Lesson Plans An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

He seems to greet his wife, but then feels a sharp blow on his neck, sees a blinking white light, and all falls to silence and darkness. The end of the story reveals that Farquhar's broken body is still swinging from the side of Owl Creek Bridge, where he died, after all. Civil War short stories genre, historic fiction in their realistic portrayal of actual events, soldiers, and battles. Since Bierce served in the War, he coupled his gifted writing abilities with his credible and dramatic stories that brought the complexities of war to life for his readers.

Defenders - A person must be willing to defend his way of life, culture, and family when threatened by an enemy-- the question is: Safety versus risk - Safety and home no action, assuming the role of "Copperhead" by refusing to fight is contrasted sharply with danger and fighting the enemy action, reckless vigilantism. Time - A constant theme Bierce uses throughout the story, both in the order of events we start the story with his hanging, then in the next section learn why is being hung. Time slows down the closer he comes to death at his hanging, Bierce takes a lot of time to describe every detail at the bridge, but in the second section, all the events leading up to that moment go by quickly.

Time relates to Farquahar's emotions. The "pendulum" represents the swing of his feelings from fear, grief, loss, love, courage to escape. It's a symbol of time pendulums can regulate clocks, like Farquhar's watch. Another prevailing theme Bierce uses to describe the river, Farquhar's emotions, and his lack of motion bound to be hanged , and his sudden and fateful motion falling from the bridge after his neck snaps and he's dead. Finally, his vision of his own escape, swimming and diving in the river dodging gunshots, then movement towards the vision of his wife.

Bierce describes the silence by amplifying certain sounds like the ticking of Farquhar's watch , the raging river, while the soldiers, guns and cannon remain silent. Sound plays a role again at the end: The comfort of the "White Light": Particularly in the face of certain death, we have the power to visualize our own escape to safety belief in the after-life or Heaven, inspite of the reality of what happened to our body on Earth.

Soldiers adhere to the military's rules of conduct for hanging an enemy; the rules also prescribe silence in honor of Death. Farquahar perceives his own duty or "rules" for defending the Confederacy.

Accessibility links

To better understand the historic context of the events during the Civil War leading up to this story, read about the specific Northern Alabama Civil War battles , review maps, and reminiscences of daily life on a Southern plantation during the War. The American Civil War is filled with stories of traitorous spies, or civilians caught and hung for their actions against the enemy. Spying in the Civil War.

President Lincoln imposed the Lieber Code in April of , which were instructions for how soldiers should conduct themselves in wartime, such as the ethical treatment of populations in occupied terrorities, prisoners of war, and the lawfulness of emancipating slaves. In Bierce's story, the Federal soldiers are complying with a strict code of conduct.

But his disobedient hands gave no heed to the command. He stands at the gate of his own home. All is as he left it, and all bright and beautiful in the morning sunshine. Ambrose Bierce was one of the only major author to see combat during the Civil War.

He served in the Ninth Regiment, Indiana Volunteers. What evidence can you provide that "he knows what he is talking about" in his telling of the story? Do you detect any bias in his writing, does his favor the Union over the Confederates, or is he seemingly impartial? How does Bierce's methodic writing style of providing detailed descriptions in a quiet, slow, suspenseful manner affect the reader? Provide examples like how he describes the rifles in "support" position, or the sound of his own watch ticking.

Describe Bierce's literary technique using foreshadowing and its effect of fully engaging his reader. What examples of military etiquette or rules of conduct are described in the story? Why are these important? What do the bridge and the fast-moving water below represent? Explain the symbolic meaning of the loose boards and "unsteady footing.

Explain what Farquhar's wife represents? Why does he reject what she represents in his reckless mission to suppress Union forces? Do we know whether Farquhar actually burned the bridge? Though we are told the Union scout planted the idea in Farquhar's mind to burn the bridge and then must have reported Farquar's betrayal which resulted in his sentence to be hanged, how do we know he actually committed the crime and deserves to be hanged? Provide a brief explanation of your answer. If students need it read aloud, they can use the video of the text being read on LearnZillion's website.

• Beyond Combat?
• Crochet Pattern Four Seasons CD Coasters PA978-R.
• Pursuing Peace.
• Hear to Believe?

The LearnZillion lesson inspiring this lesson flow can be found here. After reading the passage, students will write a one minute paper describing the setting of this story.

1. Lesson Plan - An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce.
2. Blurred Lines in "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge".
3. Négociateur au Raid (Documents) (French Edition).
4. Learning Objectives;
5. Google Plus First Look: a tip-packed, comprehensive look at Google+.

When the time is up, students will get into groups of and take turns sharing their responses with their group. Group members may ask questions about responses for clarification. Here is a great resource on how to do a close reading from Harvard College Writing Center. In groups of five, students will take turns sharing their one-minute paper with the other group members and ask questions if they need clarification. Students will be analyzing setting in the text and draw inferences. They will be using a T-chart to describe what parts of the setting are real and what parts are illusion?

Students may use the Guided Notes that accompanies this lesson if necessary.

Basic Summary

Available on the Learnzillion website. Choose a section of the text that describes the setting in great detail. Give students a choice to either do a Quickwrite or a Paper Slide Video for this activity. If students choose the paper slide video, they may use some of the illustrations from their sketchnote activity. Complete a quick write or create a paper slide video that answers the question: Be sure to provide supporting evidence from the text.

Digital responses may be submitted using Edmodo or the learning management system of your choice. Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text, including determining where the text leaves matters uncertain. My Grades 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, Objectives Amb rose Bierce's classic short story is one that can challenge today's students.

At the end of the lesson, students will be able to: Subjects English Language Arts.