The Piping Fisherman
In this short story, a fisherman named Jack is described as having a "piping" voice, which he uses to lure fish to his line. However, one day while Jack is out on the water, he becomes distracted by a beautiful woman and loses his voice. Without his piping voice, Jack struggles to catch any fish, leading him to question whether his voice is truly necessary for his livelihood. Ultimately, Jack realizes that his voice is not just a tool for catching fish, but also a part of who he is as a person.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1897 · Genre: Fiction, Adventure, Drama · 106 words
First lines
An Editor who was always vaunting the purity, enterprise, and fearlessness of his paper was pained to observe that he got no subscribers. One day it occurred to him to stop saying that his paper was pure and enterprising and fearless, and make it so. "If these are not good qualities," he reasoned, "it is folly to claim them."
Under the new policy he got so many subscribers that his rivals endeavoured to discover the secret of his prosperity, but he kept it, and when he died it died with him.
What this Textopian page supports
The Piping Fisherman 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: Fiction, Adventure, Drama, Literary Fiction
- Length: 106 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Piping Fisherman by Ambrose Bierce
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Piping Fisherman?
- How does this fable by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Cuckoo by Basil Hall Chamberlain
- The Man And The Fish Horn by Ambrose Bierce
- The Wolf And The Lion by Ambrose Bierce
- The Lion And The Rattlesnake by Ambrose Bierce
- The Broom Of The Temple by Ambrose Bierce
- The Archer And The Eagle by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Fiction — The book involves a story that is conceived from the imagination of the author, making it a work of fiction.
- Adventure — The title suggests that the main character may be involved in an outdoor profession or hobby such as fishing, which could entail various kinds of adventure.
- Drama — The author, Ambrose Bierce, is known for his works often encompassing dramatic themes and situations.
- Literary Fiction — Ambrose Bierce's works often demonstrate a deep psychological depth and a concern with ethical and philosophical questions which aligns with the genre of Literary Fiction.
Tags
gothic · horror · supernatural · fantasy · mystery · thriller · adventure · romance · suspense · magical realism · surrealism · symbolism