"An
Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" (Bierce) Discussion
Directions: Choose one of the questions to discuss for
your primary blog post. Your response
must be supported with specific references to the text and follow blog post requirements. Then, create a secondary blog post in
response to your peers.
1. What are
the different methods the author uses to create suspense? Be specific in examples and explanation.
2. Discuss
the author's use of fantasy vs. reality.
How (through which literary elements) is this distinction created? What
theme does it work to reveal?
3. Discuss
the structure of the short story. What shifts occur between the sections
(literary elements)? What is the effect
of these shifts on the reader?
4. Free
topic of discussion! Must be analytical (examine the use of literary
elements/writing style) and supported.
In the short story An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce, suspense is created by the author's use of tone, point of view, and dramatic irony. The story is told in third person, which creates a distance between the author and the story itself. This enforces the tone, which is incisive and cool. The stolidness in which the author describes this unnamed person being led to their doom entices the reader. Then, in part two, the author switches from the present to the past. The author made a choice to put the exposition in the middle of the story, rather than at the beginning, creating dramatic irony. The readers know the fate of now named victim, Peyton Fahrquhar, going into part three. The reader then craves more. The use of tone, point of view, and dramatic irony creates a stimulating story that carries the reader through until the very end.
ReplyDeleteI liked the point of point of view creating suspense It hadn't occurred to me to think of point of view as something that would create suspense. I leaned a lot towards foreshadowing in terms of suspense. I was wondering if it could also be considered a flashback and if that could be used in a discussion. I think another flashback could even be Peyton's memories of his family and his home. I was just wondering what the dramatic irony was in your post. I would say it would be that the reader kind of has a feeling that something is not quite right as Peyton is nearing his house and he has no clue. Those are just some thoughts I had after reading your post.
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DeleteI appreciated your thoughtful and concise analysis on the importance of tone, PoV, and Irony and how these literary devices alluded to suspense.I enjoyed your point about the importance of dramatic irony and how the main character was blind to his fate. Personally i would like to challenge this belief by assuming that Peyton was on a sort of trip in his own personal purgatory to atone for his sins. when he finally reaches his home and finds his wife i believe this is when his time in purgatory ends and he moves onto the next step. I would also like to comment of Sean's point and frankly disagree with his idea that this story was a flashback. For this story to be a flashback there would have to be something for Peyton to "flash forward" to. This is highly unlikely based on how the final sentence reveals that this entire escape plan was a figment of the main characters imagination that what triggered by his hanging.
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Our ideas for this short story were almost parallel! I loved the example that you gave for the exposition in the story being put in the middle. That definitely gives a clear explanation oh how the author makes any reader enticed to read more and creates the suspense that the reader is looking for. I also loved that you highlighted the dramatic irony of how the time period shifted from present to past. If I had to change anything about this post, it would be that to include some textual evidence that would help support the examples that you gave. I understand that you gave reasons why you believe this way, but I just wished that you use some textual evidence to concrete your examples and make sure that they are correct and hard to challenge wrong.
DeleteYour analysis of the short story, "An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge," by Ambrose Bierce was very interesting. I like how the change in tense from past to present is used to entice the readers more. The author does put the exposition in part 2 for entice the reader to read more;however, I also believe the author put the exposition in the middle in order slowly add specific details in the story. This makes the story slowly more vivid and detailed increasing the authenticity of the events that occur throughout the story. This deepening reality that is shattered as readers learn that Peyton did not actually escape serves to teach readers that our sense of reality is fragile. I also like how you used the point of view to explain the cool tone. I also think the point of view in the story since it allows readers to see me more details and increase the authenticity of the story.
DeleteIn my blog response, I also analyzed the author's use of point of view and tone to elevate the story's suspense; however, we had incompatible views. I appreciated your concise analysis because it illuminated ideas of the author's intentions that I was unaware of. However, I do not completely understand your analysis that the tone is "incisive and cool," which could have been more intelligible if you had provided a textual reference. Moreover, I admired your analysis of the author's use of dramatic irony which resulted from the peculiar plot structure because I had also not realized the intention of this method.
DeleteWhen analyzing the short story, “An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge,” by Ambrose Bierce the structure and shifts that occur between sections have a profound effect on the reader. The main purposes of the structural elements in the story are to emphasize how a person’s reality can be easily shifted, and that just because certain events or actions are sensed it does not necessarily mean that they happened. The author is able to achieve this by the shift in the setting and the shift in the use of tactile imagery throughout the story.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the short story tactile imagery is used heavily to describe the Peyton Farquhar being hanged when the text states, “His neck ached horribly; his brain was on fire, his heart, which had been fluttering faintly, gave a great leap, trying to force itself out at his mouth” Bierce 3). In the third section especially, the increasing use of tactile imagery is used throughout the story and gives readers the sense that the events happening in the story are authentic. By the Peyton being able to descriptively describe the effects of his drowning, readers are given the sense that his drowning is real. The increased use of tactile imagery substantiates the events that occur in the third section. The quickening pace of Peyton’s heart in the story highlights the fact that Peyton is still alive and all of his actions our occuring in the living, real world. The augmented use of tactile imagery in the story creates greater shock amongst readers when they realize that the story of Faquer drowning and escaping his captors all occurred in his mind and was part of a fantasy before he died.
The change in setting also authenticates the fantastical actions that occur in the third section. As the setting and times change in each section the story becomes less vague and more descriptive. In the shift from the first to the second section of the short story the setting changes from the creek to Peyton Farquhar’s home before the time he was captured, “”Peyton Farquhar was well to do planter, of an old and highly respected Alabama family. Being a slave owner and like other slave owners a politician, he was naturally an original secessionist and ardently devoted to the south cause” (Bierce 2). As the setting changes to a previous time the character being hanged becomes more developed. Firstly, the name of the man being hanged is revealed. We learn that Peyton Farquhar lives during the civil war, since support of southern secession is a major part of his character. We also learn that Peyton is pro-slavery. All of this added description presented to the readers, by describing aspects of Peyton before his execution, makes his character more developed and authentic. This increased authenticity of the character adds credibility to his fantasies, even though not occurring in reality. By adding more description to the main character, humanizing him, and making him seem, “real,” readers are more readily able to accept that the future events that happen in the third section are legitimate. The more personal a character is to readers the more factual the events regarding the character seem.
