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Owl Creek Bridge Suspense

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Ambrose Bierce creates suspense in “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,” by asserting different techniques. This short story describes Peyton Farquhar as a respected plantation owner in Alabama being executed for interfering with the advancing railroad. During Farquhar’s execution, Bierce portrays Peyton’s escape to keep the readers in suspense. Bierce uses a variety of techniques to build suspense and even with a twist to the story’s ending.
Bierce writes the short story in media res to create suspense. In media res refers to the structure of the story which implies starting in the middle of things and creates the story out of chronological order. In media res creates flashbacks as in this story. The entire part two is a flashback as to why Farquhar is being executed and why he is interfering with the railroad despite the posted signs. This story is written out of chronological order; Bierce should have written the story starting with part two, then part one, and ending with part three. Introducing the story in this particular order, …show more content…
To allude to his thoughts, Farquhar hears a “sharp, distinct, metallic percussion like the stroke of a blacksmith’s hammer upon the anvil; it had the same ringing quality”(Bierce 483). Bierce describes the pain as, “The intervals of silence grew progressively longer; the delays became maddening.” and, “They hurt his ear like the thrust of a knife; he feared he would shriek. What he heard was the ticking of his watch”(Bierce 483).
In “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,” Ambrose Bierce creates suspense by using a variety of techniques to appeal to the readers. Ultimately, the story's’ shocking ending can cause a tremendous amount of suspense to the readers. Bierce uses suspense and the story’s shocking ending to appeal to the reader's emotions. The shocking ending clarifies to the readers that the illusions Bierce creates is all in Farquhar’s

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