The Night of Election
In this short story, Bierce explores the themes of politics, power, and corruption through the lens of a small town's election night. The narrative follows the candidates and their supporters as they await the results of the vote, revealing the dark underbelly of democracy and the lengths to which individuals will go to gain and maintain control. Through his use of vivid imagery and psychological insight, Bierce crafts a tale that is both haunting and thought-provoking, leaving readers with a sense of unease and a deeper understanding of the human condition.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1872 · Genre: Short Stories, Political, Historical · 184 words
First lines
"O venerable patriot, I pray Stand not here coatless; at the break of day We'll know the grand result -- and even now The eastern sky is faintly touched with gray.
"It ill befits thine age's hoary crown -- This rude environment of rogue and clown, Who, as the lying bulletins appear, With drunken cries incarnadine the town.
"But if with noble zeal you stay to note The outcome of your patriotic vote For Blaine, or Cleveland, and your native land, Take -- and God bless you! -- take my overcoat."
"Done, pard -- and mighty white of you. And now guess the country'll keep the trail somehow.
What this Textopian page supports
The Night of Election is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1872 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: 1872 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Short Stories, Political, Historical, Satire
- Length: 184 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Night of Election 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 Night of Election?
- How does this short story by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Short Stories first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- A Man by Ambrose Bierce
- A Guest by Ambrose Bierce
- An Inscription by Ambrose Bierce
- The Two Cavees by Ambrose Bierce
- A Revivalist Revived by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Short Stories — Ambrose Bierce was a well-known writer of short stories, and 'THE NIGHT OF ELECTION' falls into this category
- Political — The title and context of the story suggest that it deals with the political theme of an election
- Historical — Considering Bierce's other works, it is likely the story also uses historical context
- Satire — Many of Bierce's stories include satirical elements, which may also be present in this work
Tags
horror · fiction · short story · gothic · election · politics · supernatural · mystery · thriller · suspense · literary fiction · classic