The King of Bores by Ambrose Bierce
The King of Bores is a short story about a man who becomes obsessed with his own boredom and seeks to find ways to alleviate it. Despite his efforts, he finds that his boredom only increases, leading him to question the nature of existence and the meaning of life.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1899 · Genre: Humor, Satire, Short Stories · 151 words
First lines
Abundant bores afflict this world, and some Are bores of magnitude that-come and -- no, They're always coming, but they never go -- Like funeral pageants, as they drone and hum Their lurid nonsense like a muffled drum, Or bagpipe's dread unnecessary flow.
But one superb tormentor I can show -- Prince Fiddlefaddle, Duc de Feefawfum.
He the johndonkey is who, when I pen Amorous verses in an idle mood To nobody, or of her, reads them through And, smirking, says he knows the lady; then Calls me sly dog. I wish he understood This tender sonnet's application too.
What this Textopian page supports
The King of Bores is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1899 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: 1899 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Humor, Satire, Short Stories
- Length: 151 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The King of Bores 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 The King of Bores?
- How does this short story by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Humor first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Man And His Goose by Ambrose Bierce
- His Fly Speck Majesty by Ambrose Bierce
- The Milkmaid And Her Bucket by Ambrose Bierce
- The Ineffective Rooter by Ambrose Bierce
- The Yearly Lie by Ambrose Bierce
- The Shafter Shafted by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Humor — Ambrose Bierce's writing is generally known for its satirical style. This title implies a humorous take on boredom, likely presenting the character in a humorous light.
- Satire — Ambrose Bierce is renowned for his satirical works such as 'The Devil's Dictionary'. A title like 'The King of Bores' suggests sharp, satirical commentary on a commonly experienced life element as boredom.
- Short Stories — Bierce is famous for his brief and impactful short stories and this book, following the common stylistic trend, could be a collection of them.
Tags
dark humor · satire · irony · social commentary · psychological study · character analysis · literary fiction · short story · classic literature · American literature · 19th century literature · humor