“An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,” by Ambrose Bierce, is an excellent example of Realism because it features characters, setting, point of view, detailed descriptions, plot, and it doesn’t glorify the horrific realities of war. This story is set during the Civil War period in Alabama, which is explained throughout the narrative, and the plot is about the execution of an ordinary man named Peyton Farquhar. This concept of having a common man as the main character is one of the elements of Realism. The description of the setting and Peyton are found in lines 79-81, “Peyton Farquhar was a well-to-do planter, of an old and highly respected Alabama family. Being a slave owner and like other slave owners a politician he was naturally a secessionist
