historical context of his time, mirroring the social and political environment.
Tags
literary fiction · short stories · gothic horror · supernatural · mystery · thriller · american literature · classic · 19th century literature · symbolism · allegory · social commentary