An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce

Overview

• Title: An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge
• Author: Ambrose Bierce
• First published in the San Francisco Examiner, July 13, 1890
• Included in the 1892 edition of "In the Midst of Life (Tales of Soldiers and Civilians)"

Setting

• Northern Alabama during the Civil War
• A man stands on a railroad bridge, about to be executed by hanging
• Federal army soldiers are present, following military protocol

Main Characters

• Peyton Fahrquhar:

  • A civilian and planter
  • About 35 years old
  • A Confederate sympathizer
  • Desires to serve the Southern cause

• Federal Soldiers:

  • Executioners including two privates and a sergeant
  • A captain overseeing the execution

Plot Summary

Section I

• Peyton Fahrquhar stands on Owl Creek Bridge, prepared to be hanged by Union soldiers.
• He is bound and standing on a plank over the river, with soldiers controlling the execution.
• As he awaits the signal for his execution, he reflects on his family and contemplates escaping.

Section II (Flashback)

• Background on Peyton Fahrquhar:
  • A wealthy Alabama planter, sympathetic to the Confederate cause.
  • Prevented from joining the army due to circumstances.
  • Met a Federal scout in disguise, who mentioned the strategic importance of Owl Creek Bridge.
  • Fahrquhar considered sabotaging the bridge to aid the Confederate forces.

Section III

• As Fahrquhar drops from the bridge, time slows and he experiences intense physical sensations.
• Imagines escaping after the rope breaks, freeing himself while underwater.
• Swims to safety despite being shot at by soldiers.
• Experiences heightened perception of his surroundings.
• After surviving various threats, he finds himself at his home, about to embrace his wife.
• A sudden blow to his neck reveals his death; the entire escape was imagined.

Themes

• Illusion vs. Reality:

  • The narrative blurs the line between reality and imagination, particularly in the third section.
  • Illustrates how the mind can escape into fantasy in the face of death.

• Perception of Time:

  • Time dilation during life-threatening situations.
  • The story portrays moments of intense clarity in the face of death.

• War and Death:

  • The inevitability and impersonality of death during wartime.
  • Military protocol and the dehumanizing aspects of war.

Literary Techniques

• Imagery and Sensory Detail:

  • Vivid descriptions of nature and heightened sensory experiences.
  • Creates a dream-like atmosphere that contrasts with the grim reality.

• Stream of Consciousness:

  • Insight into Fahrquhar’s thoughts and perceptions.
  • Blurs lines between past, present, and imagined escape.

• Irony:

  • Fahrquhar’s imagined escape juxtaposed with his real fate.
  • The twist ending reveals the power of illusion.

Conclusion

• "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" explores the complex interplay between reality and illusion, using vivid imagery and a non-linear narrative to convey the poignant final moments of Peyton Fahrquhar's life.