Occurrence at owl creek bridge analysis
Thrown for a Loop
An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge is a short story written by Ambrose Bierce. In this short story, the narrator tells of a man named Peyton Farquhar about to be hanged for attempting to interfere with a railroad during the Civil War. Luckily, as he falls the rope snaps and he falls into the water below with the noose and cord still around his neck and wrist. He unties his hands and then he “...pounced upon the noose at his neck” (Ambrose Bierce 402). Although he has freed himself from restraints he is not out of danger. He was swimming down river with the world’s best marksman shooting at him. Farquhar dove under water to escape the bullets and after dodging bullets and cannon shots he eventually makes it to a bank. Peyton starts to make his journey home and travels all night! Just as he see’s his wife, he feels a blow to the back of his neck that kills him.
Ambrose Bierce has a beautiful writing style that flows very well. She is very descriptive and can easily paint a picture for her audience. On page 399 Ambrose writes, “His features were good--a straight nose, firm mouth, broad forehead, from which his long, dark hair was combed straight back, falling behind his ears to the collar of his well-fitting frock coat.” Ambrose Bierce is very creative in her plot and really puts us inside the mind of Peyton. Ambrose was trying to make us think that Peyton Farquhar had escaped and was going to go home and live to see another day when BAM! He dies suddenly because his noose breaks his neck. She definitely fooled me, as I’m sure she did many others. Overall the story is put together very well and is entertaining throughout.
Ambrose throws in a flash back in one part of the story that lets us know why Peyton is being hanged. This is very creative and it also gives us background information on our main character. The flashback is the most important part of the story, in my opinion. It is very well placed and makes us forget what is happening
An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge is a short story written by Ambrose Bierce. In this short story, the narrator tells of a man named Peyton Farquhar about to be hanged for attempting to interfere with a railroad during the Civil War. Luckily, as he falls the rope snaps and he falls into the water below with the noose and cord still around his neck and wrist. He unties his hands and then he “...pounced upon the noose at his neck” (Ambrose Bierce 402). Although he has freed himself from restraints he is not out of danger. He was swimming down river with the world’s best marksman shooting at him. Farquhar dove under water to escape the bullets and after dodging bullets and cannon shots he eventually makes it to a bank. Peyton starts to make his journey home and travels all night! Just as he see’s his wife, he feels a blow to the back of his neck that kills him.
Ambrose Bierce has a beautiful writing style that flows very well. She is very descriptive and can easily paint a picture for her audience. On page 399 Ambrose writes, “His features were good--a straight nose, firm mouth, broad forehead, from which his long, dark hair was combed straight back, falling behind his ears to the collar of his well-fitting frock coat.” Ambrose Bierce is very creative in her plot and really puts us inside the mind of Peyton. Ambrose was trying to make us think that Peyton Farquhar had escaped and was going to go home and live to see another day when BAM! He dies suddenly because his noose breaks his neck. She definitely fooled me, as I’m sure she did many others. Overall the story is put together very well and is entertaining throughout.
Ambrose throws in a flash back in one part of the story that lets us know why Peyton is being hanged. This is very creative and it also gives us background information on our main character. The flashback is the most important part of the story, in my opinion. It is very well placed and makes us forget what is happening