The Man and the Fish-horn
The story follows a man who lives in a small village near the sea. One day, he discovers a mysterious object that resembles a fish horn. He brings it back to his home and begins to blow into it, producing a strange and haunting sound. The villagers are intrigued by the horn's melody and begin to gather around the man to listen. As he continues to play the horn, the villagers become entranced, mesmerized by its beauty. However, the man soon realizes that the horn has a dark side - it can summon sea creatures from the depths of the ocean, which threaten the safety of the village. The man must then confront the power of the horn and make a difficult decision to save his home and the people he loves.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1893 · Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Mystery · 117 words
First lines
A Truthful Man, finding a musical instrument in the road, asked the name of it, and was told that it was a fish-horn. The next time he went fishing he set his nets and blew the fish-horn all day to charm the fish into them; but at nightfall there were not only no fish in his nets, but none along that part of the coast. Meeting a friend while on his way home he was asked what luck he had had.
"Well," said the Truthful Man, "the weather is not right for fishing, but it's a red-letter day for music."
What this Textopian page supports
The Man and the Fish-horn is listed on Textopian as a fable by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1893 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: 1893 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, Mystery, Folklore, Science Fiction
- Length: 117 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Man and the Fish-horn 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 Man and the Fish-horn?
- How does this fable by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Piping Fisherman by Ambrose Bierce
- Haita The Shepherd by Ambrose Bierce
- The Dream Doctor by Arthur B. Reeve
- The Lion And The Boar by Ambrose Bierce
- Premonition by Bliss Carman
- The Thrush by Arthur Willis Colton
Genres
- Fantasy — Given the title mentions a 'Fish-horn' - a non-existent creature, the book may feature fantastical elements typical of the fantasy genre.
- Adventure — The title suggests an interaction between a man and a 'Fish-horn', which hints at an adventurous journey or quest.
- Mystery — The fish-horn, as a mysterious and imaginary creature, may involve the protagonist in a situation of mystery.
- Folklore — The unique creature 'Fish-horn' could be a piece of certain culture's folklore or mythology, presented in a story format in the book.
Tags
fantasy · magic · supernatural · adventure · mystery · horror · surreal · symbolism · allegory · parable · fable · myth