# Apparition explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

The poem describes a ghost that haunts the editorial office of the Bulletin, writing with a real quill on real paper, producing phantoms of thoughts from dead men. The ghost's presence terrifies editors, printers, and readers alike, and the poem ends with a lament that Bill Bartlett will never stay dead.

## Themes in this chapter

### Mortality and Regret

The ghost represents the persistence of the dead, haunting the living with unfinished work and unresolved presence.

### Art and Criticism

The ghost's writing of 'phantoms of thoughts that dead men think' critiques the nature of journalism and the lingering influence of past writers.

## Character check-ins

### Bill Bartlett

The ghost haunting the Bulletin office is identified as Bill Bartlett, who refuses to stay dead.

## Key lines

> The ghosts are all gone, the Bulletin cries.

The Bulletin newspaper claims that all ghosts have disappeared.

_Sets up the irony that a ghost is actually present._

> O God! will Bill Bartlett never stay dead?

A cry of despair that Bill Bartlett's ghost continues to haunt the office.

_Reveals the identity of the ghost and the frustration of the living._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters/apparition
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters