Owl Creek Bridge Literary Devices

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The Literary Techniques of An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge. Ambrose Bierce wrote his short story “An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge” years after the Civil War ended. This story is Historical Fiction with the historical background of the Civil War and also the characters, Bierce uses in this story. This is just one of the many ways that Bierce uses to create, maintain suspense, and keeps the readers on the edge of their seats. The imagery of the water moving fast, but the driftwood floating slowly is symbolic for time passing slowly “(Bierce 483)”. The imagery of time is also symbolic for Farquhar’s limited time he has left, an example would be the clock ticking. Bierce uses these two symbols to create suspense. The readers think that Peyton Farquhar escaped The …show more content…
Tells the readers that he is a plantation owner, prestigious, wealthy, and a gentlemen “(Bierce 483)”. Farquhar is a big fan of southern independence, but, he’s not a soldier. Could it be because he’s a plantation owner and can’t leave his slaves? Therefore, a Union spy rides up to Farquhar’s and his wife’s house and explains that the town of Corinth has been taken over by the Federals. When the soldier tells Farquhar this, Peyton thinks this is the right opportunity to serve the south. The soldier then tells Peyton Farquhar that if anyone goes past the post they will be hung. This part basically brings us to the part of why he was being executed. Part three of the story brings us to present and reality. When Farquhar is hung, he loses consciousness. He thinks that the noose has broke and he fell into the water. Peyton Farquhar looks up as he’s below surface and sees light which, is symbolic for that he is dying. The soldiers are shooting guns and cannons at him, but miss him. Farquhar gets to the surface and is happy because he thinks that he escaped death and he made it out alive from all the
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