1. General Info
1.1. Type
1.1.1. Short Story
1.1.1.1. War story
1.1.1.2. Twist ending
1.1.1.3. Historical fiction
1.2. Date of publishing
1.2.1. July 13, 1890
1.3. Origanl language
1.3.1. English
1.4. Setting
1.4.1. Northern Alabama
1.4.2. 1861-1865
1.4.2.1. Civil War
1.5. Summary
1.6. Adapatations
1.6.1. Film
1.6.1.1. The Bridge (1929)
1.6.1.2. Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge (1962)
1.6.1.3. The Exit Room (2013)
1.6.2. TV
1.6.2.1. An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge (1959)
1.6.3. Radio
1.6.3.1. Escape (1947)
1.6.3.2. CBS Radio Mystery Theater (1974)
1.6.3.3. Tales by American Masters (2001)
2. Themes, Motives, and Symbols
2.1. Themes
2.1.1. War
2.1.1.1. War is about death.
2.1.1.2. Occurrence in the title implies this was a blip in time and an everyday occurrence.
2.1.2. Time
2.1.2.1. How one experiances time: fast to slow
2.1.2.2. Narraitve is out of order
2.1.3. Perception of reality
2.1.4. Death
2.2. Motives
2.2.1. Death knell
2.2.2. Distorted sensory experiance
2.2.3. Gray
2.3. Symbols
2.3.1. A ticking watch
2.3.1.1. His imaginary escape takes place within a few ticks of his watch.
3. Plot
3.1. Initial situation
3.1.1. Peyton is bound around the next by a noose wait the execution order of the Union soldiers.
3.2. Conflict
3.2.1. A Federal scout lies to Peyton and Peyton about some driftwood that could be burned taking out the bridge.
3.3. Complication
3.3.1. Peyton is hanged but the rope breaks and he falls into the river.
3.4. Climax
3.4.1. Peyton uses the river as cover from bullets and lands on the shore further down the river.
3.5. Suspense
3.5.1. Peyton heads home.
3.6. Denouement
3.6.1. Peyton reaches his home and see his wife when he sees a bright light.
3.7. Conclusion
3.7.1. Peyton is dead hanging from the noose.
4. Author
4.1. Ambrose Bierce
4.2. Lived: 1842-1914?
4.3. American (born in Ohio)
4.4. Editorialist, journalist, short story writer, fabulist, and satirist.
5. Characters
5.1. Protagonist
5.1.1. Peyton Farquhar
5.1.1.1. Planter
5.1.1.1.1. Owens slaves
5.1.1.1.2. Wealthy
5.1.1.2. Arrogant
5.1.1.2.1. Does not join the army
5.1.1.3. Married with children
5.1.1.4. Hanged without a trial
5.1.1.4.1. Martial Law
5.1.1.5. Politician
5.1.1.5.1. Secessionist
5.1.1.6. 35 years old
5.2. Wife
5.2.1. Beautiful
5.2.2. Also called 'The Lady'
5.3. 'The Union' or 'The North'
5.3.1. Soldiers
5.3.1.1. Marksman
5.3.1.2. Sergeant
5.3.1.3. Captain
5.3.1.4. Lieutenant
5.3.1.5. Private
5.3.2. A Federal scout
5.3.2.1. Lies to Peyton
6. Vocabulary
6.1. Loopholed
6.1.1. make arrow slits in (a wall or building).
6.2. Presaging
6.2.1. (of an event) be a sign or warning that (something, typically something bad) will happen.
6.3. Martinet's
6.3.1. a strict disciplinarian, especially in the armed forces.
6.4. Diminuendo
6.4.1. a decrease in loudness.
6.5. Ineffable
6.5.1. too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words.
6.6. Roseate
6.6.1. rose-colored.
6.7. Embrasure
6.7.1. a small opening in a parapet of a fortified building, splayed on the inside.
6.8. Knell
6.8.1. the sound of a bell, especially when rung solemnly for a death or funeral.
6.9. Planter
6.9.1. owner of a plantation.
6.10. Inglorious
6.10.1. causing shame or a loss of honor.
6.11. Dictum
6.11.1. a short statement that expresses a general truth or principle.
6.12. Ramification
6.12.1. a subdivision of a complex structure or process perceived as comparable to a tree's branches.
6.13. Oscillation
6.13.1. movement back and forth at a regular speed.
6.14. Preternaturally
6.14.1. beyond what is normal or natural.