As the story progress, the more detail is added to who main character, Peyton Farquhar, is and how he feels. The author uses increased tactile imagery, and shifts in setting and time to make the events in the third section seem more factual. This increased authenticity is shattered once readers realize the events in the third section are all part of Peyton’s fantasy before he dies. This causes readers to understand that our senses (visual, tactile, and auditory) do not always correctly define what is actually there or not. The author allows readers to realize that just because a certain actions or events are sensed, it does not mean that it actually occurred in the real world and is, “real,” in other people’s minds.
In my response I agreed with what you said about how imagery was a vital part in making the reader think the events occurring are reality. The use of imagery is able to make the reader succumb in the world and allow to feel the pain Farquhar is enduring. However, after the reader finds out the events occurring were fantasy a feeling of deception is created. By the end a reader may be so caught up with the emotions and feelings connoted by Bierce he/she may not be able to point out if the events are occurring are in fact fantasy. Perhaps the deception employed by the author towards the readers was a way to connect to how Farquhar, a man who wanted to serve on the confederate army, was being deceived in the end by the people he wanted to fight for by being hung. Nevertheless the way you explain how Bierce uses senses to evoke false authenticity is spot on.
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DeleteAmbrose Bierce utilizes many different methods to create suspense in her story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek". Imagery, and foreshadowing are two of the major ways she gets the story to be suspenseful. Her imagery in the story is suspenseful because of all the detail that goes into creating the first three paragraphs laying the scene for the story. Then the imagery becomes more ominous when the narrator begins describing the preparations of the soldiers and the waiting of the condemned man. Having the reader wait is definitely something that causes suspense. Just like in almost all horror movies, the audience has to wait for what comes next, building up their nerves until finally, when they just can't stand the suspense everything is revealed at the end. So just like the movies the reader has to wait for the man to be hanged but instead gets a lengthy description of the setting and is delayed by a fantasy in the man's final moments that leads the reader to believe that the man will live. The very clear imagery of the man's dream or illusion are all very clear compared to the rest of the story. This leads the reader to think that something in the story is off but doesn't fully reveal what it is until the very end.
ReplyDeleteForeshadowing is also a very important component in creating suspense. In the third part of the story in the very first sentence it foreshadows that the man is already dead when the narrator says "As Peyton Farquhar fell straight downward through the bridge he lost consciousness and was as one already dead." the simile comparing Peyton to a dead man is definitely an example of foreshadowing. This subliminal messaging that the man in the story is already dead gives the reader the feeling of suspense. Also, near the end of the story when Peyton realizes that he is in a wild region that he never new he lived in. The narrator says another thing that foreshadows something that the reader isn't really sure of. That "There was something uncanny in the revelation." (Bierce 4) This uncanny feeling is transferred to the reader through suspense. Again when Peyton looks up at the stars and doesn't recognize them this is foreshadowing that he isn't really home. Through imagery and foreshadowing is Ambrose Bierce ably to create suspense in her story.
I agree with your explanation of the sense of imagery carried throughout the short story. It causes me to to wonder if the imagery was so vivid to distract the reader from the actual killing, and getting on the more personal side of Peyton Farquhar. Possibly Bierce wanted the audience to connect with the main character on a deeper level so that when he actually was killed, the effect of the death was much more heavy; Much like the hardship of naming an animal that will be used for food. I also liked your references to the small hints of the foreshadowing of something negative happening during the "escape." That was something I did not catch, specifically the simile you mentioned about him being a dead man. Overall, you had some great points and caused me to really think about the meanings of the small details.
DeleteIn Ambrose Bierce's short story, An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, a structure circles between Peyton Farquhar's present self, internal self, and past self, which each shows a sense of plot, characterization, and imagery. Beginning with Farquhar's present self sets the author directly up for interest, due to the confusion the situation holds. The reader wonders why the main character is being assassinated. Bierce builds parts of the plot during this, such as, "A sentine at each end of the bridge stood with his rifle in the position known as 'support,' that is to say, vertical in front of the left shoulder, the hammer resting on the forearm," (Bierce 1). While explaining his situation, he also explains the environment around him. Next, the author moves to an internal state of Farquhar. He ponders "If i could free my hands," (Bierce 2) and goes on to explain a unrealistic plan he could carry out to survive this inescapable situation. This serves as an update to the readers of what Farquhar was thinking during the long await of a bullet that would soon unexpectedly disrupt his train of thought. The author then pulls the reader's attention to a flashback; his past self. Characterization is built through introducing the main character with a name: "Peyton Farquhar was a well to do planter," (Bierce 2). This distracts the audience from noticing a transition back to his thoughts (internal self), not his present self; what we would expect. In the next segment of disguised internal self, imagery explains vastly his sensations: "Keen, poignant agonies seemed to shoot from his neck downward through every fiber of his body and limbs," (Bierce 2). This in-depth explanation of his "escape" from assassination causes the reader to fall deep into the short story, causing one to believe it is in fact what happens next. A final unexpected shift occurs after he "feels a stunning blow upon the back of the neck," (Bierce 4) to his present self. This causes a turn in the story, causing the reader to ponder if instead of seeing one's life flash before their eyes before one dies, they simply see a false illusion of what could have been.
ReplyDeleteTaylor, your post was very factual in the sense that every claim you made was backed by a piece of concrete detail and accompanied by strong analysis to discuss the shift's impact on the reader and that impact's relevance to understanding the short story to its full extent. Your set up to notifying each transition was very clear and concise, "sets the author directly up for interest". It is a feature in your writing I very much appreciated. Your analysis was also very direct in the sense that you allotted to the reader exactly what the significance you would be analyzing is "causes the reader to fall deep into the short story, causing one to believe it is in fact what happens next". I feel by explicitly laying out each aspect of analysis, you create a much more welcoming and helpful atmosphere than one who would still require the reader to decipher some writer's code to unlock the analysis of the important quotations they have selected.
