characters
This Alabama planter is about to be hanged for attempting to sabotage a railroad bridge.
Who is Peyton Farquhar?
This historical conflict provides the backdrop for Farquhar's attempted sabotage and execution.
What is the Civil War (or American Civil War)?
Farquhar believes he falls into the creek and escapes when this object breaks.
What is the rope (or noose)?
Bierce uses this narrative technique, jumping between different time periods to reveal the story.
What are flashbacks
This theme is explored through Farquhar's distorted perception of time during his final moments.
What is the relativity of time (or subjective time)?
This is Peyton Farquhar's occupation before the war, making him a wealthy landowner.
What is a planter?
In Farquhar's hallucination, he travels through this type of natural environment on his way home.
What is a forest (or woods)?
This is the crime Farquhar attempted to commit that led to his capture and sentencing.
What is sabotaging (or burning) the Owl Creek Bridge?
The story's famous ending reveals that Farquhar's escape was actually this type of mental experience.
What is a hallucination (or fantasy/dream)?
The story explores this theme through the contrast between Farquhar's vivid hallucination and his actual death.
What is reality versus illusion (or appearance versus reality)?
This disguised man tricks the protagonist into attempting sabotage by posing as a Confederate soldier
Who is the Federal scout (or Union spy)?
This Southern state is where the story takes place, mentioned as Farquhar's home.
What is Alabama?
In his fantasy, Farquhar dodges these projectiles fired by Union soldiers as he floats downstream.
What are bullets (or rifle shots)?
The ticking of Farquhar's watch becomes unnaturally loud, representing this literary technique that hints at his psychological state
What is repetition imagery?
Bierce, a Civil War veteran, uses this theme to show how war destroys individuals regardless of their noble intentions.
What is the brutality of war (or war's dehumanizing effects)?