The Coup De Grace by Ambrose Bierce
What are the two main themes of the story?
The main themes of this short story are brutality of nature and the feeling of horror. Ambrose Bierce has used these two themes to bring out the desired effect of horror, conflict, and sympathy in the ending. The setting of the story is introduced as a place of horror. His choice of words confirms the theme of horror. He says that there was fighting and that the taste of battle was still in the air (Bierce, 1862). Such an introduction makes one fear of the horror that might be lurking. The ...