The Mountain and the Mouse
The Mountain and the Mouse is a short story by Ambrose Bierce, first published in 1891. The story follows the journey of a mountain and a mouse who become friends after the mountain, tired of being alone at the top, decides to climb down and find the mouse, who has been living in a hole at the base of the mountain. Despite their vastly different sizes and abilities, the mountain and the mouse form a strong bond as they explore the world together. However, their friendship is put to the test when they encounter a group of hunters who are out to capture the mouse for their own amusement. In the end, the mountain must use its immense strength to protect the mouse from harm, demonstrating the true meaning of loyalty and friendship.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1899 · Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Children's Literature · 84 words
First lines
A Mountain was in labour, and the people of seven cities had assembled to watch its movements and hear its groans. While they waited in breathless expectancy out came a Mouse.
"Oh, what a baby!" they cried in derision.
"I may be a baby," said the Mouse, gravely, as he passed outward through the forest of shins, "but I know tolerably well how to diagnose a volcano."
What this Textopian page supports
The Mountain and the Mouse is listed on Textopian as a fable 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: Fable
- Author: Ambrose Bierce
- Date: 1899 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, Children's Literature, Fable
- Length: 84 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Mountain and the Mouse 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 Mountain and the Mouse?
- 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 Lion And The Boar by Ambrose Bierce
- The Lion And The Rattlesnake by Ambrose Bierce
- The Cat And The Birds by Ambrose Bierce
- The Wolf And The Babe by Ambrose Bierce
- The Fawn And The Buck by Ambrose Bierce
- The Fabulist And The Animals by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Fantasy — The title suggests anthropomorphized animals and seemingly impossible scenarios, pointing to elements typical of the fantasy genre.
- Adventure — The use of 'mountain' in the title might suggest an epic or adventurous journey that is often found in adventure novels.
- Children's Literature — Stories involving anthropomorphic animals are frequently found in children's literature.
- Fable — If the mouse and the mountain are indeed characters, the story may contain moral lessons similar to those in stories considered as Fables.
Tags
fantasy · adventure · short story · mystery · magic · mountains · mouse · animals · nature · survival · humor · satire