silhouette of a man half submerged in water wiht a noose around his neck

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

by Ambrose Bierce

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An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

In "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," Farquhar is hanged and executed by Union soldiers for attempting to sabotage a railroad bridge. The story vividly describes his final moments and imagines an...

11 educator answers

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

Peyton Farquhar's perception of his ticking watch is significant as it symbolizes the fleeting nature of time and enhances the story's suspense. The watch's exaggerated ticking illustrates how...

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An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

Before his hanging, Farquhar experiences a sudden sensation where he imagines the light shooting upward and hears a loud splash, interpreting this as the rope breaking and himself falling into the...

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An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

In Ambrose Bierce's "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," Peyton Farquhar, a Southern planter, imagines escaping execution by falling into the creek, evading soldiers, and reaching his home. This...

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An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

The phrase describes the sensations Peyton Farquhar experiences during his hanging. It metaphorically captures his feeling of being surrounded by a "luminous cloud," indicating a lack of oxygen and...

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An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

Peyton Farquhar imagines being in the water during his execution, experiencing heightened senses and a vivid sense of being alive. He perceives every detail around him—quivering leaves, buzzing...

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An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

The time that elapses between the opening and closing lines of Part 3 is only a few seconds. The narrative begins with Peyton Farquhar's fall through the bridge and ends with his neck snapping from...

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An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

Farquhar's heightened sensitivity during and after his escape is a result of his imagination as he faces death. This intense awareness is akin to the slow-motion perception sometimes experienced in...

2 educator answers