An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

1. An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

2. Structure • Three Sections • I – Standing at the Owl Creek Bridge about to be hanged • II – Flashback – explains reason for Farqhuar’s hanging • III – Farquhar’s escape • Point of View, p. 467 • Omniscient • Objective • Third person

3. Peyton Farquhar • Name meaning: “village warrior” • Tries to burn down the bridge • An attempt to deter the Federal army from advancing • In essence fighting to protect his village • Regal birth • Plantation owner • Likely inherited plantation from family • Well endowed with money

4. Read section I. • After reading section 1 of the story, go on to the next slide.

5. Section I • Notice the change in point of view. • The section begins in _____________ point of view. • Toward end of section I, the point of view changes to _________________. Objective/omniscient Third person limited

6. Section I • Figurative language • Personification: • Similes “Death is a dignitary . . .” p. 468 “slow as the tolling of a death knell” “hurt his ear like the thrust of a knife” • Diction – formal • “engaged” in being hanged, p. 469 • “Death is a dignitary,” p. 468 • Treatment of time • Slows down time • Emphasizes time • “slow as the tolling of a death knell” • “hurt his ear like the thrust of a knife”

7. Read section II. • After reading section 2 of the story, go on to the next slide.

8. Section II • Flashback • Reason for Farquhar’s hanging? • Treason • In 1790, the US Congress set the punishment for treason as death by hanging.

9. Mrs. Farquhar • Lack of significance may say something about the small significance of Southern women at the time • Referred to only as “Mrs. Farquhar”; no name of her own • Stated to be standing by her man’s side and she eagerly serves the men

10. Mrs. Farquhar • Potrayed as an enemy to her husband • Water symbolizes life • Gives Federal scout some water, in essence giving him life • Thereby takes away her husband’s life

11. Read section III. • After reading section 3 of the story, go on to the next slide.

12. Section III • Notice use of point of view • Notice illusion vs. reality theme • Notice distortion of time • What happens?

13. Foreshadowing • The noose- one of the leading elements that can tell the reader that Part III is a dream • Very dangerous and lethal knot that is very effective in killing someone instantly • Virtually impossible to escape its wrath! • The construction of a noose is very detailed (6-8 coils); therefore one can see that Peyton’s supposed escape in the 3rd part of the story is nearly impossible.

14. Foreshadowing • Vision: Peyton can see the most minute details from a long distance • Gray eye on the sharpshooter • Dew on the leaves • Spider webs • Veining on individual leaves

15. Foreshadowing • Natural Impossibilities: Peyton sees garden plants perfectly arranged in the middle of the woods, which suggests that Peyton is in a dream-like state

16. Gray Images • Sets mood of story: Sadness, despair, death • Southern side’s clothes; representative of the Confederate Army • Federal Army wears gray to deceive Farquhar • Color of the figures that Farquhar sees in the distance in his flash of thought • Description of the sharpshooter who missed Farquhar in his dream

17. Setting • Northern Alabama during the Civil War • Railroad bridge called Owl Creek Bridge • Not an actual bridge • Probably chosen as setting because Bierce fought several battles in Alabama