An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge free essay sample

While reading An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce. The sense of time, descriptive writing, and plot make this short story, I feel, very worthy of a literary analysis. At the beginning, there is not a good ending. The main character, Peyton Farquhar, is being hanged. The events leading up to his hanging give the reader a case of anxiety, the reader assumes the death of Peyton as he meets his end. Immediately following, there is a transition into a flashback. The flashback is very valuable, and very well placed. It tells of Peytons background, and how he most likely came to be in his position at Owl Creek Bridge. The flashback makes the reader forget about the present timing of events, which is very vital in making the illusion of Peytons daydream a reality. The flashback quickly comes to an end. The character slips into a very deadly daydream, and so begins the illusion. We will write a custom essay sample on An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Through Peytons imaginary endeavors, the beauty of nature is taken upon the reader in a sense of time that would in most cases not be useful. Time comes to a near halt as Peyton, in his daydream, has managed to fall into the stream that he was being hanged over, and tries to make his escape. During the intense situation of dodging re-capture or death, everything taken for granted in normal day life is being detailed through Bierces descriptive writing. As Peyton makes his way across the stream, dragonflies buzz around the sluggish stream. Insects on leaves, spiders spinning intricate webs, millions of blades of grass, and dancing gnats fill Peytons vivid daydream. (9) Through the entire scene, time comes to a halt. Instead of the usual action escape scene, Bierce creatively makes the reader acknowledge the finer points of a near death experience- a very unselfish focus on what the reader would most likely miss on this world, instead of focusing on bettering the unfortunate situation. The thought of his wife and children urged him on. (11) As time reaches its slowest, most dull, point; it catalyzes into reality as Peyton fights to save his life. The sense of time is again reversed as Peyton dodges ammunition fire. Bierce increases the heart rate of the reader as the main character relies on pure luck to get away from the firing squad. Finally, Peyton escapes onto land. And again, as soon as time permits, he is taking into full effect of his surroundings. Bierce compares sand to gems, and encapsulates the readers sense of smell with the lush wildlife of the forest. (11) His descriptive scenes force the reader to slow the sense of time and take in the environment to its fullest effect. Bierce makes the pathway home much briefer, although the main character Peyton actually spends a full night traveling home. For the last time, Peytons daydream slows down. His sole wish to be in his wifes arm, his foremost motive to escape, is at long last seconds away from occurring. The familiar descriptive writing style of Bierce accurately provides a sense of relief, and a happy ending. Without warning, Peytons senses do something very strange for the current scene. Although it would seem as Bierce is describing Peyton as blacking out, the anxious reader finds out in the next sentence that he is put to death from being hanged underneath Owl Creek Bridge. Even during an incredibly shocking event, Bierce writes, Peyton Farquhar was dead; his body, with a broken neck, swung gently from side to side beneath the timbers of the Owl Creek bridge. (12) Confusion is replaced by awe, as the reader pieces together the real events of the story. At the end the story, you have to take some time to rethink what you read. Stories that make you think after reading it are the best, I feel. Bierces writing style is perfect for a short story.