an occurence at the owl creek bridge
Ambrose Bierce “The Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” is an incredible powerful and suspense story; told of all fears of a young father coming to light as his life swings in and out of reality. Ambrose Bierce writes this story during the turn of the nineteenth to twentieth century. During this time period the two writing styles of romanticism, and realism were coming together. This melding of styles was a result of the romantic period of writing and art coming to an end, just at realism was beginning to gain popularity. “The Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” is a perfect example of this transition of styles as it combines elements of both romanticism and realism to create a story that can be far-fetched while still believable at times. The author has plotted the story in a very gratifying manner.The setting plays a big part because it is dived into three different sections. Section I, actually tells the reader about when Peyton was about to be hanged and leads us from the beginning of the ceremony to the end where he is actually hung. It then goes on to Section II, where it tells us how he found out about Owl Creek Bridge, and what could happen if a civilian interfered with anything dealing with the bridge. Last of all Section III . . .
But in the end “The Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” proved to incorporate elements of realism, as Peyton's death could have (and probably would have) happened. The narrator defines each character in his/her own way. He then runs through the forest in a desperate hope to keep away from the soldiers. While the story is based on a realistic plot, and even set up as a piece of historical fiction, it soon takes a drastic turn towards romanticism. For example, you know that Peyton Farquhar is the man that is being hanged without having to read almost to the end of the story and also why the hanging is taking place. He then drops the last few feet to his death, being hung off the Owl Creek Bridge. , tells the reader about Peyton’s hallucination of escaping the hanging. This action in itself also illustrates classic romanticism, as it is highly unrealistic that Peyton would have survived the impact of the rope to his neck as he dropped off the bridge. This goes on further as he survives his plunge into the water, releases him of the ropes that bound him, and then manages to swim away to safety while being shot at by a troop of soldiers. After running quite a distance Peyton makes it to a farm, as he gets closer to the actual house he realizes it is his own, and he even sees his wife coming to greet him. This view really helps shape the story because as a reader you tend to believe that Peyton’s escape was really happening, when in reality it never occurred at all. He talks about how he dives into the stream with his hands free, dodges bullets, and escapes through the woods to his home where his wife and kids are waiting for him. When thinking of the point of view of the story, it seems that the mind is a very powerful and controlling thing. Finally Peyton escapes the treacheries of the running river, and the chasing soldiers in an idealized, and abstract fashion (true to the characteristics of romanticism).
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