The Politicians and the Plunder
The Politicians and the Plunder by Ambrose Bierce is a satirical short story that critiques the corrupt political practices of the time. The story follows a group of politicians who are more concerned with lining their own pockets than serving the public good. They engage in various forms of corruption, including embezzlement and bribery, until they are caught and brought to justice. The story is notable for its biting wit and dark humor, as well as its prescience in predicting the types of political corruption that would arise in the future. Bierce's writing style is concise and direct, making the story easy to follow and understand. Overall, The Politicians and the Plunder is a thought-provoking and entertaining read that offers a scathing critique of political corruption and highlights the importance of ethical leadership.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1872 · Genre: Political Fiction, Satire, Historical Fiction · 129 words
First lines
Several Political Entities were dividing the spoils.
"I will take the management of the prisons," said a Decent Respect for
Public Opinion, "and make a radical change."
"And I," said the Blotted Escutcheon, "will retain my present general connection with affairs, while my friend here, the Soiled Ermine, will remain in the Judiciary."
What this Textopian page supports
The Politicians and the Plunder is listed on Textopian as a fable 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: Fable
- Author: Ambrose Bierce
- Date: 1872 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Political Fiction, Satire, Historical Fiction
- Length: 129 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Politicians and the Plunder 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 Politicians and the Plunder?
- How does this fable by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Political Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Two Politicians by Ambrose Bierce
- A Statesman by Ambrose Bierce
- For Mayor by Ambrose Bierce
- The Conscientious Official by Ambrose Bierce
- One President by Ambrose Bierce
- The Politicians by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Political Fiction — The title implies the story revolves around politicians, which commonly relates to political themes and plots. Therefore, Political Fiction would be the most relevant genre.
- Satire — Ambrose Bierce is known for his satirical writing style. This genre is an educated guess based on the author's typical writing style.
- Historical Fiction — Based on the context that Ambrose Bierce often employed in his writings, Historical Fiction may be a likely genre, utilizing historical events or periods as backdrop for the narrative.
Tags
political satire · corruption · government · greed · power · abuse of power · fiction · short story · American literature · 19th century literature · classic literature · humor