ENL 003 Post #4

The short story “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” by Ambrose Bierce details the execution of a Southern man by Union troops. Though the reader is eventually given a cause and a conclusion, it is Bierce’s effective use of transitions in narration and chronology that guides a particular first impression of the text. With a cold opening in third person objective, the reader is thrust into the story as the narrator denies us an explanation from either exposition or internality, leaving us to only absorb the facts of the grim scene. This distant approach also prevents any identification with the characters since no thoughts or feelings are explicitly addressed. However, the perspective appropriately shifts to third person subjective just as Peyton pensively looks at the river below. Exploring his final thoughts the reader can sympathize with Peyton as they are unselfish and human, picturing his dear family and desperately reasoning he could free himself.
Another fitting transition occurs, this time chronological, as the sergeant steps aside from the board holding Peyton up. Focusing on the past we are finally given the protagonist’s name as well as background, giving us insight into the motivation of the crime that would cost him his life. Again, the reader can sympathize with Peyton as he was without an opportunity to defend his viewpoint in battle and only disobeyed orders to support the cause he passionately believed in. This creates a bittersweet feeling since the reader is given a glimpse into Peyton’s life right before it comes to a close.
The chronology suitably shifts to the present as Peyton is dropped from Owl Creek bridge. The reader, however, is reprieved from parting with him as Peyton is described to have barely survived due to the rope breaking and dropping him into the river below. From here the narration adopts a suspenseful and daring tone as the limited perspective constantly informs us of Peyton’s thoughts while facing overwhelming odds eluding the troops overseeing his execution. Though the reader becomes immersed in the hectic nature of Peyton’s escape, the perspective abruptly returns to third person objective revealing that he was hung and his escape was merely a vicarious fantasy. The limited perspective concealed the truth of Peyton’s execution, his thoughts and emotions falsely suggesting that his escape plan had worked, giving the conclusion the impression of a twist ending.