To Oscar Wilde by Ambrose Bierce
Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray" is a classic tale of vanity and morality. The story follows the life of Dorian Gray, a young man who becomes obsessed with his own beauty and makes a Faustian bargain to sell his soul for eternal youth and beauty. As he ages and decays on the outside while remaining youthful and beautiful on the inside, Gray's obsession with his appearance leads him down a path of destruction and moral decay. The novel explores themes of identity, morality, and the superficiality of Victorian society. Wilde's writing is witty and satirical, using humor and irony to critique the societal norms of his time. The book has been widely acclaimed for its literary merit and continues to be a popular and influential work in the world of literature.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1911 · Genre: Literary criticism, Biography, Non-fiction · 155 words
First lines
Because from Folly's lips you got Some babbled mandate to subdue The realm of Common Sense, and you Made promise and considered not --
Because you strike a random blow At what you do not understand, And beckon with a friendly hand To something that you do not know,
I hold no speech of your desert, Nor answer with porrected shield The wooden weapon that you wield, But meet you with a cast of dirt.
Dispute with such a thing as you -- Twin show to the two-headed calf? Why, sir, if I repress my laugh, 'T is more than half the world can do.
What this Textopian page supports
To Oscar Wilde is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1911 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: 1911 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary criticism, Biography, Non-fiction, Historical, Epistolary
- Length: 155 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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- Work identity for To Oscar Wilde by Ambrose Bierce
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
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Discussion starters
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- How does this short story by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
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Similar titles
- The Letters Of Ambrose Bierce by Ambrose Bierce
- A Career In Letters by Ambrose Bierce
- The Optimist And The Cynic by Ambrose Bierce
- The Subdued Editor by Ambrose Bierce
- Martial To Pliny by Arthur Willis Colton
- The Poetess Of Reform by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Literary criticism — The book is essentially a literary critique of Oscar Wilde's works.
- Biography — The book, focusing on Oscar Wilde, provides insights and anecdotes about his life, making it partly biographical.
- Non-fiction — The book is a non-fiction commentary based on real people and events.
- Historical — Given the historical context and the biography of a historical figure, the book falls under the genre of historical literature.
Tags
humor · satire · biography · literary criticism · history · culture · aesthetics · philosophy · gay literature · LGBTQ+ · American literature · 19th century literature