Analysis Of An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge By Ambrose Bierce

798 Words4 Pages

"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge", is by Ambrose Bierce. The story tells of a Southern farmer, named Peyton Fahrquhar, who went to go disrupt the north’s railroad, which was a trap, and was caught and sentenced to be hung. He thought he had escaped death, but he was dying. This shows that time is very fluid. Sometimes what could be minutes may feel like hours or vice versa, and everyone experiences time differently. A memorable quote is, "As he is about to clasp her he feels a stunning blow upon the back of the neck; a blinding white light blazes all about him with a sound like the shock of a cannon - then all is darkness and silence! Peyton Fahrquhar was dead; his body, with a broken neck, swung gently from side to side beneath the timbers of the Owl Creek bridge." It shows that in the time he thought he was going to see his family, he was dying. This story takes place around 1862, during the Civil War, in Northern Alabama. The story goes from The Fahrquhar 's home to a bridge over a creek. The Fahrquhar 's lived on a farm, as he was a slave owner. The Northern troops take Peyton to Owl Creek Bridge. This is the bridge where he is to be hung. The bridge was a railroad bridge over a creek and surrounded by a forest. This is where Peyton dreams that he escapes his death and he returns to his family and home, but he ends up being hung. Peyton Fahrquhar is a Southern farmer who was willing to risk his life to give the South an advantage. Peyton Fahrquhar is dedicated,

Open Document