Question

In three to five sentences, explain how Ambrose Bierce's use of foreshadowing or flashback influence "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge."

Answer 1

I'll be happy to critique what you write. It's a fascinating story.

Answer 2

Ambrose uses foreshadowing in her depiction of the purple elephant in Farquhar's vision of of the Confederacy indicating to the reader that he is in a dream-like state. She additionally uses flashback when Ambrose discusses the Scarlet Ibis from Farquhar's past and how the spy tricked him into being lynched by Confederate soldiers.

Answer 3

Do not use this answer! The teacher's will know it was taken from the internet!!

Answer 4

^^ you just have to rephrase them!!

Answer 5

Don't completely trust LockeJames's answer. I did a word search for "purple elephant" in the story but there was no mention of it.

Answer 6

Another example of foreshadowing in "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" is to be found in what is going through Peyton Farquhar's mind as he is standing on the bridge with a noose around his neck waiting to be hanged.

He unclosed his eyes and saw again the water below him. "If I could free my hands," he thought, "I might throw off the noose and spring into the stream. By diving I could evade the bullets and, swimming vigorously, reach the bank, take to the woods and get away home."

Answer 7

Thanks guys, this really helped! Remember, it isn't cheating unless you're caught. That's why I win my bets!

Answer 8

Daniel, please tell me you didn't put your full name in a confession of cheating... please tell me thats a fake name...

Answer 9

you know what i think is really crazy to think about? this post is still active till this day and people are still commenting. not alot but its still happening. this entire question was asked 2013 which was years ago. it makes me wonder what the original poster asking this question is doing right now. they are long ahead in their late 20's now considering they were most likely around 17-18 when first posting this

Answer 10

We see all the legends from before it’s like history of all the cheaters that leads up to us

Answer 11

Generations pass yet cheaters will always remain.

Answer 12

Anybody here in may 2021

Answer 13

yeah i am

Answer 14

it is crazy, the person who original posted this probably as a whole life now and here we are thankful as frick for them 😭

Answer 15

Its crazy they probably have kids now and living their best life and here we are just trying to pass

Answer 16

It’s weird to think that these answers are from 10-9 years ago and to think that these answers are from high schoolers who have a full on life now

Answer 17

Ambrose Bierce’s use of flashback influences “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge in a way that it makes the reader understand the background information and events that led up to the main conflicts in the story. One quote which really showcases this is when Bierce writes, “Peyton Farquhar was a well-to-do planter of an old and highly respected Alabama family. Being a slave owner, and like other slave owners, a politician, he was naturally an original secessionist and ardently devoted to the Southern cause.” (p. 134). Another use of flashback would be Bierce writes, “‘The Yanks are repairing the railroads,’ said the man, ‘and are getting ready for another advance. They reached the Owl Creek bridge, put it in order and built a stockade on the north bank. The commandant has issued an order, which is posted everywhere, declaring that any civilian caught interfering with the railroad, its bridges, tunnels or trains will be summarily hanged…” (p. 135). We see at the beginning of the story that there is a mysterious man sentenced to death by hanging. What these quotes do very well, is look back on a past event of the victim’s life, which gives further context and development to understand what is happening in the current moment. When Bierce writes, “slave owner,” “a politician,” and “devoted to the Southern cause,” it shows readers who this character was as a person and what his background was. It also shows his loyalty to the South, and that he probably went against the Union soldiers who are intent on hanging him. Furthermore, the second quote shows readers why the main character is being hung, Bierce writes, “ any civilian caught interfering with the railroad, its bridges, tunnels or trains will be summarily hanged…” This helps readers understand the circumstances of the main character’s punishment. In many pieces of writing today, or works of media, flashbacks offer a way for people to obtain the idea the creator wants to get across, while avoiding straight exposition, and making it more visually digestible for the audience. It avoided having people explain to us what happened when instead they can show it the way it was, disconnecting from the moment and looking into the past.

Answer 18

Thanks cryptik !!

Answer 19

I love how this went from question 9 yrs ago to a chat room of wandering cheaters

Answer 20

i’m straight failing my english class rn

Answer 21

I with cheat in any challenge I am thrown especially in school with the only exception is in relationships... "Honor is a Fools Gamble" 😈

Answer 22

it's sad that the original poster didn't get their answer until 2 year later.

Answer 23

still here is 2022

Answer 24

pov: you came for the answer but ended up finding out the original poster posted this 9/10 years ago and seeing a conversation about how the older generation was cheating like us.

Hello people who will find this in so many years. Good luck with this question!

Answer 25

I like how the original answer was fake(There's no purple elephant in the story) but years later Cryptik drops in and saves us all

Answer 26

This thread made me change my mind about snapping half the universe

Answer 27

So we just all here trying to finish the semester 😂

Answer 28

Reading about how we are all alike year after makes me feel like i found my people😭 I feel comfortable here rn

Answer 29

bruh, i came here for answers but ended up reading a full life story. 10/10 would recommend a book series based off this answer section

Answer 30

I am so happy this chat is still alive!

Answer 31

I can't believe this is still alive after all these years...

Answer 32

1/25/2022

Answer 33

lol whats good

Answer 34

eyyyyyy 7 mins ago

Answer 35

Let’s continue the timeline chain here from 2013 to 2055

Answer 36

here i am 2 days before the semester ends with 15 overdue lessons thinking about my life decisions and just wanting to sleep until summer comes

Answer 37

its alr man u can do it overdue :) my advice for next semester is just to get ahead as the semester ends and first do portfolios and sample works first so you can submit assignments in a row.

Answer 38

Dont worry buddy... I was behind 140 lessons just 1 week ago and tomorrow is the end of the semester. I had 60 overdue 2 days ago. Just know, there are ppl like me in your class that are WAYYY more behind then u lolll.

Answer 39

just letting yall know... this is my LAST question to my LAST assignment. we balled out.

Answer 40

Good job mate! Its weird to think some people from like 9/10 years ago were in the same situation as us. we all are really just trying to get by. i still have 9 more to do and its the final day.. good luck you guys

Answer 41

I'm saving the link to this question and I will keep checking back on it to see how long it lasts. I think it's just gonna keep going until like 2030 or something.

Answer 42

hey cuties so we all just here tryna pass huh? best of luck to you all, may ur skin be clear and ur grades be A’s <3

Answer 43

Hello all future cheaters. If you ever question whether it's fair to cheat or not then realize this. Think smarter not harder. Not only that the people that made these questions made them over 10 years ago and are still used till this day. What does that say about the information they want us to 'learn' can you imagine what life was like 10 years ago maybe even 15? That was the early 2000's when the iPhone was in its early years and you expect me to think this is relevant information I need for life. Pfft. You're funny.

Answer 44

Yo

Answer 45

Yo no way this thread is still going

Answer 46

For future generations to find

Answer 47

Yes

Answer 48

lets keep it going

Answer 49

Funny how I came here to answer question 21/22 on my English unit test and ended up reading the most interesting comment section. I guess good luck to the future cheaters. ;)

Answer 50

In 10 years, we will all be speaking Chinese.

Answer 51

i just came here for answers but wow lol still going after about ten years. well, good luck to the future people who come here

Answer 52

Wow... I was really unmotivated and felt like crap abt cheating, but seeing I'm not the only one really boosted my confidence lol. I am no longer unmotivated, we all in the same boat, hope this continues for another 10 years