Owl Creek

An occurrence at Owl Creek is a VERY short story written by Ambrose Bierce. An Occurrence at Owl Creek is about a man who at first seems like he is trying to kill himself. Upon reading further into the story it becomes clear that this man is not trying to kill him slef but rather is being executed. In the story the man speak of invaders so perhaps he is a captured soldier or an enemy supporter. Either way the man gets executed. Ambrose wrote this story with a very clear realism element in it. For example, in the story the soldiers moves are described exactly, to create a sense of realism. "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." (Bierce) Realism usually strives to focs on what is happening, how it is happening and in what manner it is happening. Clearly the aforementioned quote focuses with acute details on the soldiers precise movements. Another example of the realism in this story is how the author does not attempt to pass over or sugarcoat the fact the main was going to die a horrible death. She did not attempt to glorify the man's death or make it seem courageous she simply showed that the man was going to die. Many stories of different periods especially say romanticism would have either skipped the gruesome honesty Ambrose exhibits or would have made the man proud to be dying for such a good cause that he believed in. Realism on the other hand is honest, brutally honest in this passage it is clear the author made no attempt at all to cover or sugarcoat the man's impending demise "As these thoughts, which have here to be set down in words, were flashed into the doomed man's brain rather than evolved from it the captain nodded to the sergeant. The sergeant stepped aside." (Bierce) The passage makes it clear to the reader what is going to happen. Then even though the reader knows it is coming as the sergeant steps aside it is a shock to realize the man has died. Another good example of the realism in the story is when the man talks about trying to free himself. This is the exact sort of thing someone in his postion would probably be thinking about at such a time. Not how it was worth it or how he did not regret his choices but how the heck he was going tog et out of there. "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. My home, thank God, is as yet outside their lines; my wife and little ones are still beyond the invader's farthest advance." (Bierce) Finally as the man realizes he has no hope he takes solace in imagining his family. Something that is the most dear and important thing to him in the world.