The Sportsman and the Squirrel by Ambrose Bierce
The Sportsman and the Squirrel by Ambrose Bierce is a short story about a man who becomes obsessed with catching a squirrel that he believes has stolen his hat. Despite his efforts, the squirrel always manages to evade him, leading the man on a series of absurd and humorous adventures. The story explores themes of obsession, perseverance, and the futility of human endeavors in the face of nature's indifference.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1899 · Genre: Satire, Short Stories, Fiction · 146 words
First lines
A Sportsman who had wounded a Squirrel, which was making desperate efforts to drag itself away, ran after it with a stick, exclaiming:
"Poor thing. I will put it out of its misery."
At that moment the Squirrels stopped from exhaustion, and looking up at its enemy, said:
"I don't venture to doubt the sincerity of your compassion, though it comes rather late, but you seem to lack the faculty of observation. Do you not perceive by my actions that the dearest wish of my heart is to continue in my misery?"
What this Textopian page supports
The Sportsman and the Squirrel is listed on Textopian as a fable 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: Fable
- Author: Ambrose Bierce
- Date: 1899 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Short Stories, Fiction, Historical Fiction
- Length: 146 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Sportsman and the Squirrel 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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Similar titles
- The Man And His Goose by Ambrose Bierce
- The Milkmaid And Her Bucket by Ambrose Bierce
- The Oleomargarine Man by Ambrose Bierce
- The Shafter Shafted by Ambrose Bierce
- The Writer And The Tramps by Ambrose Bierce
- The Yearly Lie by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Satire — Ambrose Bierce's works are typically laced with satire, often using humor, irony, or exaggeration to expose or critique society's follies.
- Short Stories — Most of Bierce's works, including 'The Sportsman and the Squirrel,' are short pieces that capture encapsulated narratives or ideas.
- Fiction — The narrative presents made up events featuring imaginary characters such the sportsman and the squirrel.
- Historical Fiction — Given Bierce wrote during the 19th Century, modern readers may interpret this work as potentially reflecting attitudes, behaviors, and societal standards of that period.
Tags
fiction · short story · humor · satire · nature · animals · adventure · travel · exploration · environment · conservation · human-animal relationship