DeleteAmbrose Bierce generates the false impression between fantasy and reality in her work, “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge”, using figurative language such as imagery, conflict, foreshadowing and situational irony. The main theme that is developed is how when humans are faced with death, they are able to mentally change own reality due to their own traumatizing situation. Peyton Farquhar if a slave-owning planter from Alabama, who is tricked by a Union scout into revealing his intentions of setting fire to a bridge. As he is prepared to be hanged, he becomes delusional, fearful, and irritated. As Peyton’s execution begins, he starts his imagined reality, “Then all at once, with terrible suddenness, the light about him shot upward with the noise of a loud splash” (Bierce 2). As the Captain steps off the plank and he falls through the bridge to his demise, he experiences a vivid fantasy of what his future could hold if he was to escape. The author goes into thorough description of the pain that he experiences, and also details this situation for Peyton as a very long period of time, since it was a complex experience with many memories and thoughts. During this false visualization, Bierce also includes some features that would not be realistic in a normal reality, “…saw the individual trees, the leaves and the veining on each leaf- he saw the very insects upon them: the locusts, the brilliant bodied flies, the gray spiders stretching their webs from twig to twig” (Bierce 3). This description can be viewed clearly as a fantasy and not a depiction of a true reality because it would be impossible for a person to notice the veins on leaves, and other subtle features, especially during a struggle to escape from armed soldiers. The color gray is also mentioned repeatedly in the text, including the quote above, and also referencing the color of a soldier’s eye color, and uniform. This can also symbolize the vagueness between what is real and what is not, relating to Peyton’s reality. In the concluding sentence of the story, it becomes clear that his reality was only just a hopeful fantasy, and that he did not escape.
ReplyDeleteIn the short story An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, Ambrose Bierce develops a passionate theme by creating a trance between fantasy and reality by utilizing a peculiar plot structure and by narrating the short story in the third person. Bierce utilizes her first strategy pertaining to plot stricture by, as any other mysterious work, beginning at the end, "A rope closely encircled his neck... footing for him and his executioners". This tactic may lead the reader to believe he will escape and thus the true story begin, however, Bierce must inform the reader as to how Mr. Farquhar found himself in this situation by referring to a visit he and his wife received from a confederate scout. By avoiding the traditional chronological structure, Bierce misleads the reader as to whether or not the next event they read truly occurred after the most previous catalyst. What Bierce achieved by doing this is drawing the reader's attention to plot in a successful attempt to divert the reader's attention from noticing any shift from reality to fantasy. As a result, the reader has no choice but to believe that Mr. Farquhar has survived the plummet into the river from atop the Owl Creek Bridge, "From this state he was awakened-ages later, it seemed to him-by the pain of a sharp pressure upon his throat, followed by a sense of suffocation.". By having no concern other than that of plot order, the reader has no reason (other than logic of the height of the fall) to believe Mr. Farquhar is not alive. With a detailed escape and realistic descriptions of things the man may experience on his road "home", Bierce sells the transition into the fantasy world flawlessly. As the reader is absorbed more and more into the escape scene and develops a longing to be at home with the wife, the matter of where in the plot the reader truly is escapes the mind, leaving body and soul entirely engulfed in this romantic mecca to the promise land. With nothing to worry about other than surviving the grape shot cannon fire and finding our true love, we fail to challenge the fact that one may not survive even a forty foot drop into standing water, regardless of depth. This is finally noted when Bierce allows Mr. Farquhar to see his wife for one last time before reveling the inescapable fact that he has been hanged.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure I completely understand what led you to believe that Farquhar had the potential to escape his execution. I disagree that Bierce’s structure of the story is meant to mislead the reader. On the contrary, I believe that the order of the story creates dramatic irony because the reader knows that Farquhar is going die before his execution actually takes place. Thus, there is no feasible way that he could have escaped his execution. On the other hand, I like how you note that the transition from reality to fantasy occurs when Bierce describes Farquhar’s “experience on his road ‘home.’” I noted this same transition while I was reading the story the first time. I also found your comparison between Farquhar’s journey home and the hajj and the promised land; I wish you had described your comparison in more detail! To challenge one more point that you made, I think that there were more indicators that the text had transitioned from reality to fantasy than the fall from the bridge. For example, the notion that an execution that had been planned by the army would result in the escape of the captured man or that a man with gray eyes would just so happen to miss his mark. All in all I believe that you provided a fair amount of evidence to back up your claims!
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ReplyDeleteThis post attracted me because I had not yet thought of how the reader had ‘no choice’ but to think that Peyton Farquhar must have survived the fall, due to the detailed description and circumstances. Also, that you included your views from a practical standpoint, and how no one challenged the fact that he may not have survived a forty foot fall into the river. The majority of readers would have been so consumed by the other imagery and details that they would not have recognized this. I also was impressed by how you included the idea of ‘romantic Mecca’ in your passage, as I did not consider the theme of romance or love in this story much. However, it does greatly relate to the character and personality of Peyton Farquhar, though, because his passion for his family aided in his desire to create his false reality and dim his suffering.
ReplyDeleteIn the short story An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce, suspense is the main concept that drives the plot and is show through point of view, Detail and foreshadowing. The fate of the main character, Peyton Farquhar, was unknown until the final sentence. Coincidently, the entirety of his “escape never happened; “Peyton Farquhar was dead; his body, with a broken neck, swung gently from side to side beneath the timbers of the Owl Creek Bridge” (Bierce 4). The use of amplification in this final sentence draws emphasis to it, not only to complete to story but to also show how Peyton’s figurative escape from the soldiers was his brains last attempt to hold onto his life.
