Question

In "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge", discuss:

Bierce’s protagonist is represented in three parts. What is the specific function of each part of Bierce’s story? Be specific.

Bierce represents both objective and subjective time in his story. In what ways does he represent objective time? In what ways subjective time?

Analyze Bierce’s use of lines and circles as symbols of time and eternity. How are they used? Where?

Answer 1

·         (Question 1) Bierce’s protagonist is represented in three parts. What is the specific function of each part of Bierce’s story? Be specific.

• (Answer 1) Three-part representation:

• The past – When Bierce recounts his time serving his country.

The function – The reason why Bierce decides to serve his country was simple motivation. He was motivated after seeing several people he knew who died serving. Bierce too wanted to serve his country and shoulder his responsibility like a grown man. Doing so meant taking up the assignment of destroying Owl Creek Bridge.

• The present – This brings us to Owl Creek Bridge. This is the time when Bierce is restrained and about to be executed.

The function – This is when we see that Bierce has already achieved his goal of being a responsible man. However, his fate has caught up to him and circumstances are about to enforce the seriousness of his pursuit to be a man. Bierce here is encumbered with the responsibility he undertook when he wanted to serve the country.

• The future – There are 2 futures depicted in this story. One of them is a pretense. This is where Bierce imagines escaping the shackles and making it back to his family. However, he dies right when he can almost see his home and his family. This is when he actually dies from being hanged in the true moment, putting an end to the true future.

The function – The function of the sum of all parts is simply illustrating what happens when you get exactly what you have wished for. The book describes the fear that Bierce faces at the moment of repercussion. Also, the false hope of escaping and making it home that he dreams for himself. This is because the human condition presumably desires the final moments to be happy moments.

·         (Question 2) Bierce represents both objective and subjective time in his story. In what ways does he represent objective time? In what ways subjective time?

o   (Answer 2)

Ø Objective Time – Time becomes objective (we see it for what it is) when we set each moment or second apart from the regular flow of time in order to better analyze or understand it. Objective time is described beautifully in this story when Bierce is actually able to hear his own ticking clock right before being hanged. Where his amplified fear enables him to notice and feel every detail of the situation for what it really is.

Ø Subjective Time – This is when one sees time as a continuous flow of events. This is when Bierce virtually leaves reality and imagines escaping and finally making it to his family.

·         (Question 3) Analyze Bierce’s use of lines and circles as symbols of time and eternity. How are they used? Where?

o   (Answer 3)

Ø Lines – One of the most glaring things about time in this story is the blurred line the author uses to describe reality and wishful thinking. Bierce poor judgment between his happy dream and the sad reality is not only blurry but, also has a sharp end. The sharp end being death that makes Bierce snap out of his dream and his life.

Ø Circles – The circle that begins with Bierce wanting to destroy the Owl Creek Bridge. This was a symbol of injustice to him and the people with whom he served. The circle comes to a close when Bierce is “destroyed” at the very bridge that he wanted to destroy. Furthermore, his execution wasn’t just. Ironically, the very notion he was fighting was, ‘injustice’.