How Does Bierce Use Literary Techniques In An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge

Literary Techniques are important to a writer as they help produce a special effect to writing. Common literary techniques include imagery, characterization, and plot elements. Using these can help a writer grab their readers’ attention as well as add life and color to their work. One author who uses literary techniques to his advantage is Ambrose Bierce, author of “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,” a short story conveying Bierce’s feelings on the military and war.
One way Bierce keeps his audience’s attention during his story is his use of imagery, especially during intense or uncomfortable scenes. Bierce’s use of imagery creates and maintains suspense in the way he provides a lot of information and description details but also withholds important aspects of the story; this is most notably shown in the paragraph where Bierce describes the hanging of Peyton Farquhar. Bierce describes the hanging as “streams of pulsating fire heating [Peyton] to an intolerable temperature” (cite). Bierce also uses imagery in the way he describes

the military men hanging Peyton Farquhar, as “staring stonily, motionless” and with the “butts of the rifles on the ground, the barrels inclining slightly backward against the right shoulder” (Bierce). This type of details adds depth and legitimacy, making the story feel more alive and thus more important.
Bierce uses imagery to his advantage not just to heighten intense scenes during his short story, but also to aid in character development with the uses of vivid details as well as use of omniscient third person point of view.

Bierce uses the imagery in such a way that the reader is able to visualize the events and easily connect with the main protagonist. Because of this technique, Bierce is able to connect the audience to his work to give it meaning. This is shown when Peyton Farquhar escapes hanging and tries to swim desperately to shore, “beat[ing] the water vigorously with quick, downward strokes” (Bierce). With this kind of imagery, Bierce is able to make the audience feel sympathy and an urgency for Peyton to escape, as well as envision the the cold, dark waters of the river “roaring like the voice of the Niagara” (Bierce). This use of imagery connects the audience into thinking what Bierce is trying to convey in his short

story.
Painting a picture with words is an important trait an author must possess to keep the reader’s attention as well as to convey a message. In this story, Bierce smoothly conveys the horrors of war and the effects it has on normal people; because of this, Bierce is able to get his audience to revaluate certain beliefs they once held. Bierce would not have been able to create this reaction in people without literary techniques, like imagery. In the end, literary techniques are so much more than a writing tool, but as a persuasion tactic that can sway a person’s own way of thinking.