The Piute by Ambrose Bierce (1899)
The Piute is a short story by Ambrose Bierce, first published in 1896. The story follows the journey of a man named Jack, who becomes lost in the desert while traveling with a group of Piute Indians. As Jack navigates the harsh environment and confronts his own mortality, he reflects on his past experiences and the choices he has made. Ultimately, Jack's fate is left uncertain, leaving the reader to ponder the meaning of life and death in the vast and unforgiving landscape of the desert.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1899 · Genre: Short Stories, Horror, Mystery · 243 words
First lines
Unbeautiful is the Piute! Howe'er bedecked with bravery, His person is unsavory -- Of soap he's destitute.
He multiplies upon the earth In spite of all admonishing; All censure his astonishing And versatile unworth.
Upon the Reservation wide We give for his inhabiting He goes a-jackass rabbiting To furnish his inside.
The hopper singing in the grass He seizes with avidity: He loves its tart acidity, And gobbles all that pass.
What this Textopian page supports
The Piute 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: Short Stories, Horror, Mystery, Historical Fiction
- Length: 243 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Piute by Ambrose Bierce
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Piute?
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Similar titles
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Genres
- Short Stories — The Piute is part of Ambrose Bierce's collection of short stories.
- Horror — In true Biercian style, the story The Piute is filled with elements of horror and the macabre.
- Mystery — The narrative structure of The Piute lends itself to the mystery genre as it builds tension and suspense.
- Historical Fiction — The Piute is set in historic California and explores issues relevant to the time period.
Tags
ghost story · supernatural · frontier · wilderness · survival · desert · Native American · legend · mystery · thriller · adventure · historical fiction