The Witch's Steed by Ambrose Bierce
The Witch's Steed by Ambrose Bierce is a short story that follows the journey of a man who stumbles upon a mysterious horse in a forest. The horse, which the man learns is a witch's steed, takes him on a wild ride through the night sky, during which the man experiences strange and fantastical occurrences. When the ride ends, the man finds himself back in the forest, but with a newfound appreciation for the magic of the world around him.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1879 · Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Supernatural · 104 words
First lines
A Broomstick which had long served a witch as a steed complained of the nature of its employment, which it thought degrading.
"Very well," said the Witch, "I will give you work in which you will be associated with intellect -- you will come in contact with brains. I shall present you to a housewife."
"What!" said the Broomstick, "do you consider the hands of a housewife intellectual?"
"I referred," said the Witch, "to the head of her good man."
What this Textopian page supports
The Witch's Steed is listed on Textopian as a fable by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1879 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: 1879 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Supernatural, Mystery
- Length: 104 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Witch's Steed 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 Witch's Steed?
- How does this fable by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Aspirants Three by Ambrose Bierce
- The Archer And The Eagle by Ambrose Bierce
- The Tail Of The Sphinx by Ambrose Bierce
- The Wolf And The Lion by Ambrose Bierce
- Two Kings by Ambrose Bierce
- Beyond The Wall by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Fantasy — The presence of a witch and her steed in the title indicates fantastical elements
- Horror — Ambrose Bierce is known for writing supernatural horror stories
- Supernatural — The characters implied in the title imply the presence of supernatural forces
- Mystery — As common in Bierce's works, mystery often drives the plot
Tags
fantasy · horror · supernatural · magic · witchcraft · steampunk · alternate history · gothic · mystery · thriller · adventure · fiction