The Passing Show by Ambrose Bierce
The Passing Show is a collection of short stories and essays written by Ambrose Bierce in the late 19th century. The book explores themes of love, loss, and the fleeting nature of life. Each story is a vignette that captures a moment in time, often with a twist or surprise at the end.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1899 · Genre: Satire, Autobiographical, Historical · 855 words
First lines
I.
I know not if it was a dream. I viewed A city where the restless multitude, Between the eastern and the western deep Had roared gigantic fabrics, strong and rude.
What this Textopian page supports
The Passing Show is listed on Textopian as a short story 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: Short story
- Author: Ambrose Bierce
- Date: 1899 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Autobiographical, Historical, Comedy
- Length: 855 words
- Structure: 1 section, 24 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Passing Show 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 Passing Show?
- How does this short story by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Satire first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Some Ancient News Notes by O. Henry
- The Disinterested Arbiter by Ambrose Bierce
- Politics by Ambrose Bierce
- A Cure For The Blues by Mark Twain
- Mr Lobels Apoplexy by Irvin S. Cobb
- Mo Poke by John Arthur Barry
Genres
- Satire — Ambrose Bierce is renowned for his biting wit and satirical writing style which is evident in 'THE PASSING SHOW'.
- Autobiographical — The book contains elements of Bierce's own experiences and life, hence can be considered Autobiographical.
- Historical — The book, although satirical, has historical underpinnings, capturing the socio-political scenario of the time.
- Comedy — The humorous and witty writing style can classify the book as a comedy.
Tags
Drama · Fiction · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Literary Fiction · Classic Literature · American Literature · Short Stories · Collections · Experimental Fiction · Postmodernism