In life, somethings are not always what they seem especially in writing. It can fool us and make us think otherwise until the face of truth reveals itself. This is exactly what occurs in “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” by Ambrose Bierce to Peyton Farquhar after he dies. Peyton’s imagination rules over reality as he escapes a situation that almost seems inescapable. Although the reader does not know it he died on the noose. In Ambrose Bierce’s “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” the author uses suspense to make the reader predict, create a mood, and create empathy. Bierce uses suspense to make the reader predict in “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” “...a sharp, distinct, metallic percussion like the stroke of a blacksmith’s hammer upon …show more content…
Another feeling that is created within the reader for Peyton is a heartbreaking one. Some people may think the claim is that the the author uses description to make the reader question, create empathy, and create a mood. However, the problem with this claim is that describing something is not suspenseful nor empathetic or mood building. The original claim used above is stronger because the author has Peyton sink into the stream (creating suspense) and waits to tell the reader that he rises back toward the surface( making the reader predict). When Peyton is walking home to his wife he chooses a road which seems anything could jump out from the side of it (suspense) and describes it as barren and lacking any signs of civilization (creating a mood). Before Peyton is about to embrace his wife, he is abruptly stopped(suspense) by being what it seems like knocked out (empathy) which makes the reader feel sympathetic creating empathy. In his short story “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” Ambrose Bierce creates empathy, prediction, and mood. In story suspense can have a wide range of effects on the plot/characters like character feeling and character actions. While suspense may have positive effect on a story it could actually weaken