That of Granny Magone
The story revolves around a woman who has been wrongfully accused of witchcraft and is subsequently hanged. The narrative explores themes of injustice, superstition, and the dangers of unchecked power.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1867 · Genre: Gothic Fiction, Horror, Mystery · 734 words
First lines
About ten miles to the southeast of Whitesburg, Ky., in a little "cove" of the Cumberland mountains, lived for many years an old woman named Sarah (or Mary) Magone. Her house, built of logs and containing but two rooms, was a mile and a half distant from any other, in the wildest part of the "cove," entirely surrounded by forest except on one side, where a little field, or "patch," of about a half-acre served her for a vegetable garden. How she subsisted nobody exactly knew; she was reputed to be a miser with a concealed hoard; she certainly paid for what few articles she procured on her rare visits to the village store. Many of her ignorant neighbors believed her to be a witch, or thought, at least, that she possessed some kind of supernatural powers. In November, 1881, she died, and fortunately enough, the body was found while yet warm by a passing hunter, who locked the door of the cabin and conveyed the news to the nearest settlement.
What this Textopian page supports
That of Granny Magone is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1867 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: 1867 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Gothic Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Folklore, Literary Fiction
- Length: 734 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for That of Granny Magone 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
- What should a reader notice first when entering That of Granny Magone?
- How does this short story by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Gothic Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Luella Miller by Mary E. Wilkins
- The Lost Ghost by Mary E. Wilkins
- The Night Doings At Deadmans by Ambrose Bierce
- Ghost Stories Of Chapelizod by J. Sheridan Le Fanu
- A Light Sleeper by Ambrose Bierce
- The Ways Of Ghosts by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Gothic Fiction — The story features supernatural elements, a mysterious setting, and themes of death and the macabre.
- Horror — The unsettling events surrounding the death of Granny Magone and the eerie occurrences contribute to a sense of fear and dread.
- Mystery — The narrative involves questions about the old woman's life, her rumored powers, and the circumstances of her death.
- Folklore — The story incorporates local beliefs and superstitions about witches and the supernatural, reflecting cultural narratives.
Tags
Dark Fantasy · Supernatural Fiction · Short Story · American Literature · Gothic Horror · Mystery · Suspense · Psychological Thriller · Female Protagonist · Old Age · Isolation · Paranormal Activity