Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge
Many can confirm that we want to feel accomplished and important. Not necessarily, Albert Einstein, but to feel like we matter. Although, many people have a variation of differences such as, tastes, cultures, and looks. We are indeed similar in that we want to feel loved and cared about, despite our distinctions. The same can be said between two different texts, for example Ambrose Bierce’s “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” and Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart.” “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” is a short story about a civilian, Peyton Farquhar, passionate about the Southern cause, was tricked by a union scout, and drawn to a bridge. They encircled his neck with a noose, and Farquhar soon thought of the perfect escape. His imagination
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allowed him to believe that he actually broke free, managing an arduous journey to get back to his family. “The Tell-Tale Heart” is a first person narrative of an unnamed narrator who endeavors to persuade the readers of his sanity. His mind permits him to believe that an old man’s eye is evil. The narrator despises this old man’s “evil eye” triggering him to accomplish a gruesome deed plotted for seven long nights. Ambrose Bierce’s “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” and Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart” while having several lucid differences, both texts are immensely similar in theme and purpose of craft moves. Both texts share the idea that one’s imagination can cause you to believe that something is existing/real. For instance, in “ An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” as Peyton Farquhar hangs from a noose he immediately fixates upon his wife and children. His senses become strangely powerful as he is able to hear the intervals of his ticking watch. His imagination of breaking free from the noose and swimming away to arrive back to his family was all a fantasy. “Doubtless, despite his suffering, he had fallen asleep while walking, for now he sees another scene...He stands at the gate of his own home….As he pushes open the gate and passes up the white walk, he sees a flutter of female garments; his wife…” (“An Occurrence” 6). Farquhar survived his expedition and at last arrived to the gate of his own home. His imagination enabled him to believe that he saw his wife dressed in white fluttering like an angel. Alike, in the short story, “The Tell-Tale Heart” the narrator faces his imagination and sanity that an old man’s eye is evil. The narrator revisits the elderly man to cease his unfathomable obsession of the “vulture eye.” “I had no desire. I think it was his eye! Eyes, it was this! He had the eye of a vulture--a pale blue eye, with a firm overit. Whenever it fell upon me, by blood ran cold; and so by degrees--very gradually-- I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye forever” (“The Tell-Tale” 1).
The narrator had no aspiration to harm the man, but the man’s eye perturbed him to an extent where he wasn’t able to take it any longer. In both texts their imaginations allow them to have confidence in the fantasy of both stories. A crucial contrast between the idea of imagination in both texts is in, “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” the transition between Farquhar’s reality to imagination is the slow result of his death, for Peyton just imagined his love and care for his family, resembling he had a sane mind. “Ah, how beautiful she is! He springs forward with extended arms. As he is about to clasp her he feels a stunning blow upon the back of the neck...Peyton Farquhar was dead…” (“An Occurrence” 6). Dissimilarly, in “The Tell-Tale Heart” the narrator’s rapid actions to harm and kill the old man for his imagination of the evil eye, is the consequence of having strong confidence that the eye was sinister and a criminal mind. “You fancy me mad. Madmen know nothing. But you should have seen me. You should have seen how wisely I proceeded -- with what caution-- with what foresight-- with what dissimulation I went to work!” (“The Tell-Tale” 1). Despite having two different mindsets, and actions it is correct that in both texts, the main character's imagination creates false accusations of what is real and is not. Naturally, there are several differentiations in craft between these two works. “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” uses a variety of craft moves, such as symbolism, imagery, and similes and metaphors. “Striking through the thought of his dear ones was a sound which he could neither ignore nor understand, a sharp, distinct, metallic percussion like the stroke of a blacksmith’s hammer upon the anvil…” (“An Occurrence” 2). The author uses this metaphor to describe the deafening sound and pain it caused on Farquhar. “The Tell-Tale Heart” utilizes many techniques such as, tone and a first person narrator. “And have I not told you that what you mistake for madness is but over-acuteness of the sense? --now, I say, there came to my ears a low, dull, quick sound…” (“The Tell-Tale” 4). The narrator’s tone is bitterly insane, and the speech of the narrator is very informal. Both texts are penned in immense different ways. However, both of these texts use these different devices for similar effects.
