# LXXI explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

A brief dialogue between Ignorance and Knowledge, where Knowledge offers to accompany Ignorance to fortify a maiden's mind against peril, but Ignorance accuses Knowledge of being the peril itself.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Self-Deception

Knowledge is revealed as the true peril, suggesting that what appears helpful may be deceptive.

## Key lines

> Where goest thou, Ignorance? To fortify the mind of a maiden against a peril. I am going thy way. My name is Knowledge. Scoundrel! Thou art the peril.

Ignorance says it is going to protect a maiden from danger. Knowledge offers to join, but Ignorance calls Knowledge the real danger.

_This exchange highlights the ironic reversal where knowledge itself is seen as a threat._

## Links

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