An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge Group at eNotes

Grammardog Guide to An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

The objective point of view is limited to what the narrator sees or...

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:27:46 PST

The objective point of view is limited to what the narrator sees or hears. He can not project into others thoughts or motives. Much of an objective point of view is dialogue so any point in "An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge" where there is actual dialogue is from an objective point of view. A good example of this is in section two of the story when Peyton Farquhar is speaking with the soldier who approaches his wife and him while they...

Which of the quotations from this story reveal an objective point of view?

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:09:37 PST

Which of the quotations from this story reveal an objective point of view?

jennbob, Bierce's "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" This story is of...

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 17:22:00 PST

jennbob, Bierce's "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" This story is of great interest because of Bierce’s attempt to contrast the real passage of time with our human perception of time. It is centered in the consciousness of the central character, Farquhar, except for the dramatically rendered section beginning with paragraph 8. Additionally, “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” is a fine suspense story, because as the narrator moves into...

"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" is not structured in a traditional...

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 14:08:10 PST

"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" is not structured in a traditional manner with the events occurring in chronological order. The story is divided into three parts, with Part II being a flashback; the events in Part II occurred before those in Parts I and III. Arranging the events in the order they occurred, then, becomes the reader's responsibility. Bierce further complicates the structure of the story by including those events that...

In "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," what are the main events?

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 13:18:01 PST

In "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," what are the main events?

wensypalma20, Bierce's "An Occurrence at owl Creek Bridge" has a very...

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 21:12:43 PST

wensypalma20, Bierce's "An Occurrence at owl Creek Bridge" has a very clear and important theme: We can think about an entire lifetime of thoughts in our mind while in reality only a fraction of a second has gone by. This is the central idea played out through the backdrop of the Civil War. Bierce's "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" contrasts the real passage of time with our human perception of time. It is centered in the consciousness of...

Bierce did not write a case study of the workings of Peyton Farquhar's...

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:40:24 PST

Bierce did not write a case study of the workings of Peyton Farquhar's mind. He wrote a compelling story with a dramatic and largely unexpected conclusion. In dealing with the psychological aspects of Peyton's facing his own death, Bierce developed Peyton's character, drew us into his experience, and very effectively structured his story so that its conclusion is especially powerful--and realistic. Bierce's focus is not upon the psychological...

Is "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" a psychological case study and...

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:03:05 PST

Is "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" a psychological case study and therefore not true fiction, or does the story use psychology?

Peyton Farquhar is being hanged as the story opens. In section II of the...

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:31:57 PST

Peyton Farquhar is being hanged as the story opens. In section II of the story the reader is taken back in time and discovers a beginning of the incident which leads to his current position. Peyton is sitting at the front of his property with his wife. A soldier dressed in grey (Confederate) rides up and asks for water. As Peyton's wife goes for the water he asks the soldier what is going on. The soldier explains what is going on at...

During the flashback in the story's second section, who visits Peyton...

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:25:33 PST

During the flashback in the story's second section, who visits Peyton Farquhar?

In An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge the author illustrates the ability...

Thu, 28 May 2009 15:30:15 PST

In An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge the author illustrates the ability that human beings possess to make decisions based on a desire for recognition and glory. Peyton Fraquhar volunteers to blow up the Owl Creek Bridge in an effort to help the South and to distinguish himself, draw attention to himself. He is not a soldier and he longs to contribute to the cause, so he falls into the trap set by the Union Scout. But he is also well...

kko, Ambrose Beirce's "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" takes place in...

Wed, 27 May 2009 18:06:33 PST

kko, Ambrose Beirce's "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" takes place in northern Alabama during the Civil War. Union forces are in control. In Section II, we infer that Farquhar, almost the only character, was lured or even entrapped into an attempt to blow up Owl Creek Bridge. He was then caught, tried, and sentenced to death by hanging from the bridge which he had tried to destroy. This story is Bierce’s subject in contrasting the...

What does this story illustrate about human beings?

Wed, 27 May 2009 17:18:54 PST

What does this story illustrate about human beings?

Perhaps the most crucial moment in Peyton's life occurs during his...

Fri, 15 May 2009 18:25:31 PST

Perhaps the most crucial moment in Peyton's life occurs during his conversation with the Federal scout in Part II of the story. Peyton believes he is speaking with a Confederate soldier whose loyalty to the South he can trust; he is instead speaking to the enemy. As a result of this conversation, Peyton is lured into his attempt to burn Owl Creek Bridge. He will have no chance to succeed, of course, since the enemy will be waiting for him....

In "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," what is a crucial moment in...

Fri, 15 May 2009 17:05:19 PST

In "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," what is a crucial moment in Peyton Farquhar's life?

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Sun, 10 May 2009 00:16:31 PST

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compare/contrast occurence at owl creek bridge and ransom of red chief

Sun, 10 May 2009 00:14:48 PST

For a compare and contrast essay, Even though “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” and “Ransom of Red Chief” have different plots and tone, how do both stories use illusion to develop the stories’ characters.

The external structure of this story, with its division into three...

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:08:46 PST

The external structure of this story, with its division into three parts, is complicated. Because the events do no unfold in chronological order, the exposition-through-denouement pattern is also not chronological. To trace the dramatic structure, it becomes necessary to arrange events in chronological order. Here's the chronology of events in actual order: Peyton is described as a loyal Southerner who longs to participate in the war. He...

What would be the exposition, rising action, turning point, falling...

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 09:30:00 PST

What would be the exposition, rising action, turning point, falling action, and denouement of "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge"?