The Mine Owner and the Jackass
The Mine Owner and the Jackass is a short story by Ambrose Bierce, first published in 1899. The story follows a mine owner who hires a jackass to help him with his work, but the jackass proves to be more useful than the owner anticipated. Despite the owner's initial reluctance, he comes to rely on the jackass and learns to appreciate its intelligence and resourcefulness. In this story, Bierce explores themes of reliance, trust, and the unexpected benefits of working with animals. The narrative is characterized by its concise and direct language, which adds to the humor and irony of the tale. Through the use of simple yet effective descriptions, Bierce creates a vivid image of the mine owner and his interactions with the jackass, making the story both entertaining and thought-provoking.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1908 · Genre: Satire, Short Story, Drama · 182 words
First lines
While the Owner of a Silver Mine was on his way to attend a convention of his species he was accosted by a Jackass, who said:
"By an unjust discrimination against quadrupeds I am made ineligible to a seat in your convention; so I am compelled to seek representation through you."
"It will give me great pleasure, sir," said the Owner of a Silver Mine,
"to serve one so closely allied to me in -- in -- well, you know," he added, with a significant gesture of his two hands upward from the sides of his head. "What do you want?"
What this Textopian page supports
The Mine Owner and the Jackass is listed on Textopian as a fable by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1908 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: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Short Story, Drama, Comedy
- Length: 182 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Mine Owner and the Jackass 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 Mine Owner and the Jackass?
- How does this fable by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Satire first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Out Of Sorts by Anton Chekhov
- The Wolf And The Feeding Goat by Ambrose Bierce
- One Judge by Ambrose Bierce
- The Genesis Of Embarrassment by Ambrose Bierce
- A Social Call by Ambrose Bierce
- Election Day by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Satire — Bierce is known for his cynical and satirical writing style, and the title suggests a comedic or satirical take on life and society.
- Short Story — Ambrose Bierce is famous for his short stories. Considering his style, the book might be a collection of short stories.
- Drama — The interaction between the mine owner and the jackass indicates potential dramatic elements.
- Comedy — As satire often incorporates humor, there may be comedic moments in the story between the mine owner and the jackass.
Tags
humor · satire · short story · fiction · American literature · western · frontier · mining · industry · capitalism · greed · power