The Mirror by Ambrose Bierce (1897)
The Mirror is a short story written by Ambrose Bierce in 1893. It tells the tale of a man who, after discovering a mysterious mirror in his home, becomes obsessed with it and begins to see strange visions reflected within its glass. As he continues to gaze into the mirror, he becomes increasingly detached from reality and loses touch with his surroundings. The story raises questions about the nature of perception and the blurred lines between reality and illusion.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1897 · Genre: Short Story, Horror, Supernatural · 220 words
First lines
A Silken-Eared Spaniel, who traced his descent from King Charles the
Second of England, chanced to look into a mirror which was leaning against the wainscoting of a room on the ground floor of his mistress's house. Seeing his reflection, he supposed it to be another dog, outside, and said:
"I can chew up any such milksoppy pup as that, and I will."
So he ran out-of-doors and around to the side of the house where he fancied the enemy was. It so happened that at that moment a Bulldog sat there sunning his teeth. The Spaniel stopped short in dire consternation, and, after regarding the Bulldog a moment from a safe distance, said:
What this Textopian page supports
The Mirror is listed on Textopian as a fable by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1897 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: 1897 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Short Story, Horror, Supernatural, Psychological
- Length: 220 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Mirror 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 Mirror?
- How does this fable by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Short Story first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- To The Bartholdi Statue by Ambrose Bierce
- An Inscription by Ambrose Bierce
- The Spirit Of A Sponge by Ambrose Bierce
- The Fall Of Miss Larkin by Ambrose Bierce
- A Guest by Ambrose Bierce
- The Two Cavees by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Short Story — The Mirror is not a full-length novel but rather a shorter narrative, resulting in this categorization.
- Horror — The Mirror is known for its eerie and unsettling narrative, classifying it as a horror story.
- Supernatural — The story features a mirror that has supernatural abilities, thus being categorized as part of the supernatural genre.
- Psychological — The Mirror deals with the mental and emotional state of its characters, fitting the psychological genre.
Tags
gothic horror · supernatural · psychological thriller · mystery · suspense · fantasy · surrealism · symbolism · literary fiction · short story · classic literature · American literature