An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

Ambrose Bierce’s “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” takes place during the civil war in Northern Alabama. This gives an insight to life during the war and what happens to people for choosing sides. The style of Bierce’s writing makes it difficult to follow. However his sequence of writing, manipulation of the reader, and characterization successfully catches the reader’s attention and creates a good storyline. The reader is led to believe he escapes under miraculous circumstances, it is revealed at the end of the story that Farquhar imagined his escape in the split seconds before his death.

Bierce’s sequence of writing goes from the present time to a flashback, a fantasy, then back to the present. This style of writing keeps the reader attached. Peyton Fahrquhar a wealthy southern plantation owner is being hanged by the Union army for attempting to burn down Owl Creek Bridge. As he is being hanged, the story goes to a flashback when a gray-clad soldier arrives at