ReplyDeleteAs the story progresses the use of a third person point of view becomes more beneficial to adding suspense. Third person point of view was used to separate the main character from the story. Prior to the resolution the point of view allowed for the readers understandment of the situation as a whole and Peyton’s motives to escape. It is apparent that his motive for escaping his hanging was his family when the author states “he closed his eyes in order to fix his last thoughts upon his wife and children” (Bierce 1). Once it becomes known in the falling action that Peyton did not find his wife but merely perceived that he did it is evident that his quest was merely his experience in purgatory, the land between life and the perceived afterlife.
The use of detail in the short story An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge increase the suspense of the story based on how it creates tactile auditory and visual imagery to appeal to out sense. This increase in detail allows for the fictional events that transpired to be perceived as real based on how they appealed to the readers senses. The use of descriptive sentences such as “he noted the prismatic colors in all the dewdrops upon a million blades of grass” (Bierce 3) and “he looked at the forest on the bank of the stream, saw the individual trees, the leaves and the veining of each leaf” (Bierce 3) resonate with the reader based on the elevated level of description that they contain. This builds suspense in the story because it allows for the setting to become real and every changing from the stream to the forest to his family home.
As the story unfolds the use of foreshadowing gives the reader the opportunity to predict the true fate of Mr. Farquhar. Constant references to “his neck [being] in pain” (Bierce 4) through-out the story allow for the reader to infer that the rope around Peyton’s neck did not break but inside, he is engulfed in his own unique purgatory. In Roman Catholicism purgatory is defined as a place or state of suffering inhabited by the souls of the sinners who are expiating their sins before going to heaven. In relation to this story it can be inferred that this “escape” from the federation to find his family is in fact Peyton atoning for the sins he committed in his life time. Once he reached his wife who was defined as “fresh and cool and sweet” (Bierce 4) it is clear that he has reached his idea of solitude/heaven. This is when everything turns to white for Petyon and the reader becomes aware of the irony of the story.
In this short story, An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, Ambrose Bierce creates suspense by the usage of point of view, dramatic irony, and with tone. Throughout the story, the point of view is told from the third person, which allows for the reader to see all sides of the situation with no bias. The tone throughout the story is dark, depressing, and grey by the scene of execution, “the swift water twenty feet below.” (Bierce 1) How the structure and anticipation of the unidentified person who is facing execution by being hang results in an overall enticing and suspenseful read. To add to this suspense, the author goes to switch the entire timeframe from the present to some time in the past and results in this being dramatic irony. This results in the reader wanted to know even more about what happened, since they knew that the unidentified victim, Peyton, was killed, that lead up to this moment. Because the author uses point of view, tone, and dramatic irony throughout this story, it resulted in this tory becoming something that entices readers to read more and give them what they want, suspense.
ReplyDeleteReading your post really got me thinking more about the overall plot of this story. I never took into consideration how the author purposefully made the victim of the story very one dimensional and underdeveloped early in the story. I believe this was done to make the reader more curious about the identity, thought process, and personality of this character, similarly to what you said in your post. However, as the plot progressed, we were given a deeper look into the victim through point of view and dramatic irony, just like you mentioned. Before I was very focused on the later parts of the story, but now I can see what led up to the most interesting portion of this story.
DeleteIn the short story An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, Ambrose Bierce creates a theme of fantasy versus reality through the symbolic meaning behind the color gray and the closing of the eyes. As Farquhar peered from his own gray eyes into the gray eyes of the sentinel trying to shoot him, a link was formed between the two men. At this point in the text, Farquah drifted from reality to an imaginary reality, barely clinging to life as portrayed by the marksmen missing his shot. In the beginning of part two, a “gray-clad soldier” stumbled across Farquhar’s home and asked his wife for a glass of water. This soldier was dressed in gray to impersonate the dress of a Confederate soldier. This is another example of a tear between fantasy and reality because it illustrates a distortion of the truth. Another symbol throughout the story is the act of closing one’s eyes. Every time Farquhar closes his eyes it represents him slipping into his own reality. Nearing the end of part one, Farquhar “closes his eyes” in order to bring the thoughts of his wife and children to life. By closing his eyes, Farquhar is attempting to leave reality behind for a fantasy involving his family. In this fantasy, the river water “fell down upon him, blinded him, strangled him.” Meanwhile, in reality, the noose which suspended his body from the Owl Creek Bridge was what killed him and took away his sight. The theme of fantasy versus reality is clearly depicted by the author’s utilization of symbolism.
ReplyDeleteAs I was reading your post, I came to notice that we had the same ideas. The usage of the soldier with “grey eyes,” in my opinion was to show that they had no care for him. The soldiers wanted to get done what they came to do. Additionally, I liked the way you implemented the noose into the juxtaposition of reality vs fantasy. I felt as if the noose was an example of how life threatening events lead to one’s understanding of nature. “He looked at the stream below…what a sluggish stream” (Bierce 1). This was what I noticed from this line; Bierce allows the character to take flight of his imagination, but the flight is cut short through his hanging. Though, I still did not understand what you meant by the “thoughts of his wife and children.” Is it to illustrate the fact that he left his horrible series of events, just by closing his eyes? If so, I completely agree with you. All in all, it was a very through response of the symbols used, and I am glad we understood the story in similar ways.
DeleteI really enjoyed your explanation of the symbolic meaning of the color gray because it never occurred to me that it could mean a distortion of the truth. It does make sense that the color used would be gray rather than another color because gray is half white and half black which can symbolize a mixture of reality and fantasy. I agree with your claim that whenever Peyton closed his eyes it symbolized him slipping away from reality because a lot of the diction hinted at that idea. But what I found interesting was when you said that when Peyton closed his eyes and fantasized that he was with his family, the darkness he saw was actually caused by the noose strangling and killing him. I had never thought of it this way but I can see the parallels now that you mention it.