For example, similes and metaphors in “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” builds a mood and stirs empathy. To epitomize, Bierce describes the noises heard as he was swimming in the water as follows: “The humming of the gnats that danced above the eddies of the stream, the beating of the dragon-flies wings, the strokes of the water-spider’s legs, like oars which had lifted their boat- all these made audible music” (“An Occurrence 4). Bierce establishes a satisfied mood as he reports the sights and sounds that occur around Farquhar in the water. The short story, “The Tell-Tale Heart” also builds a mood when the narrator expresses a creepy tone, sounding insane. “Presently I heard a slight groan, and I knew it was the groan of mortal terror. It was not a groan of grief-- oh, no!-- it was the low stifles sound that arises from the bottom of the soul when overcharged with awe.” (“The Tell-Tale” 3). Both oeuvres not only create a mood, but work to stir empathy with human characters; readers can understand Farquhar’s frightfulness of being trapped in an uncomfortable situation as Farquhar was being held on a bridge, and his neck was encircled by a noose in “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge.” “The man’s hands were behind his back, the wrists bound with a cord. A rope closely encircled his neck….a formal and unnatural position, enforcing an erect carriage of the body” (“An Occurrence” 1). Readers can also comprehend the old man’s grief and terror when hearing an unfamiliar noise while in bed in “The Tell-Tale Heart,” as that noise arouses your emotions, and it may cause you to panic or lay there silently. “Presently I heard a slight groan, and I knew it was the groan of mortal terror….It was the low stifled sound that arises from the bottom of the soul when overcharged with awe” (“The Tell-Tale” 3). The old man as awakened and frightened as feared of what was ahead of him. Moreover, both
writings utilize fervid craft moves to support the theme. Certainly, it could be said that the themes of these two work are not similar, specifically that the theme of “The Tell-Tale Heart” is don’t do something you know is wrong because the effects of guilt will hurt you in the long run, making it different from the theme in “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge.” The narrator does indeed commit a criminal act, and soon feels culpable of his wrong doing. “But anything was better than this agony! Anything was more tolerable than this derision…. I admit the deed!” (“The Tell-Tale” 8). While this is an acceptable point it fails to report that the narrator’s imagination is the motive to his endeavor. The narrator’s account of his thoughts and actions to murder an innocent man was plagued by his mental illness His mind influenced him to believe the man’s eye was evil. “It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain; but once conceived it haunted my day and night.. I think it was his eye… whenever it fell upon me my blood ran cold… (“The Tell-Tale” 1). Therefore, the theme is better stated as: one’s imagination can cause you to believe that something is existing real. In “An occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” it could be said that the devices utilized in this short story build suspense.
“The black bodies of the trees formed a straight wall on both sides… Overhead, as he looked up through this rift in the wood, shone great golden stars looking unfamiliar and grouped in strange constellations… The wood on either side was full of singular noises, among which-once, twice, and again- he distinctly heard whispers in an unknown tongue” (“An Occurrence” 5-6).
The imagery describing the monotonous foreign whispers does admittedly build suspense. While this is a reasonable point, it neglects to account for the symbolism, imagery, and similes and metaphors that explain Farquhar’s senses.
“The humming of the gnats that danced above the eddies of the stream, the heating of the dragon-flies wings, the strokes of the water-spider legs, like oars which had lifted their boat… all these made audible music. A fish slid along beneath his eyes and he heard the rush of its body parting the water” (“An Occurrence” 4).
