The Australian Grasshopper
by Ambrose Bierce
Mr. Explorer and the Big Jump
Mr. Explorer loved to learn new things. He was in sunny land with Kai. They walked and looked at live things. They looked at many things. They were on a big trip. Kai showed Mr. Explorer the land.
Mr. Explorer saw The Kangaroo. It was The Kangaroo. The Kangaroo was big. It had long legs. It had a long tail. It sat in the grass. Mr. Explorer picked up a small stone. He gently threw the stone. He wanted to see it move.
The Kangaroo jumped! Boing! It made a very big jump. The jump was fast. It went so high. It jumped far, far away. It went out of sight. The Kangaroo went over the hill. It was gone. Mr. Explorer watched it go.
Mr. Explorer did not speak. He stood very still. He thought and thought. He thought about the jump. He thought about The Kangaroo. He thought for a long time. Kai waited for him.
Then Mr. Explorer spoke. He asked Kai a question. "Are your grass fields very big?" he asked. "Are they very, very wide here?" he asked.
Original Story
The Australian Grasshopper
A Distinguished Naturalist was travelling in Australia, when he saw a Kangaroo in session and flung a stone at it. The Kangaroo immediately adjourned, tracing against the sunset sky a parabolic curve spanning seven provinces, and evanished below the horizon. The Distinguished Naturalist looked interested, but said nothing for an hour; then he said to his native Guide:
“You have pretty wide meadows here, I suppose?”
“No, not very wide,” the Guide answered; “about the same as in England and America.”
After another long silence the Distinguished Naturalist said:
“The hay which we shall purchase for our horses this evening—I shall expect to find the stalks about fifty feet long. Am I right?”
“Why, no,” said the Guide; “a foot or two is about the usual length of our hay. What can you be thinking of?”
The Distinguished Naturalist made no immediate reply, but later, as in the shades of night they journeyed through the desolate vastness of the Great Lone Land, he broke the silence:
“I was thinking,” he said, “of the uncommon magnitude of that grasshopper.”
Moral of the Story
Assumptions based on limited information can lead to absurd conclusions.
Characters
The Distinguished Naturalist ★ protagonist
A man of average height and build, likely in his 40s or 50s, with a scholarly demeanor. His features would suggest a European background, possibly British given the context of naturalists exploring Australia in that era. He carries himself with an air of intellectual curiosity and quiet observation.
Attire: Practical but respectable European explorer's attire suitable for the Australian climate of the late 19th century: a sturdy tweed or canvas safari jacket in a neutral color (khaki, olive green) with multiple pockets, a button-down collared shirt, durable trousers, and leather boots. Perhaps a wide-brimmed pith helmet or sun hat to protect from the sun.
Wants: To understand and categorize the natural world; to make logical sense of phenomena, even when confronted with the extraordinary.
Flaw: His reliance on conventional scientific frameworks makes him slow to accept truly anomalous observations, leading to humorous misinterpretations.
He remains consistent in his scientific approach, but the story highlights the humorous clash between his established worldview and the unique realities of Australia.
Observant, intelligent, analytical, reserved, dry-witted. He processes information internally before speaking, often leading to delayed but profound observations.
The Native Guide ◆ supporting
An Indigenous Australian man, likely of lean and resilient build, accustomed to the harsh Australian landscape. His skin is dark, weathered by the sun, and his features are characteristic of Aboriginal Australians.
Attire: Practical, simple clothing suitable for an Aboriginal guide in the late 19th century. This might include a simple, loose-fitting cotton shirt in a muted color, sturdy trousers or shorts, and perhaps bare feet or simple leather sandals. He might wear a traditional armband or necklace, but nothing overly elaborate for a working guide.
Wants: To guide the Naturalist safely and effectively through the Australian landscape, and perhaps to earn a living.
Flaw: Perhaps a lack of understanding of the Naturalist's abstract scientific framework, leading to simple, literal answers that don't fully address the Naturalist's underlying assumptions.
Remains consistent as a reliable and knowledgeable guide, serving as a foil to the Naturalist's intellectual ponderings.
Patient, practical, knowledgeable about his land, slightly bemused by the Naturalist's questions. He is straightforward and honest in his replies.
The Kangaroo ○ minor
A large, powerful adult kangaroo, specifically a Red Kangaroo, known for its impressive size and muscular hind legs. Its fur is reddish-brown, fading to lighter tones on its belly. It has a long, thick tail used for balance and support.
Attire: None, as it is a wild animal.
Wants: To escape perceived danger.
Flaw: Its wild nature makes it wary of humans and prone to fleeing.
Appears briefly, demonstrates its extraordinary ability, and then disappears, serving as the catalyst for the Naturalist's misinterpretation.
Wild, alert, powerful, easily startled. Its primary instinct is self-preservation.
Locations
Australian Outback at Sunset
A vast, open landscape under a dramatic sunset sky, where the horizon stretches far into the distance. The light is fading, casting long shadows and painting the sky with warm, deep colors.
Mood: Vast, awe-inspiring, slightly mysterious due to the fading light.
The Naturalist observes the kangaroo's extraordinary leap and begins to ponder its implications.
The Great Lone Land at Night
A desolate and vast expanse of land, shrouded in the shades of night, implying a remote and uninhabited wilderness.
Mood: Desolate, vast, silent, and thought-provoking.
The Naturalist finally reveals his humorous conclusion about the 'grasshopper' after a long journey through the night.
Story DNA
Moral
Assumptions based on limited information can lead to absurd conclusions.
Plot Summary
A Distinguished Naturalist in Australia observes a Kangaroo leaping an incredible distance after he throws a stone at it. Pondering this, he asks his native Guide about the vastness of the meadows and the length of hay stalks, believing the landscape must be enormous to support such a creature. The Guide expresses confusion at his questions. Finally, the Naturalist reveals his conclusion: he mistook the Kangaroo for an uncommonly large grasshopper.
Themes
Emotional Arc
curiosity to bewildered amusement
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Ambrose Bierce was known for his satirical and often dark humor, frequently critiquing human folly and pretension.
Plot Beats (10)
- A Distinguished Naturalist is traveling in Australia with a native Guide.
- The Naturalist encounters a Kangaroo and throws a stone at it.
- The Kangaroo leaps an extraordinary distance, disappearing over the horizon.
- The Naturalist remains silent for an hour, deep in thought.
- He asks the Guide if the meadows are very wide, implying they must be to accommodate such a creature.
- The Guide states the meadows are of normal width.
- After another long silence, the Naturalist asks if the hay stalks are fifty feet long.
- The Guide expresses confusion, stating hay is only a foot or two long.
- Later, as they travel, the Naturalist finally explains his reasoning.
- He reveals he believed the Kangaroo was an uncommonly large grasshopper.
