An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge
Ambrose Bierce
Plot Line
Rising Action: At this time, Peyton is dropped from the bridge with a rope tied tightly around his neck only for him to heroically escape from his attempted execution. The executioners begin to panic and start shooting at Peyton as he begins to swim down the river away from the bridge. Once Peyton reaches the shore he begins to run home through the woods to his family.
Climax: Finally, Peyton reaches his home and runs into his wife's embrace. Suddenly, Peyton feels a sharp pain in his neck and sees a bright, white light surround him. Peyton Farquhar was dead and his time in the river, woods, and with his wife was all an attempt to escape the reality of his death.
Falling Action and Resolution: Because Peyton never reached his family and never actually escaped his hanging and died in the end, I did not see a falling action or a resolution. I do not think that Peyton dying resolved the story.