# Expositor Veritatis explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

The narrator dreams of a future where tombs have been replaced by statues of the electro-plated dead, and public places are filled with monumental figures. A single niche in a grand structure holds a statue of Thomas Fitch, and a man declares himself the chief expounder of Truth's temple.

## Themes in this chapter

### Art and Criticism

The chapter critiques the artificial memorialization of the dead through statues, questioning the authenticity of such representations.

### Deception and Self-Deception

The claim of being the 'chief expounder' of Truth's temple suggests self-deception or ironic commentary on truth and representation.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown

The narrator dreams of a future world filled with statues of the dead.

### Deacon Fitch

His familiar form is seen in a monumental niche, identified as Thomas Fitch.

### Arthur McEwen

A man cries out about Truth's temple and its founder, then adds he is the chief expounder.

## Key lines

> I slept, and, waking in the years to be, Heard voices, and approaching whence they came, Listened indifferently where a key Had lately been removed.

The narrator falls asleep and wakes in a future time, hearing voices and approaching them with indifference, noting a key has been removed from a lock.

_Sets the dreamlike, prophetic tone of the chapter._

> And then I knew⁠—some intuition said⁠— That tombs were not and men had cleared their shelves Of urns; and the electro-plated dead Stood pedestaled as statues of themselves.

The narrator realizes that graves no longer exist; instead, the dead are preserved as electro-plated statues on pedestals.

_Highlights the shift from burial to artificial preservation._

> One mighty structure’s high façade alone Contained a single monumental niche, Where, central in that steep expanse of stone, Gleamed the familiar form of Thomas Fitch.

A large building's facade has a single niche holding a statue of Thomas Fitch, shining prominently.

_Identifies the specific statue and its central placement._

> A man cried: “Lo! Truth’s temple and its founder!” Then gravely added: “I’m her chief expounder.”

A man exclaims that the building is the temple of Truth and its founder, then solemnly claims to be its main interpreter.

_Introduces a self-proclaimed authority on truth, adding irony._

## Links

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