An+Occurrence+at+Owl+Creek+Bridge

Short Stories - Literary Devises Title: An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

Point of View: Third person. Protagonist: Peyton Farquhar, 35 year old planter. He was a civilian. His features were good--a straight nose, firm mouth, broad forehead, from which his long, dark hair was combed straight back, falling behind his ears to the collar of his well-fitting frock coat. He wore a mustache and pointed beard, but no whiskers; his eyes were large and dark gray, and had a kindly expression which one would hardly have expected in one whose neck was in the hemp. What type of character is the Protagonist? Round and Dynamic. Antagonist: The Federal army. Describe the setting: It is set during the American Civil War. Type of Conflict: Man vs. Man. Describe the main conflict: It's between Peyton and the Federal Army. Peyton is being hanged by the army, and he is trying to escape. Describe the Climax of the Story: The climax of the story is when Peyton is imagining that he is escaping. Once the rope broke, he swam away to shore. How does the Protagonist change over the course of the story?: He starts off thinking he is going to die, and thaat there is no hope. Later in the story he realizes that he has a chance of survivel, and he fights as hard as he can to survive. Describe the relationship between the title and the theme. The theme of the story is that there are people who don't think of others, and therefore do bad things. An occurence at Owl Creek Bridge is the title. Owl Creek is where a regular citizen was hung for nothing in particular. How does the main conflict help to illustrate the theme? There is good and bad parts of humanity. This story illustrates the bad parts. Sometimes humans just don't think of the what the outcome will be from their actions. When the army killed Peyton, they weren't thinking about how he had a family. NOw Peyton's wife and kids will never see him again. The main conflict is Peyton being executed by the army. The army doesn't think about how he has a family, and how it will destroy many other lives because of this. How does the climax help to illustrate the theme? The climax of the story is when Peyton is imagining that he is escaping to try to get back to his home. this shows that he is just a regular person that wants to be with his family. The army killed someone that should have been with his family. Give examples of each of the following literary terms in the story (use quotes): Simile: "...spinning like a top." "It looked like diamonds, rubies, emeralds;..." "The water roared in his ears like the voice of Niagara,..." Metaphor: "The trees upon the bank were giant garden plants;..." "...and the wind made in their branches the music of Æolian harps." Personification: "...shot humming through the air ahead..." "The water roared in his ears like the voice of Niagara,..." Symbol: The shore is a symbol of safety. Foreshadowing (give both elements): "The commandant has issued an order, which is posted everywhere, declaring that any civilian caught interfering with the railroad, its bridged, tunnel or trains will be summarily hanged" Peyton then asks about how i will help if someone were to interfere. :This is forshadowing that Peyton will interfere with the railroad, and be hung. Irony: We think that Peyton escapes being hung, drowning, then being shot, but it the end we find out that he dies right after he was hung. Imagery: " Farquhar dived--dived as deeply as he could. The water roared in his ears like the voice of Niagara, yet he heard the dulled thunder of the volley and, rising again toward the surface, met shining bits of metal, singularly flattened, oscillating slowly downward." "He sprang to his feet, rushed up the sloping bank, and plunged into the forest." Describe the relationships between the class theme and the story. There is good and bad parts of humanity. This story illustrates the bad parts. Sometimes humans just don't think of the what the outcome will be from their actions. When the army killed Peyton, they weren't thinking about how he had a family. NOw Peyton's wife and kids will never see him again.