Review Of An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge By Ambrose Bierce

I really enjoyed the short story. It was captivating and mesmerizing, drawing the reader into the world created by the characters. The short-story takes place on an Alabama railroad bridge during the American Civil War. The Civil War was sparked by the uncompromising difference between the slave and free states. This short story is about Peyton Fahrquhar, a slave-owner. Ambrose Bierce created a captivating short story by using vivid imagery. He also used formal diction and explicit syntax. His most important technique was his use of imagery.

Bierce employs imagery throughout his story to give the reader a real sense of the plot. The author uses this technique to describe Peyton Fahrquhar. He says that “he had a large, dark gray, kindly-looking expression, and a pointed beard and moustache”. This description of Peyton Fahrquhar is engaging and makes the character more personal. I can see him clearly in my mind. It makes me really care about what happens to this character. The author’s ability to set the mood in the story is crucial for the reader to enjoy and understand the plot. To highlight the seriousness, the author uses formal language. In describing Fahrquhar on the river shore’s apparent security, the author writes that “the sudden stopping of his motion… the abrasion of a hand on the gravel, brought him back”. This choice of words – like “arrest” instead of “stop” and “restored”, instead of saying it “brought [Fahrquhar] back”- creates throughout the article a sense that Fahrquhar faces a serious situation. Each action I saw was significant and kept me reading. The story was very interesting because of this.

Bierce uses syntactical choice to convey emotion in the story. The story’s ending is the most moving example. Bierce emphasizes the phrase with a hyphen followed by an exclamation. By creating this separation, it signifies that the story’s key plot piece is part of a larger whole. The plot was easier to follow when I had a clear indication. This story made me feel good because I wasn’t confused by the plot or left wondering about it.

Ambrose Bierce, author of “An Occurrence” at Owl Creek Bridge, managed to capture my attention with his brilliant imagery and solemn tone. He also used precise syntax. A dream does not become a reality by magic. “It takes sweat and determination.” Bierce made me question the reality of our lives. These techniques can help more writers create short stories that are enjoyable.