This metaphor provides clarity of Farquhar’s powerful senses, giving off a joyful ambience. This concludes that not all devices build suspense, but each scene evokes a different vibe and atmosphere throughout the story. Although the theme and craft moves used in the short stories, “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” and “The Tell-Tale Heart” differ, the two works are similar on the basis of craft moves and theme. We now understand that regardless of other’s characteristics and traits we are all alike. We are human, and inside we want to feel like we matter. As we may juxtapose people from appearances, and culture, we can do the same to compare two pieces of text. When analyzing the surface of these two texts, the appearance of the works may look very different, but they actually have a lot of similarities. They both approach the same topic of imagination. Anyone can testify that they have imagined a desire or thought. Whether it was good or evil. We are left with one question: what will our imagination lead us to? Negative or positive?
allowed him to believe that he actually broke free, managing an arduous journey to get back to his family. “The Tell-Tale Heart” is a first person narrative of an unnamed narrator who endeavors to persuade the readers of his sanity. His mind permits him to believe that an old man’s eye is evil. The narrator despises this old man’s “evil eye” triggering him to accomplish a gruesome deed plotted for seven long nights. Ambrose Bierce’s “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” and Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart” while having several lucid differences, both texts are immensely similar in theme and purpose of craft moves. Both texts share the idea that one’s imagination can cause you to believe that something is existing/real. For instance, in “ An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” as Peyton Farquhar hangs from a noose he immediately fixates upon his wife and children. His senses become strangely powerful as he is able to hear the intervals of his ticking watch. His imagination of breaking free from the noose and swimming away to arrive back to his family was all a fantasy. “Doubtless, despite his suffering, he had fallen asleep while walking, for now he sees another scene...He stands at the gate of his own home….As he pushes open the gate and passes up the white walk, he sees a flutter of female garments; his wife…” (“An Occurrence” 6). Farquhar survived his expedition and at last arrived to the gate of his own home. His imagination enabled him to believe that he saw his wife dressed in white fluttering like an angel. Alike, in the short story, “The Tell-Tale Heart” the narrator faces his imagination and sanity that an old man’s eye is evil. The narrator revisits the elderly man to cease his unfathomable obsession of the “vulture eye.” “I had no desire. I think it was his eye! Eyes, it was this! He had the eye of a vulture--a pale blue eye, with a firm overit. Whenever it fell upon me, by blood ran cold; and so by degrees--very gradually-- I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye forever” (“The Tell-Tale” 1).
The narrator had no aspiration to harm the man, but the man’s eye perturbed him to an extent where he wasn’t able to take it any longer. In both texts their imaginations allow them to have confidence in the fantasy of both stories. A crucial contrast between the idea of imagination in both texts is in, “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” the transition between Farquhar’s reality to imagination is the slow result of his death, for Peyton just imagined his love and care for his family, resembling he had a sane mind. “Ah, how beautiful she is! He springs forward with extended arms. As he is about to clasp her he feels a stunning blow upon the back of the neck...Peyton Farquhar was dead…” (“An Occurrence” 6). Dissimilarly, in “The Tell-Tale Heart” the narrator’s rapid actions to harm and kill the old man for his imagination of the evil eye, is the consequence of having strong confidence that the eye was sinister and a criminal mind. “You fancy me mad. Madmen know nothing. But you should have seen me. You should have seen how wisely I proceeded -- with what caution-- with what foresight-- with what dissimulation I went to work!” (“The Tell-Tale” 1). Despite having two different mindsets, and actions it is correct that in both texts, the main character's imagination creates false accusations of what is real and is not. Naturally, there are several differentiations in craft between these two works. “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” uses a variety of craft moves, such as symbolism, imagery, and similes and metaphors. “Striking through the thought of his dear ones was a sound which he could neither ignore nor understand, a sharp, distinct, metallic percussion like the stroke of a blacksmith’s hammer upon the anvil…” (“An Occurrence” 2). The author uses this metaphor to describe the deafening sound and pain it caused on Farquhar. “The Tell-Tale Heart” utilizes many techniques such as, tone and a first person narrator. “And have I not told you that what you mistake for madness is but over-acuteness of the sense? --now, I say, there came to my ears a low, dull, quick sound…” (“The Tell-Tale” 4). The narrator’s tone is bitterly insane, and the speech of the narrator is very informal. Both texts are penned in immense different ways. However, both of these texts use these different devices for similar effects.
