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Ambrose Bierce's Influence On The American Civil War

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Recommended: An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge short summary

Writers are often inspired by people and the events that they experience in their life by using these experiences as a basis for their voice and identity in writing. The American Civil War that was fought between the Northern United States and the Southern states in 1861 to 1861 was one of these significant moments. The Southern states, also known as the Confederate States of America, fought for the right to form their own independent nation and determine their own destiny (“Civil War”). They mainly did this to keep the US federal government from intervening with African American slavery. After four violent years, the Civil War ended with a Union, also known as the Northern United States, victory in 1865 (“Civil War”). After the war, American …show more content…

He grew up to severed relations with his family which lead to him establishing himself (“Commentary on Ambrose”). At a very young age, Ambrose Bierce joined the Union army which brought experiences as a soldier that served as a basis for some of his most famous Civil War tales, such as “Chickamauga” and “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” (“Commentary on Ambrose”). These tales explored the lives at the frontier and on the homefront while showing the cruel costs of war on civilians, and they publicize violent endings that many met (Bierce). Bierce was known for the naturalist movement that arose in American literature during the Reconstruction era. Naturalism was a writing style based on instinct, passion, and individuals. These literary works were driven by the character rather than being driven by a plot (“Naturalism”). Ambrose took a harsh view of the military boldness that spirited much of the immediate post war literature. After the Civil War, Bierce worked as a journalist for a popular column called “The Prattler.” This happened when he relocated to San Francisco, California. As a dark and bewildering figure, Ambrose Bierce voiced his dissatisfaction against a changing American society. In 1913, Bierce left for Mexico and disappeared without a trace (“Commentary on …show more content…

Ambrose was an American story writer that used cynicism and naturalism to tell the cruel costs of of war on civilians. He used “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” as a way to tell a story about Peyton Farquhar having a near-death experience similar to one he had in reality. With Ambrose’s military experience, he was well equipped to write about a traumatic injury that led to a near-death experience. His vault of memories including graphic images were used in each of his Civil War tales. Even though Ambrose Bierce may have seemed like a dark figure, he expressed cynicism of the Reconstruction era and shaped the writers who voiced disillusionment following

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