DeleteI had never thought of the symbolism of Farquhar closing his eyes as representative of his reality vs his fantasy. I really like how you explained each example of him closing his eyes and how it connected with the theme of reality vs. fantasy. However, I don't believe that the color of the eyes had anything to do with the closing eyes. I thought that the gray eyes were more of a statistical thing about the military from during the civil war. I agree with you though that when he closed his eyes dreaming about his family, he was dreaming of escape, a near impossible feat to accomplish, but it allowed the reader to have hope that he would be strong enough to return to his family. Personally, I did not like that the enemy soldier was dressed as a confederate, simply because he was basically targeting civilians when he should be scouting for enemy positions.
DeleteThe way you picked out the symbols in this story is fascinating! This man clearly spent his time on Earth romanticizing the idea of being a soldier, which we all know was not a particularly romantic job in the Civil War, or any war for that matter. Farquhar lived in a fantasy land, which I feel is often depicted in a grey, detail-less manner in literature. Definite props to you for pulling that symbolism from the text. I also really enjoyed your symbolism with closed eyes. This man was ignorant in life, making it clear he will be ignorant in death as well. It reminded me of the HTRLLAP project on He's Blind for a Reason. Payton Farquhar was metaphorically blind to the deeper meanings of the war and what it meant to be a soldier, as well as his own mortality. Great analysis!
DeleteWhen analyzing the short story, “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,” by Ambrose Bierce, there are a myriad of tactics that the author uses to create suspense. The main tactic that the author uses is setting. The setting gives a realization into what Peyton is thinking. Additionally, two other concepts that Bierce implements are flashbacks and the symbolism of the color grey. Beginning with the setting, the entire short story is focused on how Peyton is more aware of his surroundings than the actual subject at hand. One example is when Peyton “saw the very insects upon them; the locusts, the brilliant bodied flies” (Bierce 3). This illustrates how Peyton is more invested into how nature is doing around him, rather than the fact that he is getting shot at. The author plays suspense into this excerpt of the story, by, first speaking of a calm scene, but the slowly building to the “dark silhouettes” (Bierce 3). This contrast between the clear and pristine nature and the bleak shadows foreshadowed the events that were about to take place. In continuation, Bierce adds an ample amount of suspense when the finals events were about to unfold. Through describing nature as “golden stars looking unfamiliar and grouped in strange constellations” (Bierce 4), the author is able to again create a subtle hint to the reader that something out of the ordinary is about to occur. In this case, it leads to Peyton having a fatal attack on his life, leading to his unforeseen death. Bierce’s implementation of distorted nature and unforeseen outcomes leads the reader to make his/her own guesses of what is to occur next. Next, Bierce’s usage of flashbacks produces new levels of suspense. Peyton, being a “well to do planter, of an old and highly respected Alabama family” (Bierce 2), was highly pro-slavery. Since this story was written during the time of the civil war, the differences that existed were the basis of life or death. The suspense created by the flashback analyzes how highly respected person’s actions, may lead to his demise. Another example that demonstrates the concept of suspense in a flashback, even more clearly, is when the soldier arrives at Peyton’s house. “The Yanks are repairing the railroads” (Bierce 2). This clearly displays the tension that is created and adds to the suspense overall. Peyton knows that the man is a Federal soldier. This means that he is form the north. Even though the soldier knew that Peyton was a southern, he still told him his plans. This adds to the suspense because it illustrates how two different people have opposite views on that is right. In this case the idea is slavery. The final concept that adds suspense is the symbolistic effect of the color grey. One instance that proves this, is when Peyton describes the man who was about to be hanged. Peyton states, “He wore a mustache and a pointed beard, but no whiskers; his eyes were large and dark grey…” (Bierce 1). Throughout the story, Bierce points out that the most blatant objects have a grey color. However, upon further investigation it is evident that grey equals malice. They eyes of the person describe the dead look in his eyes. This adds to the tension because it creates an unbalance between the serene nature and the actual severity of the scene. Additionally, the usage of such diction adds to the monotonous tone of the reading. Lastly, the color grey portrays persistence. Peyton describes the riflemen as “having a grey eye…and grey eyes never miss” (Bierce 3). This adds to the suspense because of the fact that Peyton knows that he will meet his end sooner or later. The addition of the grey eye symbolizes that the soldiers will not give up until their goal is met. Bierce’s habit of creating suspense, through the use of nature, flashback, and symbolism, elevates the text from being a mundane short story on the problems of the war, to a web of events, each interconnected to one another.
ReplyDeleteIn the short story, “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Ridge” by Ambrose Bierce, the distinction between fantasy and reality is delivered through the use of detail, diction, and a disordered text structure. At the end of the first portion of the story, Bierce describes a “distinct, metallic percussion like the stroke of a blacksmith’s hammer” (Bierce 1) and claims that the pauses between these sounds was growing. Later on, we are told that this is in fact the ticking of Peyton’s watch. This passage gives the reader a glimpse into Peyton’s distorted senses and foreshadows the recurring theme of the elasticity of time. In the next portion, Bierce delves into the past to give us the initial exposition and describes Peyton as an avid confederate who, due to some “circumstances of an imperious nature” (Bierce 2), is unable to participate in the war. This information becomes crucial to the reader after Peyton is said to have fallen into the water and gains “superhuman strength” (Bierce 3) to free his hands from the ties. This statement contradicts the previous claim that Peyton was too “ill” to join the southern forces and so it becomes clear that this portion is not reality and is in fact a fantasy scenario which Peyton has created in his mind. Subtle exaggerations are also dropped throughout the text to hint at this falsehood. An example of this would be when Peyton claims that he is able to see the “veining of each leaf” and the “prismatic colors in all the dewdrops upon a million blades of grass” (Bierce 3). Throughout the story Bierce characterizes Peyton to seem vain because he overemphasizes his importance. Peyton believes himself to be an imperative asset to the confederate army even though he isn’t actually fighting. He believes that he contributes immensely by working on even the most menial jobs and that he will soon gain recognition for his toil. This is also why Peyton sets out to sabotage the Northern soldiers; not for the well-being of the southern cause but for his own fame and glory.
