1. What demands does the story make on its readers? What does the story assume or understand about its readers? How might one describe the ideal audience for the story?
The story demands some prerequisite knowledge of the reader. The story takes place during the American Civil War as made evident by the quote, “…prevented him from taking service with the gallant army that had fought the disastrous campaign ending with the fall of Corinth.” (p.3). Ambrose Bierce is expecting that the reader understands the historical event as it is applicable to the plot of the story; consequently, he does not include a background explanation about the war. The author understands the reader has only a general knowledge of the American Civil War and therefore explains specialized details more descriptively. For example, “… were at “parade rest”, the butts of the rifles on the ground, the barrels inclining slightly backwards against the right shoulder, the hand crossed upon the stock.” (p.1). The ideal audience for the story would include individuals who are knowledgeable about the American Civil War and Civil War military procedure which are important to understanding the plot.
2. What motivates the main characters? What do they fear, know, desire, believe?
The main characters in the story are the Yankees, the Federal Scout and Peyton Farquhar. It is inferred that the Yankees are motivated to hang Farquhar to deter civilians from, “interfering with the railroad, its bridges, tunnels or trains…” (p.4) so they could continue to advance their campaign. The Federal Scout is motivated to offer information about sabotaging the Oak Creek Bridge because he knew Farquhar would act and in doing so would be trapped and consequently hung. Farquhar is motivated to aid the Confederate cause because he has the, “longing for the release of his energies”(p.3). He wants to experience, “the larger life of the soldier…” (p.3) and yearns for, “the opportunity for distinction.” (p.3). However, before being hung Peyton fears he will never see his wife and children again. This is evident when Peyton begins to focus, “…his last thoughts upon his wife and children.” (p.2) after the planks he is standing on are drawn away.
3. Would the story have the same effect if the location of the setting were changed?
The story takes place atop the Owl Creek Bridge as Peyton waits to be hung. If Peyton was not hung off the Owl Creek Bridge and the setting was changed, the story would not have the same effect. Throughout the short story, Peyton describes what he sees from the top of the bridge. For example, he sees, “The water, touched to gold by the early sun, the brooding mists under the banks at some distance down the stream…” (p.2). If the story did not take place on Owl Creek Bridge this descriptive passes Bierce includes would be lost. Further, the entire story is instigated by Peyton’s effort to sabotage the bridge and in doing so gets captured and hung. If Peyton’s hanging took place anywhere else the story would less interesting as it would not have such an ironic nature. Finally, Peyton’s dream of, “…throwing off the noose and spring into the stream.” (p.3) would not be as applicable and thus less enticing to the reader.
4. Is the story being told in the third person? Is this narrator omniscient (all knowing and seeing) or limited to the thoughts of one character?
The short story An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge is told in the third person. Although the narrator is all knowing he focuses on the thoughts of one character. The quote, “As Peyton Farquhar fell straight downward through the bridge he thought he lost consciousness.” demonstrates that the main character is not referenced to using the personal pronoun “I” but instead “he”. Peyton’s thoughts are the only characters’ that are read throughout the story. For example, “ ‘To be hanged and drowned,’ he thought?” (p.5). However, the narrator also is omniscient as he reveals certain information that the focal character is not privy to. For example, the narrator explains that the grey-clad soldier who visited Peyton and his wife, “…was a Federal Scout.” (p.5) which Peyton was not aware of at all in the story. The combination of limited and omniscient narration in the different parts of the story makes An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge unique and interesting.
5. How does the author use metaphors? Are they used as an elaborate device that supplies more detail? Are they used to extend meaning through the entire story?
In An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, Ambrose Bierce uses metaphors to add to the readers’ understanding of the story by elaborating with further detail. Bierce uses metaphors to add significance to sensatory details. For example, when explaining auditory details he compares trees “…and the wind made in their branches the music of Æolian harps.” (p.9). When explaining visual details he says Peyton’s noose’s undulations resemble, “…those of a water snake.” (p.6). Bierce also uses metaphors to describe the qualities of the main character. Peyton talks about driftwood throughout the story, at one point he comments on driftwood floating down the stream and, “How slowly it appeared to move, What sluggish steam!” (p.2). Later, the driftwood becomes an extension of Peyton himself as he floats on the water of the stream like the driftwood. The driftwood represents how Peyton has metaphorically become hollow inside preemptive to his death.
6. Does the author use long complex sentences, short simple sentences, sentence fragments? How do these stylistic choices contribute to the overall meaning of the story?
Throughout the short story An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, Bierce uses long complex sentences. The author tries to make sentences equal in length to help create flow and consistency in the structure of his story. The story’s sentences are approximately twenty words in length, each fluctuating slightly. To keep sentences long, the author will join sentences of a similar nature with semicolons, commas and dashes. For example, “How slowly it appeared to move, What a sluggish steam!” (p.2) and, “…supporting the metals of the railway supplied a footing for him and his executions–two private soldiers of the Federal army…” (p.1). By using long sentences, Bierce’s story has a poetic quality rather than a fragmented feeling created when using short sentences.
7. Does this story reflect a particular society/time period/group of people?
This story reflects the values and morals of the Confederates during the American Civil War. The war was fought in the 1860’s between the Union, consisting of northern states, and the Confederates, consisting of the southern states. The war was fought because of a clash of ideas. The Confederates believes slavery should be allowed in American society, while the Union believed it should be outlawed. Slavery is alluded to in the story when Peyton’s wife offers to get the solider a drink with, “her own white hands.” (p.4). Although the story focuses on Peyton Farquhar, he is representative of the southern American upper-class society during this time period. Peyton was, “…a well-to-do planter, of an old and highly respected Alabama family…naturally an original secessionist and ardently devoted to the Southern cause.” (p.3). This belief in secession and slavery was important to the upper southern class as they were the ones who benefited the most from winning the war.
8. Keeping all of the above in mind, what is the intention of this story—what is its main idea? What is it trying to tell us?
The main idea of the story is to highlight human’s inability to accept reality in times of crisis. During the story, right before Peyton is about to be hung he lapses into a dream. He escapes death by the hangman’s noose, evades enemy gunfire, runs for hours in the forest, and finally reaches his home. His dream is so long and detailed, the reader almost accepts it as reality until they are drawn back by the ending quote, “As he is about to clasp her he feels a stunning blow upon the back of his neck…Peyton Farquhar was dead …”(p.10). Although in reality his dream only lasts a few seconds, Peyton himself seems to exist in his delusion for hours on end as a means to avoid facing reality. The theme of inability to face reality can also be applied to the American southern states during the civil war. They would not accept the concept that slavery was barbaric and instead chose to deny this reality.
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livinginbetweenthelines
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