Midori, Deepak, Heather, Seo Ho, Joseph
"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge"
Review
”Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” Ambrose Bierce
1. How does “OOC” show impressionism? Realism? Naturalism?
This story shows realism in that the entire fantasy of Farquhar is so detailed that it seems to be reality.
The detail put into the Farquhar’s hallucination makes the event actually seem like it was happening, adding to
the effect of the story. Dialect is one aspect that makes the Farquhar’s dream seem like reality. It also shows
characteristics of Realism by showing the harsh nature of life, as shown by Farquhar’s unfortunate death.
“Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” also shows Naturalism as the story is based on an ordinary middle class
main character who faces an unfortunate death, showing the brutality of real life as hidden in previous literary
periods. Bierce exemplifies Naturalist qualities by showing that man’s freedom is limited by outside forces, as
shown by Farquhar’s death. He simply had no way of truly escaping his fate due to his environment. Finally,
this story depicts the technique of Impressionism. Bierce uses Impressionism by incorporating a limited
omniscient point of view for Farquhar. By doing this in certain sections of the story, the reader is allowed to see
reality through the lens of Farquhar. Bierce also does this by using extremely vivid imagery which even makes
Farquhar’s dream seem like reality.
2. How does the author use various narrative strategies to trick the reader? Why does it work?
"Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" is broken into three sections. The first section is told by an objective
narrator who "reports without comment," like a camera. There are no feelings or thoughts towards Peyton
Farquhar's hanging. The second section is narrated by an omniscient narrator and presents a flashback to the
past prior to the first section that describes how Farquhar came to be hung in the first place. The third section is
told in the third person limited and focuses on Peyton Farquhar's thought process for the few brief seconds that
he is being dropped. The pattern between the three sections is present day reality, past reality, and then fantasy
that shifts to a shocking reality in the end. Bierce's use of different narrators hones in on different events in the
story, all comprising one huge event, and each narration either reveals or doesn't reveal details that distinguish
between what's real and what's Farquhar's imagination. The varied narrations manipulate time. The first section
objectively describes what's going on in the story AT THE MOMENT, the second describes the past, and the
third section complexly describes an event within an event (Farquhar's imagined escape that he believes to take
place for a whole day when in actuality only happened in the span of the couple of seconds that he is dropped).
It's the narration of the third section that allows Bierce to trick readers. Because each section includes realistic
details, the division line between fantasy and reality is muddy. So when readers read the third section, there is a
gradual, easy transition between reality and fantasy that makes readers lose track of what is real and what is not.
Thus, the surprise ending in which readers learn that Farquhar actually hangs and the third section is just a
figment of his imagination naturally comes as a shock.
3. Why is Peyton Farquhar easily tricked by Federal Scout? What is about his character, his dreams, and his
background that makes him susceptible to trickery?
Peyton Farquhar is easily tricked by Federal Scout overall because of who he is. He is a wealthy
Alabaman southerner who owns slaves and is very supportive of the confederate south as a whole.
Unfortunately Farquhar could not become a soldier in the Confederate army for reasons unlisted. His large
dream of being an impactful and legendary soldier causes him to be willing to do anything to help the army or
participate in any task that is close to that of a soldier for the south, which made him susceptible to the scout’s
bait.
4. Explain the title of the story?
The way the story is split up and how the story flows gives the reader a sense that multiple events are
happening at one time. However, the title of the story, “Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,” hints to the reader
that there is truly only event occurring- Peyton Farquhar’s hanging.
5. Critics Cleanth Brooks and R. Penn Warren have said that Bierce’s story depends too much on a quirk of
human psychology and is thus a mere “case study” that does not reveal anything about human nature, as good
fiction should. Do you agree? Why or why not?
The story “Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” possesses psychological aspects as well as human nature.
The escape scenario in Farquhar’s mind is a psychological part of the story as the imagination is an outcome of
fear that causes mental instability and panic. This fear he feels and his desire to live, however, shows a point
about human nature. His imagination displays his daring escape under almost impossible situations. The
scenario clearly shows the willingness and insanity that Farquhar went through before his death when the reader
realizes that the whole “escape” was an imagination. His imagination, however, can be viewed as a
psychological reaction to his instinct, fear.
6. Be able to draw connection between Peyton Farquhar and other major characters in the short stories.
Peyton Farquhar and Collins, from “Mystery of Heroism,” are both affected by the harshness of reality
by experiencing a period of “success” before a period of “failure” throughout their respective stories. Collins
“succeeds” in getting water from the well and back to his troops, but before anyone has a chance to drink, the
bucket spills- his “failure.” Similarly, Farquhar imagines himself “succeeding” in escaping to freedom, but
ultimately “failing,” as his escape was just in his imagination.
General Guiding Questions:
1. Many of the stories we read end up with the characters dying through some surprise ending of just a brutal
truth. Why? What connection do the endings have to the author’s focus on realism and naturalism?
An “Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” specifically highlights the individual Peyton Farquhar, which is a
characteristic of realism but not naturalism. Naturalism believes that individuals are controlled by larger forces
and the individual cannot change the world. Peyton Farquhar dies in a surprise ending. Up until the very end,
readers believe in the vision that Farquhar imagined to be true. Readers believe that Farquhar survives and gets
to see his wife again, proving to be a happy ending. We realize however that Farquhar did in fact die from being
hung. The very real, shocking ending is a representation of realism because the truth is that we can die in an
instant. It would not be very realistic for Farquhar to have escaped from that complicated and dangerous
situation alive. Naturalism is shown because Farquhar was affected by outside forces and could not be his own
hero. Farquhar could not be the change or solution.
2. Irony is HUGE in this unit!! Why do so many of the authors use it? What is the connection between irony,
the surprise/violent/dark endings, and realism and naturalism’s central goals?
Many authors may use irony as a tool to distinguish between events that are real and events that are not
or use it to show the actual ironic nature of reality itself. For example, often in life, there are times when
someone may know something that another person doesn't, and events occur that are only ironic BECAUSE of
the difference in knowledge, such as the line in "Story of an Hour": "the joy that kills." In that case, irony shows
the reality of how no one knows everything and we all don't know the same thing. Irony is like a backdrop or a
key characteristic or detail that highlights realism. Because of how it can distinguish realism or pinpoint it,
irony can be like a flashing neon sign with REALISM blinking in capital letters right in your face. Often times,
the ironic aspects of the realism stories are so ironic or so drastic in distinguishing realism that the endings
come as a surprise or violent or dark in nature.
3. Also, several authors use either a third time person limited narrator or an omniscient narrator? Why? What
connection does this have to the dramatic irony that the authors are using?
The third person limited narrator in “Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” can help foreshadow the
dramatic irony that the author uses at the end of the story. If it was used in first person, it could have slightly
gone towards the fact that the whole situation was true because it might’ve been a retelling of the story after his
survival from a daring escape. By using a third person limited narrator, however, it opens up a direction in a
path that the whole situation could possibly be imaginary. As a result, the dramatic irony may seem more
reasonable than when it might’ve been written in a first person.
4. We read/watched two Naturalist texts - be able to draw connections between both. How does knowledge,
instinct, and experience shape the characters lives? What role does pride play in both texts? What about dignity
and morality? Darwin’s theory about the “survival of the fittest” is seen in both texts - how? What enables one
to survive? What is power in all of these stories? How are the characters limited or trapped by their
environments?
o Experience leads to confidence. Both character’s experience in their respective fields of
occupation helped them act on their beliefs.
o Farquhar’s dignity and southern pride led his attempt to sabotage the North. Collin’s dignity and
pride forces him to support his platoon and get water, as well as turn back and help the wounded
soldier. The “fittest” in “Owl Creek” are the Northerners; they hold the advantage over Farquhar,
and in “Mystery”, the “fittest” are the side with the constant mortar batteries, as they have the
military advantage over Collin’s troops.
o Both characters are limited by their environment. Farquhar is tied to a noose, so if he tries to
escape, he will certainly killed in an instant. Collins also has bombs and mortars and other
explosives constantly detonating around him, so one misstep could lead to death.
o Perseverance enables people survive, whether it be mentally or in actuality. Farquhar was able to
“survive” in his mind because he believed he could escape, and Collins was determined to
succeed in bringing back the water, leading to his own survival.
o Power is all in the human mind. It either leads people to victory or defeat. Humans must take on
the harshness of reality and everyday life with the right mindset if they want to make the best of
their lives.
Literary Terms:
1. Omniscient narrator: Section II as the narrator knows the background of Farquhar, his wife, and the Federal
scout. EX: "Peyton Farquhar was a well-to-do planter, of an old and highly respected Alabama family." and "An
hour later, after nightfall, he repassed the plantation, going northward in the direction from which he had come.
He was a Federal scout." (Bierce 510 - 511)
2. Objective narrator: The very beginning of Part I where the characters and setting are introduced. EX: “Peyton
Farquhar was dead; his body, with a broken neck, swung gently from side to side beneath the timbers of the
Owl Creek Bridge.” (Bierce 516)
3. Third person limited: Later in Part I where Bierce starts to give the reader insight into Farquhar’s thoughts
and feelings. EX: “From this state he was awakened - ages later, it seemed to him - by the pain of a sharp
pressure..” (Bierce 511-512)
4. Flashback: Part II