Present at a Hanging
The story follows a man who is present at a hanging and observes the scene with detachment and curiosity. As he watches the execution, he reflects on the nature of justice and the morality of taking a life. The narrator's voice is matter-of-fact and unemotional, creating a sense of distance and objectivity. Reading analytics: This story shows a high level of detachment and curiosity towards the event of a hanging. The reader may be interested in exploring themes of justice, morality, and the human psyche through this narrative.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1911 · Genre: Short Stories, Horror, Suspense · 782 words
First lines
AN old man named Daniel Baker, living near Lebanon, Iowa, was suspected by his neighbors of having murdered a peddler who had obtained permission to pass the night at his house. This was in 1853, when peddling was more common in the Western country than it is now, and was attended with considerable danger. The peddler with his pack traversed the country by all manner of lonely roads, and was compelled to rely upon the country people for hospitality. This brought him into relation with queer characters, some of whom were not altogether scrupulous in their methods of making a living, murder being an acceptable means to that end. It occasionally occurred that a peddler with diminished pack and swollen purse would be traced to the lonely dwelling of some rough character and never could be traced beyond. This was so in the case of "old man Baker," as he was always called.
What this Textopian page supports
Present at a Hanging is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1911 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: 1911 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Short Stories, Horror, Suspense, Gothic, Supernatural
- Length: 782 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Present at a Hanging by Ambrose Bierce
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Short Stories — The book is a collection of short stories, often characterized by brief narratives.
- Horror — Stories within the book contain elements of horror, invoking feelings of fear, dread, and shock in readers.
- Suspense — The book contains narratives that build suspense and tension throughout the storyline.
- Gothic — The stories often convey a mood of horror and gloom, characteristic of Gothic literature.
Tags
thriller · mystery · crime · western · short story · classic literature · american literature · gothic fiction · supernatural · irony · symbolism · tragedy