The Unpardonable Sin
THE UNPARDONABLE SIN is a short story by Ambrose Bierce, first published in 1893. The story follows a man named Marcus who, after committing an unpardonable sin, is unable to find redemption or forgiveness from God or himself. Despite his best efforts to make amends, Marcus is consumed by guilt and remorse, ultimately leading to his downfall. Would you like me to provide more information about the story or its author?
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1890 · Genre: Short Stories, Horror, Psychological Thriller · 369 words
First lines
I reckon that ye never knew, That dandy slugger, Tom Carew, He had a touch as light an' free As that of any honey-bee; But where it lit there wasn't much To jestify another touch.
O, what a Sunday-school it was To watch him puttin' up his paws An' roominate upon their heft -- Particular his holy left! Tom was my style -- that's all I say; Some others may be equal gay.
What this Textopian page supports
The Unpardonable Sin is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1890 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: 1890 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Short Stories, Horror, Psychological Thriller, Gothic Fiction, Suspense
- Length: 369 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Unpardonable Sin 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 Unpardonable Sin?
- How does this short story by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Short Stories first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- A Bad Night by Ambrose Bierce
- A Man by Ambrose Bierce
- The Hermit by Ambrose Bierce
- An Inscription by Ambrose Bierce
- The Difficulty Of Crossing A Field by Ambrose Bierce
- A Growler by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Short Stories — Ambrose Bierce was known for his brief, tightly-structured tales. 'The Unpardonable Sin' fits into this category.
- Horror — The story, with its dark themes and chilling conclusion, is a prime example of Bierce's often macabre and gruesome storytelling style.
- Psychological Thriller — The book delves into the psychological torment of its characters, an aspect that is typical of the psychological thriller genre.
- Gothic Fiction — The grim, tenebrous setting and the exploration of guilt and sin echo the hallmarks of classic Gothic fiction.
Tags
horror · gothic · thriller · mystery · supernatural · fiction · short story · classic · literature · american literature · 19th century literature · psychological horror