ReplyDeleteYou bring up many interesting points about Bierce's characterization of Peyton as a vain man. It's almost as if Peyton is punishing this character. This reminds me of the "How To Read Literature Like A Professor" chapter concerning violence in literature. An Occurrence employs authorial violence in that the character is punished by the author, feigning survival, but then pulling the rug out from under us, revealing that our protagonist is actually dead.
DeleteI'm glad you also address Peyton's watch as a symbol for temporal distortions. This is what I found most interesting about the story. Bierce's imagery begins to gel together when the ticking of the watch grows into an ambient, percussive battering in Peyton's mind. It elevates the tension and themes of the scene to an almost cinematic level.
Ambrose Bierce uses point-of-view, details, and plot structure to create suspense in “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge.” He uses point-of-view by writing in the third person, often used in literature to show what is going on in the story in a more audience-like way. Instead of looking at the execution event through the perspective of Peyton Farquhar, the doomed man, we see everything that is going on, including what the soldiers are doing before, during, and after the execution, as well as what Farquhar is feeling.
ReplyDeleteDetails are used to create suspense throughout the story. Before the execution, the soldiers are shown to be standing erect, with the captain “silent, observing the work of his subordinates, but making no sign” (Bierce 1). The company stands “facing the bridge, staring stonily, motionless,” to show that they are not concerned about Peyton’s life, as well as suggesting that they have gotten used to killing soldiers and civilians alike (Bierce 1). After Peyton’s dream escape, we see the soldiers firing at him, loading their guns and firing at him with almost laughable accuracy. Most importantly however, we experience this desperate escape attempt through the perspective of Farquhar, and we feel his desperation and his pain from being hanged.
Plot structure is used very creatively to create suspense in the story. Instead of starting with the past or prologue, the story starts in the present time, and we are pulled into the story with the introduction of a man about to be hanged. The story then transitions into the past, and we see that Farquhar is tricked by a federal soldier disguised as a confederate, and while we know that Farquhar is about to be hanged, as the readers, we cannot help but wonder whether he will survive and hanging and escape, or if he will die. As the story comes back to the present, we see Farquhar escape the soldiers and as they fire at him, are amazed at his ability to analyze and react to his situation in an almost matrix-like way. As he finally approaches his house after traveling from the river, we are content, thinking that the story ends there, until we are brought back to the true present and realize that the entire escape process was only a dream. (This is Taeho).
In the short story, “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge”, by Ambrose Bierce, the existence of true freedom is questioned. Bierce addressees the question of whether absolute freedom can truly be achieved through the usage of irony, metaphors, and setting.
ReplyDeleteBierce’s criticism of freedom can be seen through the usage of irony. Since this short story is situated during the Civil War, the subjects of slavery and freedom are apparent. It is interesting how Bierce chose to have a well respected Southern man to be hanged. This shows irony since we can assume Farquhar, as a southern man, supports slavery, and one of the things we associate with slavery is the hanging of African Americans. Bierce also uses situational irony to address the falseness of freedom. As Farquhar was being hanged he mentally escaped, or gained freedom, only to be return to the inescapable truth that freedom does not truly exist. This concept applies to the situation of slaves since it shows how even though they escape the South, they still aren’t free. The social subjugation of African Americans is addressed by Bierce to show how free does not truly mean free, and how freedom is an unattainable concept.
Bierce also uses metaphors to represent oppression and the false existence of freedom. The hanging of Payton Farquhar represents the oppression of African Americans and the lack of general freedom. The soldiers in the beginning represent the oppressing force, or the government, while Farquhar represents the common person. The author uses the psychological trip of Farquhar, or the common person, to represent the supposed freedom we have as individuals. The entire trip to attain freedom by Farquhar is exhausting to show how the real struggle to gain freedom is extremely complex. Before Farquhar can reach his house and family, which represent true freedom, the reality of the situation sets in and we realize that no matter how hard we try we can’t achieve freedom. The psychological trip also serves as a metaphor to show how even though we may not be truly free in reality, our mind is an escape and the only place we can truly attain freedom.
The setting of the short story helps show how freedom does not exist in reality. Bierce sets the story during the Civil War era since it was characterized by the fight for freedom. The idea of nonexistent freedom is further reinforced since the short story is set in Alabama, a state well known for racist tendencies. By placing the events of the short story in a racist society, Bierce hints at the presence of slavery.
I really liked your post, Kiran! I specifically like your topic of discussing how freedom is being taken away at this time because it still applies to current events today. I also really like your theory of how Farquhar mentally gained freedom within those moments; I did not see that idea when I was reading the short story, but now it makes so much more sense! However, I would recommend that you also include point of view in this because third person can also represent the idea that Faquhar is not truly free if his emotions and what he is thinking is being limited by the authors choice of point of view.
DeleteKiran, I really enjoyed reading your take on the story! I liked how you recognized and focused on the overarching theme of freedom rather than the minute details. Most of us tend to think that the main character and theme of the story is Peyton Fahrquhar and his hanging. However, you brought into light that the author might have merely used Fahrquhar's story to depict the harsh realities of slavery during that time period. The metaphor of how Fahrquhar imagines his escape to how slaves might have dreamt about their escape is a fascinating comparison. This is a great response but if you incorporated why you thought the author used powerful diction and an ambiguous tone in the story, it would allow the readers to not only see the theme of slavery but also the literal meaning of the hanging.
DeleteIn the short story, "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," by Ambrose Bierce, she uses point of view and structure to create the theme of suspense. The author uses point of view to create suspense by using third person. This creates suspense because it creates a wall between the reader and the characters in the story. The feeling is also affected by the structure of the short story. This is due to the fact that, when the short story begins, the reader knows nothing about the background of the main character except the fact that he is standing on a bridge. This alone creates a barrier between the reader and the story by not knowing how or why he is there. In part two of the short story, the author switches the time of the short story from present to past when Farquhar was a well-respected man before he became a prisoner. This particular part of the story establishes suspense because the reader already knows that the man is going to be executed they just do not know why yet. Bierce effectively created suspense throughout this short story because of the use of third person point of view and plot structure. If these two topics were not set up as they were throughout the short story, the reader would most likely not feel as compelled to continue on reading.
