Answer and Explanation:
I believe the author, Ambrose Bierce, used the surprising ending of his short story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" to indirectly criticize romanticism. Romanticism is characterized by idealization of people, especially women, as well a the supernatural interfering in people's lives - among other characteristics. At first, that seems to be the path Bierce has taken with this story. When the main character, Peyton Farquhar, is about to be hanged, the noose of the rope breaks, and he escapes. He begins to swim and later walk back home, so far indicating an ideal ending based on luck and chance.
However, a more attentive reader already begins to notice something strange about all this. Not only is Peyton having alarming symptoms all over his body, but going back home would not be a clever alternative. The soldiers could very well follow him home and kill him there. It turns out that Peyton has never escaped. The noose breaking, his returning home and meeting with his lovely wife, all of it was just a brief hallucination. He dies hanging from the bridge. There is no romantic ending to this story, but a more realistic - and crude - one.
<span>Combining dazzling speculation with a profoundly humanist vision, this astounding alternate history tale presents a dramatic encounter with destiny wrapped around a simple yet provocative premise: the terrifying question of what might have happened if the fateful flight over Hiroshima had gone a bit differently. An extensive interview with the author, offering insight into his fiction and philosophies, is also included.
hope this helps
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Answer:
when Mary has a problem she thinks we can help her
One definition of grotesque is very ugly. It's origin is actually Italian. Another definition is odd or unnatural its shape or appearance. Grotesque is a noun.