# CV explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

The virtues select Modesty as their queen, who expresses surprise at being considered a virtue and questions why Innocence was not chosen instead, to which they respond that Innocence is ignorant of her own virtue.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Self-Deception

Modesty's unawareness of her own virtue and the virtues' dismissal of Innocence due to ignorance highlight themes of self-perception and deception.

## Key lines

> The virtues chose Modesty to be their queen. “I did not know that I was a virtue,” she said. “Why did you not choose Innocence?” “Because of her ignorance,” they replied. “She knows nothing but that she is a virtue.”

The virtues elected Modesty as their ruler. Modesty expressed surprise at being considered virtuous and asked why Innocence wasn't selected. The virtues explained that Innocence is unaware of her own virtuous nature.

_This passage explores the paradox of self-awareness in virtue, where true modesty involves not recognizing one's own goodness, while innocence lacks the knowledge of its own virtue._

## Links

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