ReplyDeleteIn the short story "An Occurance At Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce, the author's use of verb tenses nearing the conclusion of the story adds to the overall plot development and resolution of the story. When Farquhar finally escapes his execution and runs away into the forest, the reader is led to believe these events are truly happening because that was his intention in the first place: to escape from the soldiers. Throughout these events, the author is writing in a past tense as if to retell Farquhar's experience. However, the second to last paragraph in the story, the author switches to present tense to convey what the reality of the situation as it is currently unfolding in the story. Farquhar never truly escaped into the forest to be reunited with his family. From the moment he began to start into the flowing water in the river until the end of the story, he was in a trance. His mind fabricated a happy ending for him in which he would die in a state of contentness and bliss. Overall, this literary choice builds upon the suspense and emotional impact of the story and thus creates the resolution of the story.
ReplyDeleteYou interpreted the text in a very accurate way. I really like how you explain how Farquhar's initial intention. You also explain Farquhar's fantasy and how he fabricated this entire vision. Another great aspect to your post is your description of how Farquhar comes back to reality. In your post, you make it very obvious that Farquhar was clearly imagining what was happening. Good job, Julian.
DeleteIn the short story, “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,” by Ambrose Bierce, the author creates suspense by using tone, a change in tense, and detail. The author creates an ambiguous tone in the story right from the beginning with the use of “occurrence” in the title. The title acts as a hook for the story because it creates a sense of suspense into what the “occurrence” is. The vague tone is emphasized when the author merely describes the surroundings of the main character rather than his thoughts. In addition, the readers are not aware of who the man being hanged is or the reason behind it. The shift in the passage from present tense to past tense also adds to the suspense of the story. By revealing not only the name of the man being hanged, but also his humble nature, the author plants the question as to why this seemingly innocent man is being hanged. It creates a sense of confusion within the readers while also adding to the irony of the situation. The author uses phrases such as “ages later, it seemed to him” to show how time has slowed to build suspense. By using excessive descriptions, the author puts the readers into a single moment and builds suspense as to what is really about to happen. Towards the end of the story, Bierce depicts the scene by saying, “The water, the banks…all were commingled and blurred,” to portray the vague nature of reality. In the last few sentences, the author switches from the bright images of his wife to the dark reality of his hanging in order to make the reader question the sudden change.
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting how you pointed out the obscurity in the title itself; by calling it an occurrence instead of a hanging, Bierce asserts the uncertainty of the events to follow. Also, I believe that the occurrence can refer to more things than just the hanging, for instance it can also refer to the supposed escape of Farquhar. I too found it interesting how the author uses the flashback to properly introduce the character, and how the new information we gained made us further question why he was being hanged. Although the flashback gives us an idea of what Farquhar could have done, it doesn’t directly state that he tried to destroy the bridge, leaving the reader to assume that this seemingly innocent man is guilty. I also found it interesting how you mentioned that time seemed to slow down for Farquhar, and how the excessive details made time seem to slow down for the reader, this made me realize how the slowed perception of time also adds suspense. The abrupt change you mentioned was intriguing since it not only makes the reader question what happened, like you said, but also leaves the reader with doubt as to whether the man was truly guilty.
DeleteIn the short story, “An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge,” by Ambrose Bierce the author conveys a commentary on an man, Farquhar, who is about to get hanged. Bierce creates an illusion throughout the story deceiving the readers if the events occurring are actually happening. These illusions and misleading impressions of reality tests the readers on if what they are actually are reading are reality or just fantasy. The shifts from chapter to chapter from fantasy to reality is apparent in “An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge,” the use of imagery and symbolism of the color gray allow the author to create an illusion of reality to the reader. The short story is scattered with descriptive imagery used to deceive the reader in to that thinking the character is in describing reality; however, he is not. When Farquhar wakes up after false from the bridge he describe the pain he is enduring (Bierce 2),” These pains appeared to flash along well defined lines of ramification and to beat with an inconceivably rapid periodicity,” the author is so descriptive in describing the pain that is running through Farquhar’s body readers are deceived into thinking what is occurring is reality. The fantasy Bierce depicts seems so personal and emotional through the use of imagery that the reader is not able to distinct apart from fantasy or reality. Another instance of imagery developing the illusion the author is creating is,” Doubtless, despite his sufferings … with a smile of ineffable joy (Bierce 4),” the emotions that run through the readers as Bierce is describing Farquhar thoughts as he finally approaches his home and able to meet his wife again deceives the reader again. After the pain he has endured the readers are certain they are going to reach a conclusion where Farquhar is able to finally meet his wife, but in the end him falling of the bridge as the readers learn was all a fantasy. The color gray is a recurring symbol throughout the short story and emphasizes the distorted sense of reality the author creates throughout the commentary. This symbol of gray creating deception is first apparent when the confederate soldier, who is actually a northern spy, was wearing gray. This deceptions creates the foundation of the symbol gray and how the whole story is in fact a thought out deception that tricks the readers, similar to how the northern spy tricks Farquhar. Also gray is an apparent color in his fantasy’s, “gray spiders stretching their webs from twig to twig,” and the gray eye of the soldiers shooting him are both instances where the color gray is depicted. Farquhar is able to notice these almost impossible minor details; however, these details add to the deception and illusion throughout the story. Altogether the use of imagery and symbolism help Bierce convey the theme of fantasy vs reality apparent throughout the story. The author uses these tactics to create a mood of deception within the story and outside of it to the readers as well. The author does not make it quite apparent if what he or she is reading is in fact reality or fantasy till the end.
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ReplyDeleteI agree with your analysis of the use of flashback within the short story. It does add suspense to the story since it gives reader hopes that Farquhar is able to escape this inevitable execution that he was unluckily in. This concept of a shift in the story towards the end causes this (like what you said) "and unexpected twist" and that there is a suspicion behind this puzzling paragraph structure of why everything was going so smoothly until the end of the story.
DeleteI also agree with your evidence of foreshadowing within the story which may not be direct but there was evidence along the lines where it does talk about how the death was certain. And like what you said, this unknown purpose of the man adds onto the suspense that is already created from the plot itself. One analysis that I thought you summed up pretty well was that "as the number of sudden shifts increases throughout the story, the reader is hinted and driven towards a sense of unveiling and understanding of the true plot behind the text." It is as if Bierce was throwing indirect hints that were intended to give readers a hint of what the story is truly about and the metaphor behind the texts.
DeleteWithin the short story, “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” by Ambrose Bierce, the plot slowly ascends in suspense where it starts out talking about Peyton Farquhar’s demise then it continues on with this imaginative reality Farquhar wishes would happen during his execution. His reality of escaping this inevitable death and reuniting with his family. Much like where it states, “The thought of his wife and children urged him on” which in another words mean he truly wishes to be freed and that his family meant the whole world to him. The author goes through all this trouble in describing Farquhar’s success which ultimately succeeded in embedding hope within the readers for his escape, yet later to disappoint the readers in revealing that it was all just a fantasy. This sheer turn in events causes this conflicting ideas to arouse among readers. One moment the man is running back home, then the second afterwards he’s swinging “gently from side to side beneath the timbers of the Owl Creek Bridge” as if the rope used to hang Farquhar did not break at all.
ReplyDeleteThe author uses this sense of foreshadowing towards the beginning of the story to explain the distinction between fantasy vs. reality. For example, “As Peyton Farquhar fell straight downward through the bridge he lost consciousness and was as one already dead” (Bierce 2). As one can see, this is where it all turns hopeful, a turn into a fantasy. And through the idea of how “one already dead”, it can be foresaw that Farquhar was bound to die because of the usage of the word “dead” which means that the man already died.
This revolves around this theme of “do not wish for more than one expects”. This idea of believing in more than one could hope for can lead to disappointment as well as conflicting feelings. Farquhar started to believe that a miracle would happen and that he would be saved by God himself. Although this does give Farquhar this sense of hope and a second chance, it did not remove him from his inevitable demise.
Temporal distortion becomes a molar thematic force in Bierce's short story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge." Bierce uses imagery to simulate the protagonist's disoriented perception of time by heightening auditory stimulants. A key example of this device is Bierce's description of the ticking of Peyton's pocket watch, "distinct, metallic percussion like the stroke of a blacksmith’s hammer” (Bierce 1). The sound of the watch symbolizes the threateningly steady marching of time, it's perpetual nature, trapping our man in the constant shift from past to future. He constructs his own escape narrative in his head and lives through it with his imagination in a fraction of a second. When death is eminent, Peyton's only way out is to retreat into fantasy, as time crushes him into oblivion.
ReplyDeleteIn the short story, “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” by Ambrose Bierce, suspense is created through the author’s use of plot structure, point of view, and tone. The story has an unorthodox structure by containing its falling action in the beginning and the exposition in the middle of the text. This abnormal plot structure allows the reader to be enticed with suspense because they are initially unaware of the exposition of the story; therefore, they must be engaged to the text to witness the slow unraveling of the conflict and rising action that led to Farquhar’s predicament. The story is narrated in the third person point of view which not only creates a feeling of uncertainty among the initially anonymous victim and the reader, but also allows the audience to anticipate the climax of the story. The third person narrative also allows the reader to have a connection with Peyton Farquhar by their mutual uncertainty of when his inexorable death will arrive. In addition, the author creates a interminable tone throughout the short story in order to produce an enduring mystery of Farquhar’s inevitable demise. However, the brief shift in tone that resulted from the quote, “Death is a dignitary who when he comes announced is to be received with formal manifestations of respect, even by those most familiar with him” (Bierce 1), prompts the reader to infer that Farquhar has accepted his fate which causes the audience to crave the exposition and resolution of the story. The sudden shifts in the perpetual tone triggers a heightened suspense to the story which stimulates the reader to unscramble the ambiguous puzzle. The author’s use of plot structure, point of view, and tone produces an intriguing story that prompts the reader to delve into the mystery.
ReplyDeleteDiscuss the author's use of fantasy vs. reality. How (through which literary elements) is this distinction created? What theme does it work to reveal?
ReplyDeleteIn Ambrose Bierce’s short story, “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Ridge”, Bierce creates the distinction between fantasy and reality through her vivid use of symbolism, imagery, and conflict. A general theme that should be understood by the reader is how the misinterpretation of an event can lead to severe consequences.
Bierce uses the color gray to confuse Farquhar into giving up his plan to burn down the bridge to the enemy which in turn creates conflict. Farquhar says foolishly to the soldier “It is now dry and would burn like tinder” (Bierce II). It is said in the text that any civilian tampering with the bridge will be hung without trial. By describing the soldier’s uniform as gray, Farquhar was tricked into thinking of him to be a confederate soldier. He seemed proud to be able to help the “confederate” and hinted at burning the bridge down. By referencing the color gray multiple times, Bierce depicts the color as an important symbol of misconception and confusion. This emphasizes the importance of the symbol gray because it demonstrates the difference between reality and fantasy.
As Farquhar’s execution begins, Bierce shows Farquhar’s fantasy by saying he “…saw the individual trees, the leaves and the veining on each leaf- he saw the very insects upon them: the locusts, the brilliant bodied flies, the gray spiders stretching their webs from twig to twig” (Bierce 3). This quote uses imagery to vividly describe Farquhar’s fantasy. This is clearly a description of fantasy because it would be unrealistic for an individual to notice their surroundings in such detail while enduring near death. By using this quote, Bierce shows Farquhar visualizing his escape from the soldiers.
Through the usage of symbolism, imagery, and conflict, Bierce creates an obvious difference between Farquhar’s reality and fantasy. All three of these elements add to the story by giving it an interesting plot.