For example, similes and metaphors in “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” builds a mood and stirs empathy. To epitomize, Bierce describes the noises heard as he was swimming in the water as follows: “The humming of the gnats that danced above the eddies of the stream, the beating of the dragon-flies wings, the strokes of the water-spider’s legs, like oars which had lifted their boat- all these made audible music” (“An Occurrence 4). Bierce establishes a satisfied mood as he reports the sights and sounds that occur around Farquhar in the water. The short story, “The Tell-Tale Heart” also builds a mood when the narrator expresses a creepy tone, sounding insane. “Presently I heard a slight groan, and I knew it was the groan of mortal terror. It was not a groan of grief-- oh, no!-- it was the low stifles sound that arises from the bottom of the soul when overcharged with awe.” (“The Tell-Tale” 3). Both oeuvres not only create a mood, but work to stir empathy with human characters; readers can understand Farquhar’s frightfulness of being trapped in an uncomfortable situation as Farquhar was being held on a bridge, and his neck was encircled by a noose in “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge.” “The man’s hands were behind his back, the wrists bound with a cord. A rope closely encircled his neck….a formal and unnatural position, enforcing an erect carriage of the body” (“An Occurrence” 1). Readers can also comprehend the old man’s grief and terror when hearing an unfamiliar noise while in bed in “The Tell-Tale Heart,” as that noise arouses your emotions, and it may cause you to panic or lay there silently. “Presently I heard a slight groan, and I knew it was the groan of mortal terror….It was the low stifled sound that arises from the bottom of the soul when overcharged with awe” (“The Tell-Tale” 3). The old man as awakened and frightened as feared of what was ahead of him. Moreover, both
writings utilize fervid craft moves to support the theme. Certainly, it could be said that the themes of these two work are not similar, specifically that the theme of “The Tell-Tale Heart” is don’t do something you know is wrong because the effects of guilt will hurt you in the long run, making it different from the theme in “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge.” The narrator does indeed commit a criminal act, and soon feels culpable of his wrong doing. “But anything was better than this agony! Anything was more tolerable than this derision…. I admit the deed!” (“The Tell-Tale” 8). While this is an acceptable point it fails to report that the narrator’s imagination is the motive to his endeavor. The narrator’s account of his thoughts and actions to murder an innocent man was plagued by his mental illness His mind influenced him to believe the man’s eye was evil. “It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain; but once conceived it haunted my day and night.. I think it was his eye… whenever it fell upon me my blood ran cold… (“The Tell-Tale” 1). Therefore, the theme is better stated as: one’s imagination can cause you to believe that something is existing real. In “An occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” it could be said that the devices utilized in this short story build suspense.
“The black bodies of the trees formed a straight wall on both sides… Overhead, as he looked up through this rift in the wood, shone great golden stars looking unfamiliar and grouped in strange constellations… The wood on either side was full of singular noises, among which-once, twice, and again- he distinctly heard whispers in an unknown tongue” (“An Occurrence” 5-6).
The imagery describing the monotonous foreign whispers does admittedly build suspense. While this is a reasonable point, it neglects to account for the symbolism, imagery, and similes and metaphors that explain Farquhar’s senses.
“The humming of the gnats that danced above the eddies of the stream, the heating of the dragon-flies wings, the strokes of the water-spider legs, like oars which had lifted their boat… all these made audible music. A fish slid along beneath his eyes and he heard the rush of its body parting the water” (“An Occurrence” 4).
This metaphor provides clarity of Farquhar’s powerful senses, giving off a joyful ambience. This concludes that not all devices build suspense, but each scene evokes a different vibe and atmosphere throughout the story. Although the theme and craft moves used in the short stories, “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” and “The Tell-Tale Heart” differ, the two works are similar on the basis of craft moves and theme. We now understand that regardless of other’s characteristics and traits we are all alike. We are human, and inside we want to feel like we matter. As we may juxtapose people from appearances, and culture, we can do the same to compare two pieces of text. When analyzing the surface of these two texts, the appearance of the works may look very different, but they actually have a lot of similarities. They both approach the same topic of imagination. Anyone can testify that they have imagined a desire or thought. Whether it was good or evil. We are left with one question: what will our imagination lead us to? Negative or positive?