An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

TONE: What is the tone of the story and what clues lead you to conclude this? Give quotes to support your explanation.

 

SYNTAX: Describe the sentence structures you find in An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge. Are the sentences long, short, or medium length? Simple or Complex? Mixed or mostly uniform throughout? What effect does this structure have on the meaning/moral/tone of the story?

 

DICTION: Look at the excerpt below and discuss how the author’s word choices elicit the audience’s feelings for Farquhar. What words cause the reader to feel excitement or anticipation for him?

 

“He was not conscious of an effort, but a sharp pain in his wrist apprised him that he was trying to free his hands. He gave the struggle his attention, as an idler might observe the feat of a juggler, without interest in the outcome. What splendid effort!—what magnificent, what superhuman strength! Ah, that was a fine endeavor! Bravo! The cord fell away; his arms parted and floated upward, the hands dimly seen on each side in the growing light. He watched them with a new interest as first one and then the other pounced upon the noose at his neck. They tore it away and thrust it fiercely aside, its undulations resembling those of a water snake.”

 

            -Excerpt from An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce