An Occurance at Owl Creek Bridge, an Analysis
John KleinKlein 1
Short Story Analysis
July 7,2013
Analysis of “An Occurrence at Owl Creek”
Do you like surprise endings? “An Occurrence at Owl Creek”, by Ambrose Bierce supplies a startling one. Set in Alabama during the Civil War, Peyton Farquar, a well-to-do, slave owning plantation owner “who was at heart a soldier,” was kept out of the military service for reasons left vague. A Union scout,dressed as a Rebel, stops at his house and suggests burning a near by bridge now in Union hands. Set up, Farquar is caught and ordered to be hanged, during which the rope breaks and he makes good his escape. Upon reaching his home, thirty miles away, his reunion with his wife is cut short by the revelation that the escape was in his mind, he is actually hung! By using the literary elements point of view, setting, and symbolism, the author makes good his surprise.
The point of view is omniscient. The narrator does not interact in the events, he is the storyteller. But, he knows all of Farquar's thought's. This is vital since Farquar's escape is only in his mind. The narrator relates Farquar's deepest emotions, knows his pains, however, remains separate from Farquar, objective, a commentator.
This story is set in a terrible time for Alabama. From 1862 on, the northern part was occupied by the Yankees. Plantation owners would certainly be very concerned. This reenforces the plot's realism. Add the fact that the author served in the Union Army in that area of operations and during Sherman's march to the sea, you get a logical,believable yarn. Moreover,
Klein 2 the author's crafty use of time demonstrates a keen perception of it's relativity. When our protagonist “let his gaze wander to the swirling water of the stream racing madly beneath his feet,” he is suddenly transported to another dimension of time. Time slows to a crawl, he thinks, “what a sluggish stream!” Hours later,” he stands at the gate of his own home. All is as he left it, all
Short Story Analysis
July 7,2013
Analysis of “An Occurrence at Owl Creek”
Do you like surprise endings? “An Occurrence at Owl Creek”, by Ambrose Bierce supplies a startling one. Set in Alabama during the Civil War, Peyton Farquar, a well-to-do, slave owning plantation owner “who was at heart a soldier,” was kept out of the military service for reasons left vague. A Union scout,dressed as a Rebel, stops at his house and suggests burning a near by bridge now in Union hands. Set up, Farquar is caught and ordered to be hanged, during which the rope breaks and he makes good his escape. Upon reaching his home, thirty miles away, his reunion with his wife is cut short by the revelation that the escape was in his mind, he is actually hung! By using the literary elements point of view, setting, and symbolism, the author makes good his surprise.
The point of view is omniscient. The narrator does not interact in the events, he is the storyteller. But, he knows all of Farquar's thought's. This is vital since Farquar's escape is only in his mind. The narrator relates Farquar's deepest emotions, knows his pains, however, remains separate from Farquar, objective, a commentator.
This story is set in a terrible time for Alabama. From 1862 on, the northern part was occupied by the Yankees. Plantation owners would certainly be very concerned. This reenforces the plot's realism. Add the fact that the author served in the Union Army in that area of operations and during Sherman's march to the sea, you get a logical,believable yarn. Moreover,
Klein 2 the author's crafty use of time demonstrates a keen perception of it's relativity. When our protagonist “let his gaze wander to the swirling water of the stream racing madly beneath his feet,” he is suddenly transported to another dimension of time. Time slows to a crawl, he thinks, “what a sluggish stream!” Hours later,” he stands at the gate of his own home. All is as he left it, all