Question

Do you think "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" is an example of realism, even though Bierce employs romantic techniques in the story? Support your answer with evidence from the text.

Answer 1

Answer:

Yes, "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" is an example of realism, even though Bierce employs romantic techniques in the story.

Explanation:

Romanticism had among its characteristics the glorification of war and heroism. At first, that seems to be what Ambrose Bierce will do in his short story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge". The main character, Peyton Farquhar, is tricked into trying to burn a bridge that would allow Union soldiers to cross. Farquhar is a Confederacy supporter. He ends up being caught as a traitor and, when he is about to be hanged, he escapes. So far, Romanticism has prevailed.

However, Bierce is only deceiving readers. We are led to believe Farquhar has escaped, that the noose broke, and he found himself swimming in the creek, dodging bullets, free to return home. We are soon disappointed, however, as it is revealed that it was all his imagination - or even a hallucination - in the brief moments it took Farquhar to die. The ending of the story is based on Realism. Far from being romanticized, it describes how horrid and gruesome death and war are, and how heroism is not always rewarded:

Peyton Farquhar was dead; his body, with a broken neck, swung gently from side to side beneath the timbers of the Owl Creek bridge.

Answer 2

Answer:

Even though Bierce uses romantic techniques, the text has an ending with strong realist characteristics: "Peyton Farquhar was dead; his body, with a broken neck, swung gently from side to side beneath the timbers of the Owl Creek bridge." Although the majority of section 3 glorifies and paints an exhilarating picture of war with Peyton’s supposed escape, the reality is that war is gruesome and unforgiving. Bierce conveys this message with the story’s ending. The ending also demonstrates that in war, heroism doesn’t always triumph.