The condemned man stands on a bridge, his hands bound behind his back. A noose is tied around his neck. In a moment he will meet his fate: DEATH BY HANGING. There is no escape. Or is there? Find out in . . . An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge.
An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge is a short story by Ambrose Bierce, first published in 1890. Set during the American Civil War, the story follows Peyton Farquhar, a Southern planter who is condemned to be hanged by Union forces for attempting to sabotage a railway bridge. The narrative begins with Farquhar standing on the edge of the bridge with a noose around his neck, awaiting execution.
As the story unfolds, Bierce masterfully manipulates time and perspective. When Farquhar is dropped from the bridge, the narrative shifts into a vivid depiction of his escape. In what feels like an extraordinary moment of survival, Farquhar frees himself from the noose, plunges into the river below, and evades a hail of gunfire. He makes a desperate journey back home, driven by thoughts of his wife and children. However, in a twist ending, it is revealed that the escape was only an illusion experienced in the final moments of Farquhar’s life before he dies.
The story is celebrated for its exploration of the thin line between reality and illusion, the psychological depth of its protagonist, and its stark portrayal of the brutal realities of war. Bierce’s use of shifting narrative perspectives and the surprise ending have made it one of the most anthologized and analyzed works of American literature.
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