1. Ambrose “Bitter” Bierce
American Literature

2. Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce
1842 – 1914 ?????
12 other siblings ALL with names beginning with the letter A
Extremely idealistic and joined war for heroic purpose
Fought in Army; discharged
Married & had 3 children- both sons killed
Separated from wife because of her “wandering eye”

3. Bierce in Life and Death
Occupation: journalist and writer
Genre: Satire
Literary Movements: Wrote very realistic portrayals of horrible events he had seen at war
Obsessed with strange and horrible deaths
Infamous for exposing bigotry, hypocrisy, and corruption
Pioneered the use of various POV in a single story
Date of death unknown
Bored with life in America
Terrified of dying a boring, normal death
Left to go report on war in Mexico at the age of 71

4. POINT OF VIEW First Person-
Told by the character in the work; uses 1st person pronouns
Limited to one person’s pov
Third Person Limited
Narrator tells the story
Uses 3rd Person Pronouns
Focuses on ONE character’s thoughts and feelings
Third Person Omniscient
Uses 3rd person Pronouns
Reveals all of the characters’ thoughts and feelings

5. Famous Quote From Last Known Letter:
"Good-bye — if you hear of my being stood up against a Mexican stone wall and shot to rags please know that I think that a pretty good way to depart this life. It beats old age, disease, or falling down the cellar stairs. To be a Gringo in Mexico — ah, that is euthanasia."