1. Ambrose Bierce
Or
Dod Grile
Name: Ambrose Gwinnete Bierce
Born: June 24 1842
Place: Horse Cave Creek, Meigs
County, Ohio
(Ten of thirteen sibling all with letter A
first names)
Occupation: Author, Columnist
Died: 1914 Chihuahua Mexico
(as legend goes)
5. Early Life
Parents: Marcus Aurelius Bierce
Laura Sherwood Bierce
Bierce siblings: Abigail, Amelia, Ann, Addison,
Aurelius, Augustus, Almeda, Andrew, Albert,
Ambrose, Arthur, Adelia, and Aurelia.
At age fifteen became a "printer's devil".
6. Careers
Fought in civil war (Decorated)
Treasury Agent
US mint worker (San Francisco)
Columnist and Editor (Prattle)
7. Style
• Abrupt beginnings
• Dark imagery
• Vague references to time
• Limited descriptions
• Impossible events
• Theme of war
• Social criticism/ cynicism
8. Famous works
• Considered a master of pure English
• An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge (Short Story)
• The Devils Dictionary (most quoted) (Urban dictionary)
9. An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge
Plot:
Confederate sympathizer caught and sentenced
to hang.
His life Flashes before his eyes