Tidings of Good by Ambrose Bierce
TIDINGS OF GOOD tells the tale of a man named John who, after being struck by lightning, discovers that he has been given the gift of immortality. As he navigates his newfound existence, John grapples with the implications of living forever and the consequences of his actions on those around him. Throughout the story, Bierce explores themes of morality, mortality, and the human condition, raising questions about the nature of life and death, and the meaning of existence. The narrative is both thought-provoking and haunting, leaving readers with a sense of wonder and unease.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1896 · Genre: Satire, Short Stories, Fiction · 406 words
First lines
Old Nick from his place of last resort Came up and looked the world over.
He saw how the grass of the good was short And the wicked lived in clover.
What this Textopian page supports
Tidings of Good is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1896 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: 1896 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Short Stories, Fiction, Humor
- Length: 406 words
- Structure: 1 section, 12 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Tidings of Good 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 Tidings of Good?
- How does this short story by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Satire first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- The Scurril Press by Ambrose Bierce
- T A H by Ambrose Bierce
- Johndonkey by Ambrose Bierce
- A Commuted Sentence by Ambrose Bierce
- Magnanimity by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Satire — Ambrose Bierce was known for his biting wit and satirical writing style. This book continues his traditional approach and often uses satire to criticise social norms and conventions.
- Short Stories — The book is a collection of short stories, each one delivering a message or exploring a theme in its own precise manner. Hence short stories is an apt genre to describe the book.
- Fiction — Even though the author critiques the society and norms of his time, the stories are made up and come from the realm of fiction. Hence, this book belongs to the fiction genre.
- Humor — Bierce was known for his dark humor and wit. In this book, he employs humor to reach to his audience and bring out the absurdities of the societal norms.
Tags
gothic fiction · supernatural horror · mystery · thriller · literary fiction · american literature · short stories · dark humor · irony · symbolism · allegory · social commentary