Bierce, Ambrose: 1842-1914?
An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, 1890 - Chapter Summaries
- Chapter 1
Peyton Farquhar, a wealthy Alabama plantation owner and Confederate supporter, is about to be hanged by Union soldiers from Owl Creek Bridge. He stands on the railroad bridge with his hands tied behind him while soldiers carefully prepare his execution. The story emphasizes the tense setting and Farquhar’s awareness of small details, such as the ticking of his watch and the movement of the water below..
Characters
Peyton Farquhar: Wealthy plantation owner, nervous but observant.
Union soldiers: Disciplined, emotionally detached. - Chapter 2
The story explains how Farquhar came to be captured. A Union soldier disguised as a Confederate sympathizer had visited Farquhar’s home and told him that Union forces were repairing the railroad near Owl Creek Bridge. The soldier suggested that Farquhar could help the Confederate cause by burning the bridge, so Farquhar attempted to do so and was captured by Union soldiers.
Characters
Peyton Farquhar: Strongly devoted to the Confederacy, reckless and impulsive.
Union soldier: Loyal to the Union.
Farquhar’s wife: Loving, connected to Farquhar’s motivation. - Chapters 3
As Farquhar falls from the bridge, the rope breaks, and he falls into the creek below. He escapes the soldiers’ gunfire and swims downstream before reaching the shore. Farquhar then travels through the forest, believing that he is finally free and imagining his reunion with his wife and home. However, the strange details and distorted sense of time eventually reveal that his escape is actually an illusion occurring during the final moments before his death.
Characters
Peyton Farquhar: Hopeful and imaginative, delusional in his final moments.
Union soldiers: Effective in carrying out the execution.
Farquhar’s wife: Symbolizes Farquhar’s hope, appears as part of Farquhar’s final illusion.