# Sam Chamberlain — Poetry character guide

> Sam Chamberlain in Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Samson, Sammy

**First appearance:** 0000-poetry

## Who they are

Called Samson or Sammy by turns, a companion figure whose shifting names suit Bierce's habit of dressing plain satire in playful disguise.

## In the story

### [To a Word-Warrior](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/to-a-word-warrior)

Referenced as 'Samson' in the line 'With Samson’s weapon slew the dead,' alluding to his strength and the metaphorical slaying of the defeated.

### [On Stone: Some Ante-Mortem Epitaphs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/on-stone-some-ante-mortem-epitaphs)

Epitaph II portrays him as a 'King of Craft' with a fatal smile and a double-dealing nature, likened to a titmouse Machiavelli.

### [II: A King of Craft](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/ii-a-king-of-craft)

The subject of the epitaph; a cunning, smiling deceiver whose 'fatal smile' and 'polite, perfidious art' are central to the chapter.

### [XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/xxxiv)

Sammy, who applied the hot pitch; his remains are to be pocketed by the Deacon.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/characters/sam_chamberlain
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/characters