Question
An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge
by Ambrose Bierce
The preparations being complete, the two private soldiers stepped aside and each drew away the plank upon which he had been standing. The sergeant turned to the captain, saluted and placed himself immediately behind that officer, who in turn moved apart one pace. These movements left the condemned man and the sergeant standing on the two ends of the same plank, which spanned three of the cross-ties of the bridge. The end upon which the civilian stood almost, but not quite, reached a fourth. This plank had been held in place by the weight of the captain; it was now held by that of the sergeant. At a signal from the former the latter would step aside, the plank would tilt and the condemned man go down between two ties. The arrangement commended itself to his judgement as simple and effective. His face had not been covered nor his eyes bandaged. He looked a moment at his “unsteadfast footing,” then let his gaze wander to the swirling water of the stream racing madly beneath his feet. A piece of dancing driftwood caught his attention and his eyes followed it down the current. How slowly it appeared to move! What a sluggish stream!
"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce
Question
Use the passage to answer the question.
Analyze the passage. What theme does the author convey?
(1 point)
Responses
People should have mercy on others.
People should have mercy on others.
It is important to do a job well.
It is important to do a job well.
Life is fleeting and can end at any moment.
Life is fleeting and can end at any moment.
The instinct for survival is the strongest of all.
by Ambrose Bierce
The preparations being complete, the two private soldiers stepped aside and each drew away the plank upon which he had been standing. The sergeant turned to the captain, saluted and placed himself immediately behind that officer, who in turn moved apart one pace. These movements left the condemned man and the sergeant standing on the two ends of the same plank, which spanned three of the cross-ties of the bridge. The end upon which the civilian stood almost, but not quite, reached a fourth. This plank had been held in place by the weight of the captain; it was now held by that of the sergeant. At a signal from the former the latter would step aside, the plank would tilt and the condemned man go down between two ties. The arrangement commended itself to his judgement as simple and effective. His face had not been covered nor his eyes bandaged. He looked a moment at his “unsteadfast footing,” then let his gaze wander to the swirling water of the stream racing madly beneath his feet. A piece of dancing driftwood caught his attention and his eyes followed it down the current. How slowly it appeared to move! What a sluggish stream!
"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce
Question
Use the passage to answer the question.
Analyze the passage. What theme does the author convey?
(1 point)
Responses
People should have mercy on others.
People should have mercy on others.
It is important to do a job well.
It is important to do a job well.
Life is fleeting and can end at any moment.
Life is fleeting and can end at any moment.
The instinct for survival is the strongest of all.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The theme that the author conveys in the passage is "Life is fleeting and can end at any moment." This is evident in the portrayal of the condemned man standing on the brink of death, with the impending execution emphasizing the fragility of life. The details about his thoughts, the swirling water below, and his observation of the driftwood further illustrate the fleeting nature of existence and the stark reality of his situation.