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Analysis Of An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge

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"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" is a short story by Ambrose Bierce, first published in 1890. It is a psychological thriller that tells the story of a Confederate soldier, Peyton Farquhar, who is about to be hanged by Union soldiers for attempting to sabotage a railroad bridge. In this analysis essay, I will explore the major themes of the story and the ways in which they are developed.

One of the most important themes of "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" is the concept of time. Throughout the story, time is shown to be subjective and malleable, as the narrative shifts between Farquhar's perception of time and objective reality. The story begins with Farquhar's thoughts racing as he awaits his execution, and then abruptly shifts to a flashback of his life before the war. As Farquhar is about to be hanged, time seems to slow down and become distorted, creating a dream-like atmosphere. This theme of the fluidity of time adds to the surreal and suspenseful nature of the story. …show more content…

Farquhar's impending death is the driving force of the narrative, and Bierce explores the psychological impact of facing one's own mortality. Farquhar's thoughts turn to his family and his regrets in life, showing how imminent death can cause one to reflect on the past. In addition, the story plays with the idea of a "near-death experience," as Farquhar's escape and subsequent journey home is revealed to be a hallucination occurring in the moments before his

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