Living in a time of great change and turmoil in America, Bierce was exposed to different social and cultural aspects. This exposure led to his exploration of themes like human nature, mortality, and the relationship between the individual and society in his stories. His stories are a product of his times, filtered through his unique perspective.
Bierce's cynical view of life, perhaps influenced by his own hardships, is reflected in his stories. His characters often face difficult and unfair situations, such as in 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge' where the main character is unjustly sentenced to death.
Ambrose Bierce's personal experiences in war were fundamental to his war stories. Having been part of the military campaigns, he could convey the sense of danger and the constant threat that soldiers faced. His experience of the military hierarchy and the politics within it influenced how he wrote about the decision - making processes in war. Also, the camaraderie he experienced in the trenches translated into his descriptions of the relationships between soldiers in his stories, making them more believable and poignant.
His cynical view of human nature, perhaps shaped by his life experiences, led to the creation of characters in his stories that are often self - serving and capable of great evil. This added a sense of realism to the horror elements.
His stories often had a dark and cynical tone. This tone was somewhat unique at the time and influenced later generations of writers who were interested in exploring the darker aspects of human nature. For example, his use of irony and his ability to create suspense within a short narrative structure became models for many to follow.
His novels had a significant impact. For instance, 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge' introduced a new way of presenting the inner thoughts and experiences of a character in a short story form. It influenced how other American writers crafted their narratives, especially in terms of creating suspense and exploring the human psyche during moments of extreme stress.
Bierce was also influenced by the literary trends of his time. He took elements from the Gothic and Realist movements. He combined the spooky, mood - setting aspects of Gothic literature with the down - to - earth, often unflattering portrayals of human nature from Realism. For instance, in his stories, you might see a character dealing with a supernatural - like situation while also having very ordinary, base motives.
Bierce's war experiences allowed him to understand the soldiers' psyche deeply. He knew the fear, the camaraderie, and the desperation. In his stories, we can see these elements. He could write about how soldiers coped with the stress of war, like through humor or by forming tight - knit groups. Also, his experiences gave him knowledge of the military hierarchy, which is reflected in his stories when he writes about interactions between officers and enlisted men.
His vivid descriptions are also a key feature. In stories like 'The Damned Thing', he describes the strange and unexplainable events in such detail that it feels like you're right there in the middle of the horror. He doesn't shy away from the grotesque either, which adds to the horror factor.
Bierce creates a sense of mystery. He often doesn't reveal everything at once. In many of his ghost stories, the reader is left to wonder about the true nature of the apparitions or events. This keeps the reader on edge and adds to the horror. For instance, in some stories, the origin of the ghost is only hinted at, and the reader has to piece together the clues. Moreover, he plays with the psychological aspect of fear. He might make the characters question their own sanity, which in turn makes the reader feel the same unease. His characters often experience unexplainable events that make them and the reader doubt what is real and what is not.
Ambrose Bierce wrote various types of stories, including horror, mystery, and satire.