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An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

by Ambrose Bierce

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An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

In Ambrose Bierce's "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," several literary devices enhance the narrative. Flashback is used to reveal the background of Peyton Farquhar, explaining his motivations and...

3 educator answers

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

In Part 2 of "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," a flashback reveals Peyton Farquhar's background and desire to aid the Confederate cause. A Confederate soldier visits him, mentioning the Yankee's...

2 educator answers

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

Peyton Farquhar was tricked into attempting to burn down the bridge by a Federal scout posing as a Confederate soldier, who casually mentioned the strategic importance of the bridge and the presence...

1 educator answer

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

The Federal scout in "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" plays a critical role in deceiving Farquhar. Disguised as a Confederate soldier, the scout manipulates Farquhar by suggesting that burning the...

2 educator answers

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

In "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," Peyton Farquhar remains anonymous initially to heighten suspense and focus on the dramatic situation. This anonymity reflects the naturalistic theme of...

3 educator answers

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce is structured into three sections, each serving a unique narrative purpose. The first section uses an omniscient point of view to describe Peyton...

4 educator answers

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

In Ambrose Bierce's "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," the plot and structure are crucial to its impact. The story is divided into three parts, with Part 2 providing a flashback that explains...

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An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

Farquhar is motivated by a desire for glory and a deep sense of duty to the Southern cause during the Civil War. He dreams of achieving heroic status by sabotaging Union efforts. His primary fear is...

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An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

Bierce creates suspense in "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" through his deliberate decisions in narrative structure and pacing. By revealing the protagonist's fate in a non-linear fashion and...

3 educator answers

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce blends realism with imagination by using varying narrative perspectives. The story's structure moves between real events, such as Peyton...

4 educator answers

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

The event that foreshadows Farquhar's attempt to blow up Owl Creek Bridge is when a "gray-clad soldier," assumed to be a Confederate, visits Farquhar and discusses the vulnerability of the bridge....

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An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

Ambrose Bierce uses time manipulation and stream-of-consciousness in "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" to build drama and deliver an unexpected ending. By blending real-time events with the...

2 educator answers

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

After the visit from a Union spy disguised as a Confederate soldier, Peyton Farquhar decides to sabotage the Union army by burning the Owl Creek Bridge. The spy informs him that the bridge is...

2 educator answers

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

Farquhar asks many questions about the bridge because he sees an opportunity to aid the Confederate cause by sabotaging it, thereby hindering the Union Army's advance. His motivations include...

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An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

Peyton Farquhar's background reveals he is a devoted Confederate supporter and a wealthy plantation owner, eager to demonstrate his loyalty to the South. His strong sense of duty, combined with his...

4 educator answers

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

The drinker is a Federal scout disguised as a Confederate soldier to entrap Peyton Fahrquhar. During his visit, he informs Fahrquhar of the Union's strategic position at Owl Creek Bridge and suggests...

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An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

In the story's second section, Peyton Farquhar is visited by a soldier dressed in grey, appearing to be a Confederate. The soldier requests water and informs Peyton about events at "Owl Creek...

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An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

The hanged man in "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" was Peyton Farquhar, a wealthy plantation owner from Alabama. He was deeply committed to the Southern cause during the Civil War, reflecting his...

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An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

The man on the bridge is Peyton Farquhar, an unnamed civilian in Part I, later revealed as a wealthy slave owner and Secessionist in Part II. He stands on a railroad bridge in Alabama, hands tied and...

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An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

Farquhar's interaction with the soldier in part two is pivotal as it reveals the backstory leading to his execution. The soldier, disguised as a Confederate, informs Farquhar of the vulnerable...

1 educator answer