An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge Written by Ambrose Bierce

Ambrose Bierce Ohio  Indiana Attended military academy – Kentucky Enlisted in Union Army Fought in several imp battles in Civil War; wounded

Bierce as a Writer Journalist in San Francisco Journalist in San Francisco Wrote biting political and social satire Wrote biting political and social satire “Bitter Bierce” “Bitter Bierce” “Wickedest man in San Francisco,” yet charmed many “Wickedest man in San Francisco,” yet charmed many Wrote short stories set in Civil War Wrote short stories set in Civil War Cruelty of war; pessimism; contempt of humanity Cruelty of war; pessimism; contempt of humanity

“An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” Realism Setting – Alabama (Civil War) Structure – Divided into 3 sections

Overview Payton Farquhar is about to be hanged by Union soldiers, we learn: Who he is How he got there His fate- imagined and real

Three Sections - Part I Third person point of view; an objective account of the setting with a realistic description of details Third person point of view; an objective account of the setting with a realistic description of details Description of character Description of character 35 yrs old 35 yrs old Planter; wore well-fitting frock Planter; wore well-fitting frock Brief insight into thoughts of the character before the hanging Brief insight into thoughts of the character before the hanging Time slows down; senses become more acute Time slows down; senses become more acute

Part II – Background Farquhar “longs for the release of his energies;” has a desire for “the larger life of a soldier” and “the opportunity for distinction” Farquhar “longs for the release of his energies;” has a desire for “the larger life of a soldier” and “the opportunity for distinction” The deception by the “gray-clad soldier” The deception by the “gray-clad soldier” The motivation for the destruction of the bridge The motivation for the destruction of the bridge Third person POV Third person POV

Part III Picks up where Part I left off Picks up where Part I left off Limited third person POV Limited third person POV Insight as to what happens at death Insight as to what happens at death Details Farquhar’s thoughts and feelings Details Farquhar’s thoughts and feelings

Peyton’s Initial Experience Pain Pain Sense of suffocation Sense of suffocation Initial loss of thought; only had feeling Initial loss of thought; only had feeling Pulsating fire Pulsating fire Roaring in his ears Roaring in his ears Fiery heart of a luminous cloud Fiery heart of a luminous cloud Light (brightness) Light (brightness)

Thought is restored: Rises towards surface of water Rises towards surface of water “I do not wish to be shot… that is not fair.” “I do not wish to be shot… that is not fair.” Frees his hands; tears away the noose Frees his hands; tears away the noose Dire pain in his neck Dire pain in his neck Head emerges from water; blinded by sunlight Head emerges from water; blinded by sunlight

Senses are intensified: Saw individual trees, leaves, veins, insects on them Saw individual trees, leaves, veins, insects on them “prismatic colors in dewdrops upon the million blades of grass” “prismatic colors in dewdrops upon the million blades of grass” Humming of gnats; beating of dragonflies’ wings; fish swimming Humming of gnats; beating of dragonflies’ wings; fish swimming Sounds made “audible music” Sounds made “audible music” Sees soldiers “forms gigantic ” Sees soldiers “forms gigantic ” Hears shots; guns and cannon Hears shots; guns and cannon

Other sensations: Feels himself “spinning like a top” Feels himself “spinning like a top” Flung up on gravel bank of stream Flung up on gravel bank of stream Sand looks like “diamonds, rubies, emeralds” Sand looks like “diamonds, rubies, emeralds” Wind made music of “aeolian harps” Wind made music of “aeolian harps” Content; whiz of grapeshot arouses him from dream Content; whiz of grapeshot arouses him from dream

Peyton’s “Escape” Travels all day, footsore, through the forest Travels all day, footsore, through the forest Thought of wife and children urge him on Thought of wife and children urge him on Road- untraveled; stars- unfamiliar grouped strangely (“malign significance”) Road- untraveled; stars- unfamiliar grouped strangely (“malign significance”) Hears whispers in an unknown tongue Hears whispers in an unknown tongue

Peyton’s Feelings Neck is swollen and hurts Neck is swollen and hurts Eyes and tongue swollen Eyes and tongue swollen Can no longer feel roadway beneath his feet Can no longer feel roadway beneath his feet Dreaming? Recovering from delirium? Dreaming? Recovering from delirium?

Final Scene Home - beautiful sunlight Home - beautiful sunlight Wife – cool & sweet; smiles with joy Wife – cool & sweet; smiles with joy Reaches for her Reaches for her Blow on neck; blinding white light; sound of cannon-darkness & silence-death Blow on neck; blinding white light; sound of cannon-darkness & silence-death

Themes Dreams and reality Romantic view of war vs. brutality and violence Escape vs. death Brutality of war Deception Union soldier posing as Confederate Farquhar – thinks he can escape

Satire Farquhar himself is the subject Farquhar himself is the subject “All is fair in love and war” and sees war as “opportunity for distinction” “All is fair in love and war” and sees war as “opportunity for distinction” Sees burning bridge as opportunity for glory  death Sees burning bridge as opportunity for glory  death

Irony You are led to believe that Farquhar will become involved in a covert or secret operation to destroy the bridge. You are led to believe that Farquhar will become involved in a covert or secret operation to destroy the bridge. What actually occurs is that Farquhar himself is tricked is tricked by a Union soldier. What actually occurs is that Farquhar himself is tricked is tricked by a Union soldier.