An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge
Ambrose Bierce
DIRECTIONS: Complete the following paragraph about the short story "An
Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" by choosing the correct words) in parentheses.
*An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" begins in the middle of the story. At a crucial point in the story, the author introduces the beginning of the story, so the reader can understand the main character's situation. This pattern of organization is (linear/nonlinear) narrative. In the final part of the story, the writer uses (stream-of-consciousness/limited omniscience), which introduces doubt into the mind of the reader about the possible (resolution/narrative) of the story. In the last sentence of the story, the resolution is revealed, and the reader learns that Peyton Farquhar (escaped/died)
B. DIRECTIONS: Select a short passage from "The Occurrence at Owl Creek
Bridge." Tell whether the narrative point of view is limited third-person or omniscient third-person, and explain how you know. Then rewrite the passage from a different point of view.
One short passage from "The Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" is when the narrator describes how Peyton Farquhar imagines his escape from the bridge. In this passage, the narrative point of view is limited third-person because the narrator is focusing on Peyton Farquhar's thoughts, feelings, and experiences without revealing the thoughts of any other characters. The use of "he" and "his" to describe Peyton Farquhar indicates that the narrator is only privy to Peyton's perspective.
Rewrite from omniscient third-person point of view: As Peyton Farquhar struggled against the ropes binding him to the bridge, his mind raced with thoughts of escape. The omniscient narrator knew that Peyton's desperation was growing, and his Planter-tinted illusions of freedom provided a stark contrast to the grim reality awaiting him at Owl Creek Bridge.