High Hopes

Critics divide “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” into three sections. The first is the description of a static scene: a Confederate sympathizer, Peyton Farquhar, is about to be hanged from the Owl Creek Bridge by Union soldiers for his unsuccessful attempt to blow up the bridge. In this first section, critics note that Bierce utilizes a myriad of details and military terminology to create an almost handbook description of how to hang a man. As the noose is placed around Farquhar's neck, Bierce describes the dispassionate actions of the Union soldiers in preparation for the hanging and Farquhar's last-minute desperation to escape. As the moment of his execution arrives, Farquhar perceives the external world slowing down and can hear the ticking of his watch pounding in his ears. The second section is a flashback to the events that led up to the hanging. Farquhar is revealed not as a hero, but as an arrogant, self-serving plantation owner from a respected Alabama family. Despite his pro-slavery leanings and secessionist beliefs, he never joins the Confederate army and instead remains on his plantation, dreaming of being a soldier and a hero. When a Federal scout rides up to his plantation disguised as a Confederate soldier, Farquhar confides his far-fetched plan to sabotage the Owl Creek Bridge and kill Union forces. Farquhar's implausible mission ends in his capture and death sentence. In the third section of “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,” the scene shifts forward to his execution: as Farquhar's body drops and is assumed dead, the rope breaks and Farquhar regains consciousness in the creek. As he escapes the Union forces and finds the road home to his plantation, his neck hurts him and the road disappears from underneath his feet. The narrative shifts from past tense to present tense as Farquhar returns home, greeted by his beautiful wife. As he embraces her, he feels a stunning blow to the back of his neck as it breaks. It is revealed that Farquhar's escape