An_Occurrence_At_Owl_Creek_Bridge

An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge The story, “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” by Ambrose Bierce, a man by the name of Peyton Farquhar is hanged for opposing the Northern troops. The story is broken into three chapters or sub-stories. The first chapter sets up the scene of the hanging and its location. The second brings to light Peyton’s personal life and his character. The third and final chapter tells of his escape from the soldiers, which is actually a dream sequence. Bierce gives minute and delicate clues to let the reader understand Peyton is actually dreaming and not escaping. The very first lines of chapter three give numerous clues as to what has actually happen to Peyton. “As Peyton Farquhar fell straight downward through the bridge he lost consciousness and was as one already dead. From this state he was awakened-ages later, it seemed to him-by the pain of the sharp pressure upon his throat, followed by a sense of suffocation.” (1481) Bierce basically uses the first line to explain that Peyton was now dead, and the reader would believe it. He then purposely throws in a twist with the second line, saying Peyton peyton, dream, actually, reader, life, bierce, words, story, lines, final, clues, two, twist, superhuman, real, now, first, dead, chapter, bridge, wouldn’t, very, through, three, strength, man, make, light, later, hint, himself, fine, farquhar, endeavor, bravo