An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge Group

Question:

pixieprincess169
pixieprinces...
Student
College - Freshman

How does Bierce attempt to gain and then hold the attention of the reader in "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge"?

How does he enlist the reader's symathies on behalf of Peyton Farquhar?

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Posted by pixieprincess169 on Wednesday May 28, 2008 at 6:04 AM and tagged with an occurrence at owl creek bridge, attention, bierce, style.

Answers:


  1. jeff-hauge Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    The narrative starts with the execution of Peyton Farquar. The factual account is interrupted at the last moment with a flashback. This leaves the reader at a cliffhanger moment. We continue to read to find out how the events led up to this critical scene. The fact that Peyton escapes his immediate trouble keeps the reader's suspense even longer.

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    Posted by jeff-hauge on Wednesday May 28, 2008 at 11:06 AM

  2. mwestwood
    mwestwood Teacher
    Community / Jr. College

    Bierce's story is designed as a puzzle to be assembled by the reader; the three parts are each in different forms of narration:  omniscient, objective, and third-person limited.  This switch in narration changes the focus of the reader from the setting to the character to the actions of the character.  Also, the use of flashback forces the reader to arrange the events in order and figure out what has "occurred."

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/occurrence

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    Posted by mwestwood on Sunday September 7, 2008 at 11:24 PM