Peyton Farquhar

1. What is Peyton Farquhar's occupation?

Peyton Farquhar was a well-to-do planter, of an old and highly respected Alabama family.

2. Why is he not a soldier, officer, or part of the army?

The reason for him not being a part of the army is unknown.

3. How much time actually elapses between the opening and closing lines of Part III?

Only a very short time elapses between the opening and closing lines.

4. Describe the setting at the opening of the story.

At the beginning it takes place during the civil war in the morning , and Farquhar is on a railroad in Alabama. His hands bound with a rope and a noose on his neck, which he he’s 20 feet above water.

5. Describe Peyton Farquhar's last thoughts.

Peyton's last thought are about him escaping the execution to go to his family , but before he died the last thought was about his wife.

6. Identify and describe the sound that disturbs the thoughts going through his mind.

The sound that disturbs the thoughts going through his mind is a very loud continuous clink which is the ticking of his watch.

7. In the flashback of the story's second section, who visits Peyton Farquhar?

A Federal scout disguised as a Confederate soldier comes to visit Farquhar.

8. What plan does Farquhar conceive as a result of this visit?

Farquhar plans to set fire.

9. What does Farquhar imagine in the story's last section?

Farquhar imagines he escapes and goes to his family.

10. Ironically, what is his real fate?

His real fate is that he never escaped and gets hung . 11. Summarize what you think this story reveals about the psychology of a person in a life or death situation.

Basically i think the story reveals that their adrenaline increases , they think imagine them being somewhere else doing something good and just being in a happy situation so they don’t think about what’s about to happen or the pain it’s going to bring.

12. How does Bierce prepare us for the final outcome of the story?

He prepares us for the final outcome by just a inconsistencies in Peyton’s fantasy.

13. Do you think the writer tries to enlist your sympathies toward either the Union or Confederate side? Or, does the story seem more focused on a more general theme about the nature of war? Cite details from the story to support your answer.

I think he treats both sides kindly, but overall he didn’t favor the war.