A Horseman in the Sky

The narrator describes the natural setting at length and in detail. What role do these descriptions play in establishing the story’s themes, point of view, and mood?

What virtues and flaws does Carter Druse have? What devices does Ambrose Bierce use to establish his character?

Based on their brief conversation at the breakfast table, how do Druse and his father relate? What kind of father do you suppose Mr. Druse was to Carter as a child? Why?

The story is set in a real and specific time and place. What role do these specificities have in shaping the story’s meaning?

When Druse first awakes, he feels “artistic delight” at what he thinks is a statue (5). Based on its description, how is this statue delightful? How does it compare to what this story—also a work of art—is doing?

Why does Bierce wait until the end of the story to reveal the identity of the horseman? Is other key information withheld from the reader or characters in the story? How do these delays shape your experience of reading the story?

The story departs from Druse’s point of view at a pivotal moment, shifting to the unnamed officer who sees the horseman in the sky. How does this shift illuminate the themes of the story?

Would you characterize this story as antiwar or pacifist? Why or why not?