owlcreekbridge

The intro of “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” begins with the description of a man. The reader is given small bits of information as the paragraph goes on, yet is left to ponder what exactly the situation is. The reader is drawn in because they are trying to figure piece together the information given to them, so they continue to read. The way Ambrose Bierce writes the story gives the reader the ability to paint an image in their mind of the man awaiting his death.

At the end of the fourth paragraph of the story, the point of view changes from 3rd person objective to 3rd person limited and we begin to hear the story of the hanging man. We read his thoughts and see what he sees through the narrator’s words. This change of point of view continues to draw the reader into the story. The change in point of views gives the reader a fresh perspective of what is going on and keeps them interested in the story. As the narrator talks of the man’s thoughts and feelings, it gives a more intense description of what is happening.

At part two of Bierce’s short story, he transitions from the present to the past. At this point we only know that a man is being hung and some of the feelings and thoughts he is experiencing. By going back in time, Bierce explains who the man is and why he is being hung. I feel that this would have made more sense had it been before part one, but it would not have drawn me into the story as part one did.