Occurrence means an incident or event. In a list of synonyms for the word, it says, a happening of no great importance According to the Free Dictionary.com, “occurrence” simply means “something that takes place.” However, in a list of synonyms for the word, it says, “a happening of no great importance.” When the reader first sees the title he/she will agree that it is a hanging taking place, but as the story unfolds we see that it is much more, and it is of great importance to Peyton Farquhar, the man about to be hanged. The author goes into detail about how Farquhar manages to escape from his execution, and the reader is drawn in, hoping as much as he does that he can make it to safety. This is exactly what Ambrose Bierce wants to happen,