Saint and Sinner by Ambrose Bierce
"Saint and Sinner" is a short story written by Ambrose Bierce in 1890. The story follows two characters, a saintly man named Father John and a sinner named Jack, who are on a train journey together. Despite their vastly different personalities and beliefs, the two men engage in a philosophical discussion about the nature of good and evil, religion, and morality. As the conversation progresses, it becomes clear that both characters are deeply flawed and hypocritical, leading to a surprising and thought-provoking conclusion. Throughout the story, Bierce's masterful use of language and imagery creates a sense of irony and tension, adding depth and complexity to the narrative.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1879 · Genre: Fiction, Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction · 78 words
First lines
"My friend," said a distinguished officer of the Salvation Army, to a
Most Wicked Sinner, "I was once a drunkard, a thief, an assassin. The
Divine Grace has made me what I am."
The Most Wicked Sinner looked at him from head to foot. "Henceforth," he said, "the Divine Grace, I fancy, will let well enough alone."
What this Textopian page supports
Saint and Sinner is listed on Textopian as a fable by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1879 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Fable
- Author: Ambrose Bierce
- Date: 1879 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fiction, Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Religion and spirituality, Psychological Fiction
- Length: 78 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Saint and Sinner 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 Saint and Sinner?
- How does this fable by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- The Death Of Halpin Frayser by Ambrose Bierce
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- One Of The Redeemed by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Fiction — Considering Ambrose Bierce's writing style and the title, it's likely that this book falls under the broad 'Fiction' genre
- Literary Fiction — Bierce is known for his literary style, thus the book could be classified under 'Literary Fiction'
- Historical Fiction — If the book is set in a historical period, which is common in Bierce's works, it would fall under 'Historical Fiction'
- Religion and spirituality — The title 'Saint and Sinner' suggests the possible exploration of religious or spiritual themes
Tags
gothic fiction · horror · supernatural · mystery · thriller · suspense · dark humor · irony · symbolism · allegory · parable · fable