Job # 5- Compare and Contrast

     The romantic/gothic genre of Irving contributes to his writing through his use of the supernatural(ex: the "spell" that resided over Sleepy Hollow), characters with both good and bad traits(ex: Ichabod Crane), and a mysterious, superstitious atmosphere(ex: the cemetery, legend of the Hessian, etc).  Bierce's realism, on the other hand, is displayed in " An Occurrence at Owl Creek" by the fact that his story is more about ordinary people/events.  Beirce's story is also unique in that the introduction/backround of Peyton is written in chapter 2(after he's already dead) instead of at the beginning.  In my opinion, the characters of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" were noteworthy because of their mixed traits, especially Ichabod and Brom, which made it hard for the reader to decide who to root for.

     Both stories contained gullible protagonists (Ex: Ichabod's superstition, Peyton's believing the federal scout) who ironically both die in the end(or at least disappear, in Ichabod's case).  Although I enjoyed both stories, I would have to say I liked Irving's book a bit more, because of it's mystery and suspense. I also preferred his ending, which was not as abrupt as "An Occurrence at Owl Creek".

Job # 4- Questions

Why do you think Bierce told the story in a rearranged order(beginning with Peyton's death and then introducing him in the second chapter)?

Job # 3- words, words, words

1.  Acclivity- "The other bank of the stream was open ground--a gentle acclivity topped with a stockade of vertical tree trunks..."(I)


2.  Chafed- "...and he chafed under the inglorious restraint..."(II)


3.  Ramification- "These pains appeared to flash along well defined lines of ramification and to beat with an inconceivably rapid periodicity."(III)


4.  Eddies- "...humming of the gnats that danced above the eddies of the stream..."(III)


5.  Embrasure- "...with a single embrasure through which protruded the muzzle of a brass cannon commanding the bridge."(I)

Job #2-Connections

     The themes of "An Occurrence at Owl Creek" reminded me of the short story, "Rip Van Winkle" by Washington Irving.  Both books are set around the Revolutionary war era.  In Irving's book, Rip Van Winkle falls asleep in the forrest, waking up 20 years later to find his wife, home, and friends gone.  Peyton's experience in "An Occurrence at Owl Creek" was similar in that his mind took him on an adventure which seemed to last days, but was really just a matter of seconds, bringing him back to the bridge to find himself gone!  Both stories' protagonists begin in actuality, followed by a dream-like state, which eventually results in  the character's abrupt entrance back into reality.

Job #1- Line Illuminator

"Doubtless, despite his suffering, he had fallen asleep while walking, for now he sees another scene--perhaps he has merely recovered from a delirium.  He stands at the gate of his own home.  All is as  he left it, and all bright and beautiful in the morning sunshine.  He must have traveled the entire night.  As he pushes open the gate and passes up the wide white walk, he sees a flutter of female garments; his wife, looking fresh and sweet, steps down from the veranda to meet him.  At the bottom of the steps she stands waiting, with a smile of ineffable joy, an attitude of matchless grace and dignity.  Ah, how beautiful she is!  He springs forward with extended arms.  As he is about to clasp her he feels a stunning blow upon the back of the neck, blinding white light blazes all about him with a sound like the shock of a cannon--then all is darkness and silence!  
Peyton Farquher was dead; his body, with a broken neck, swung from side to side beneath the timbers of the Owl Creek bridge."(III)

     Within this passage, Bierce pulls the story together, and confirms that Peyton's "escape" was really just a dream after all.  When I first read the passage, his death was a little surprising, since in the preceding paragraphs Bierce had been describing in detail Peyton's escape.  However, after looking at the clues throughout the story, it makes perfect sense.  This paragraph is significant because it is the link between Peyton's dream and reality--his death.

Yay! i am officially part of the blogosphere!:)