Owls

The short story “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” is taken place in Northern Alabama during the Civil War, and the protagonist whose name is Peyton Farquhar attempts to be a hero for the Confederacy and burn the Union’s stronghold at Owl Creek Bridge. Unfortunately, he fails and is charged with treason for the reason that a Union Scout disguised as a soldier lures him into committing the act. As Farquhar is awaiting and engaging in his death, the readers figure out one of the themes; an…

"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" is a short story by American author Ambrose Bierce set during the Civil War, and is famous for its irregular time sequence and twist ending. It features one main character named Peyton Farquhar, “a well-to-do planter, of an old and highly respected Alabama family” (Bierce 2.1), and the events leading up to his death. The author illustrates this character in various ways to show that he is an imperious, foolish, yet devoted man. A characteristic of Peyton…

In Ambrose Bierce’s “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,” the reader is introduced to a man who is about to be hanged. Throughout the short story, there are multiple themes proposed from beginning to end. One leading theme is suspense. The story switches between reality and imagination, which creates even more suspense right before Farquhar is about to be hanged. Another major theme placed throughout the short story is imagination. Farquhar imagines certain events before the time of his death.…

The life and death of Peyton Farquhar is portrayed in “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” by Ambrose Bierce. Through the use of compelling storytelling and vivid imagery, Ambrose Bierce takes the reader on an adventure like no other. Beginning moments before his death, Peyton Farquhar recalled his life, fantasized about escape, and unfortunately greeted death at the bitter end. The story began with Peyton Farquhar awaiting his execution. He viewed his surroundings and commented on the private…

Ambrose Bierce’s “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” ends with this stark imagery: “Peyton Farquhar was dead; his body, with a broken neck, swung gently from side to side beneath the timbers of Owl Creek bridge” (151). This line presents a cold, distant, and annotative description of death; there is little to invoke the representation of the life that has been lost. Yet, Bierce’s narrative up to this point has succinctly painted the picture of that life, its final moments and its desire to keep…

The realization of what is reality and what isn’t can easily become blurred in literature specifically in the story An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce, in which a gentleman named Peyton Farquhar is to be hung for a crime against the Confederacy of which he was tricked into committing. The audience is led to believe he escaped the hanging until the final paragraph where that image is smashed to pieces, it is explained to be a figment of his imagination. Ambrose Bierce…

One often wonders what one is going to imagine when on the brink of death, will his or her life flash before their eyes or will one just pass without any recollection. In Ambrose Bierce’s short story, “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” and the French film adaptation of the same name by Robert Enrico the main character faces a situation when on the brink of death and imagines his family. Although the movie omits some details stated in the short story, it still does an excellent job at building…

it will one day end. That truth is perhaps the defining feature of the human condition. Mortality is inevitable act, so we can either accept it, or continue to deny the coming day of our own deaths. In Ambrose Bierce’s short story, “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,” the principal character, Peyton Farquhar, experiences both the denial and acceptance of his impending death. Farquhar is sentenced to be hanged by Union soldiers and as he faces his final moments, imagines his escape back to his…

Ultima. It is Antonio between the Luna and the Marez; he holds his eyes closed with a peaceful stature, displaying his utmost care for each side in the middle ground between. Behind him, in the distant sea, are eyes, undoubtedly the eyes of Ultima’s owl which watch him closely. This is a reminder Ultima’s necessary presence and guidance for Antonio.…

Story of an Hour & An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge: Freedom In the short stories, “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin and “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” by Ambrose Bierce both characters try to reach for there freedom in society. When having freedom, you have the power or the right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint (dictionary.com). As they reach for freedom it is taken away because of the actions they committed. “The story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin, a…