Short Story Review: An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

Short Story Review: An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

Answer 1).

The central action of the story is the execution of Peyton Farquhar, a planter in his mid-30. The story is divided into three parts; however, the whole story revolves around the central action sketching the scenarios of his execution process. The first part draw the sketch of the time of Peyton Farquhar execution, in which he thinks about his family and children while surrounded by military personnel. He was so scared of his execution that he started to think vigorously for escaping from the execution. Meanwhile the soldier drops him down Owl Creek Bridge. In part two of the story Peyton Farquhar remembers how he was trapped by the soldier, which leads to the execution process. However, third part of the story has the gravity to be called as real central action, because it has been depicted in the part how fortunate Peyton Farquhar was, because the rope broke suddenly after the soldier drop him, and according to plan he swim through the river to the land, and then rush towards his home and family. However, when Farquhar recovers his senses he realize the all this death escape was part of his imagination and that he is dying, his neck breaks and he died.

Answer 2).

However, the point of view is very consistent, as the story unfolds the author supplies intricate detail of the preparations required for the evolution to take place. A detailed description given as to how the prisoner gets bound with his wrists behind his back, the length of the rope around his neck, and the timber boards used to construct the temporary platform, all producing imagery that there is no escape from fate. Reinforcing that concept is the presence of the Federal troops. Sentries standing at each end of the bridge and a company of infantry standing at “parade rest” along the river bank promote a sense of impending doom. Bierce reinforces the solemn nature of the proceeding as the infantry company gets illustrated as “staring stonily, motionless” and describes the sentries standing so still that they “might have been statues to adorn the bridge”. His executioners, a captain, sergeant, and two privates methodically assemble the platform without saying a word, demonstrating typical military efficiency with unemotional detachment. This sentiment gets summarized by the author in the lines: “Death is a dignitary who when he comes announced is to be received with formal manifestations of respect, even by those most familiar with him. In the code, of military etiquette silence and fixity are forms of deference”. Thus, the story ends up with the consistency with few ups on downs to keep the reader interested in the story (Bierce, 1953).

Answer 3).

The author writes in various styles and elaborate several notions that provide terrific writing styles with a twist and turns. However, the strong word against Farquhar's character portrayal him as a non-hero. Many readers see Farquhar's character as a failure and arrogant ...