An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge takes place in the United States Civil War era. The short story is divided into three parts. Part one introduces Peyton Farquhar, the main character. Peyton is standing on a bridge surrounded the Northern Army and is about to be hung. Part two explains why Peyton Farquhar is being hanged. He was tricked by a Northern Solider in disguise as a Confederate Soldier explaining how the war was going. The Northern Solider told Farquhar about the repairing of the Owl Creek Bridge. Farquhar wanted to help out the Confederate Army and expressed to the in disguised solider that he wanted to sabotage the bridge. The solider explained how it could be done and went on his way away from the bridge. At night fall on his way back Farquhar was outside his house again and the Solider came back dressed in his usual Union uniform and took Farquhar to be hanged on the bridge. Part three starts with Farquhar falling off Owl Creek Bridge in a noose. The rope breaks and falls into the river beneath him. The Union Army shoots at Farquhar and to no luck he escapes the volley of bullets. He then escapes the river and travels back to his house. When …show more content…
Part two of the story tells us, the reader, what Farquhar life was like before the plot of sabotaging the bridge. Farquhar lived a simple southern life “a well-to-do planter, as well as a slave owner who is devoted to a the Southern cause”(Bierce). Suspense is built at this part of the story because at this flashback, a Union Soldier disguised a Confederate Soldier shows up at his Peyton’s house and asks for some water. The soldier states “The Yanks are repairing the railroad… any civilian caught interfering with the railroad, its bridges, tunnels or trains will be summarily hanged” (Bierce). With Peyton Farquhar being a supporter of the Confederates, suspense builds because the reader knows he is talking with a Union