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About this quote

What does it mean?
Bierce satirically suggests that an accordion's chaotic sound matches the violent mood of a killer.
In plain terms
The instrument sounds like something a murderer would enjoy.
What can you take from it?
Humor can highlight dark associations in everyday objects.

Where it applies

  • literary analysis
  • humor studies
  • vocabulary building

Putting it to work

  • analyze satirical definitions
  • discuss tone in writing

Questions to consider

  • How does sound relate to emotion?
  • What makes a definition satirical?

Another view

The definition is a joke and not a factual description of the instrument.

More from Ambrose Bierce

  1. Acquaintance, n. A person whom we know well enough to borrow from, but not well enough to lend to. A degree of friendship called slight when its object is poor…

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  2. Absurdity, n. A statement or belief manifestly inconsistent with one's own opinion.

    Permalink to quote #5
  3. Admiration, n. Our polite recognition of another's resemblance to ourselves.

    Permalink to quote #9

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