An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge
by Ambrose Bierce
Plot Line
Rising Action: Peyton is dropped from the hanging podium and manages to escape from the noose and starts to swim away in the creek/river. As he is swimming away he is being shot at by the soldiers attending his execution. They fire guns, cannons, and buckshot at him, but he evades the bullets. He gets away from the soldiers and walks through the woods.
Climax: Peyton journeys through the woods home, all while having some incredible neck pain. Eventually, Peyton makes it back to his wife and as they are just about to embrace, his neck is broken and Peyton is dead, with a broken neck, swinging from side to side at Owl Creek bridge.
Falling action/ Resolution: Peyton was hung at Owl Creek Bridge, his escape from the hanging was a dream/fantasy.
Conflict
Theme
Characters
Peyton Farquhar
Confederate Soldier (Federal Scout)
Federal soldiers
Imagery
Why should you read this story?
I think that this story is worth reading because of how believable it is. The imagery however makes this happen. The imagery in the story makes you feel as if you are right behind Peyton in his whole journey. This factor makes you keep reading! This short story also has a great conflict of the Confederate soldier tricking Peyton into burning the bridge, later to be hung for this crime. The conflict is very understandable and easy to follow. I think the last thing that makes this story worth reading is the theme. The theme is most likely about the effects of the American Civil war and/or death, but it isn't very clear, and its up to you to make what you want of it. As long as you have evidence for your theme, it works!