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.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
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.
"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.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
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