An Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge
--- Ambrose Bierce ---
PLOT LINE: A STORY ABOUT WAR AND DEATH
Exposition: During the Civil War, Peyton Farquhar is fighting in northern Alabama. He hears about an enemy bridge that he thinks would be easy to infiltrate.
Rising Action: Peyton Farquhar is caught and hanged.
Climax: The rope breaks and Farquhar escapes while under gunfire.
Falling Action: Farquhar makes it home, and sees his wife.
Resolution: He imagined escaping and Peyton Farquhar dies hanging from the bridge.
THEME: REALITY IS NOT ALWAYS WHAT IT SEEMS TO BE
The author starts to develop this theme in the middle of the story. When Farquhar was thinking that he was escaping, he truly believed that was what was happening. He could feel the rope breaking and himself getting free. This shows the theme of reality not always being what it seems.
MAJOR CHARACTERS
THE GUARDS:
Even thought the gaurds aren't as takled about in the story, they still play an important part in the story by being the ones who killed the protaganist.
PEYTON FARQUHAR:
Farquarh is the protaganist in this story. The author uses both direct and indirect characterisation to develop him as a character throughout the story.
CONFLICT
There is some major conflict throughout this story, the most important conflict is, however, internal. The protaganist is at a battle with himself to try and decide if he should attempt to break onto a bridge that is being gaurded by the enemy, or if he shouldn't. He knows that if he is caught, then he will be hanged, but if he takes over the bridge, then he will have made a safe way for the soldiers fight for the north to cross into the south safely.
IMAGERY
The autor uses imagery in this story to really capture the reader in what she's saying. The detailed and descriptive language really helps to paint a picture in the mind of the person who is reading.
WHAT WAS MOST INTERESTING ABOUT THE STORY?
The most interesting part of the story was the ending. I really enjoyed the way that the story ended, and I think that most people would enjoy it to. I recomend this story to anyone who enjoys suspence. However, the story topic is a little heavy, but if you don't mind reading a slightly sad story, than this is a great short story.