English Prof Explains How U Tricked Yourself in Bierce's An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge Analysis

Arguably, despite being given the information we need in order to understand what's really happening to Peyton Fahrquhar, readers dupe themselves by adopting Fahrquhar's romantic, outlandish, and ludicrous dreams of being a hero. In this video, English professor, Dr. Whitney Kosters, demonstrates how this can happen so easily, focusing on narrative shifts, character analysis, techniques like stream of consciousness, and irony. A short summary of the story is included, as well as some historical context.
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[@user-gj8ri5rv6w]

This story totally pulled the wool over my eyes. And I loved every minute of it.

[@drwhitneykosters]

You’re not the only one!

[@HovikG.]

I found this story to be quite a shocking one after not knowing what was to come from the title. The lecture did clear up a few things that I found a little confusing. From the different perspectives and overall general meaning behind what the story was about. Professor Kosters, I also liked how you emphasized how surreal the death of the character was from the story and how the author shows this to us with detail with every awakening step right up to the death of the character.

[@isissoriano6533]

This story was so confusing to me at first. I had to reread some parts of the story and I honestly didn't know what to except. Peyton Farquhar seemed like a stuck up person who lives in a bubble thinking that being at war and becoming a war hero is such an amazing achievement. In reality no one sees it that way. Being in a war is scary theres so many deaths and innocent people getting hurt/killed. At the end, I thought that he would have survived. Thank you Dr.Kosters for explaining this story and going into depth! It was very helpful.

[@drwhitneykosters]

Thanks for sharing!

[@gvg.8785]

The ending, I can relate this story to different events that I have seen in my life about people who have suffered accidents, and it is not until they say goodbye to their families that their souls finally leave this world. The entire story can be perceived as either heroic or loving, regardless of whether the victim supports the northern or southern government. However, he is a person who fights until the end to see his family for the last time. I lean more towards the fact that it represents a love story.

[@drwhitneykosters]

Great insight! Thanks for sharing.

[@Joseph66678]

For me, although there wasn’t nearly enough of a description for Peyton there is an obvious sense of hopelessness when reading upon his actions. I was angry at the actions portrayed and developed a sense of distain for him as well, deserving of his punishment. As I learned more about him as well my distain intensified when reading about his actions but also I had a bit of confusion as to who was telling the truth. The end of the story for me was intense and reminded me a lot of this movie called Enter The Void in which you follow the main character as he experiences death, it was very captivating and surreal at the same time. The responsibility is of the reader is to throughly comprehend the words you’re readying, to conclude yourself if the characters actions are justified. In such a story we can oftentimes be mislead by the perceptions of others, people telling the story in an effort to change our minds, we must piece together our own conclusions in what lies before us.

[@drwhitneykosters]

Great thoughts!

[@alicabal7203]

This story might be one of my new favorites from this semester. At first, I believed he actually was able to escape. I personally know of someone who, unfortunately, attempted to take their own life in the same way Peyton almost lost his. In my friend's situation, his rope actually snapped, so I believed it could have been the same situation with Peyton at the beginning of the story. I think I was able to understand the fact that he was hallucinating during the times between the fall and his actual death at the end but I had a hard time figuring out what the moral of the story actually was. After watching the lecture, it makes a lot more sense. I understand now that what people may see as an escape or rescue from something can be nothing short of an illusion before actually facing an outcome that can be inevitable.

[@drwhitneykosters]

It’s a really well written story, right?!

[@danyaslife96]

I found the events of death very interesting in this story. It was very surreal how important and relevant the event of death is in the story and the impact it had on the families. It was also interesting how government is tied into the story. Yet the love all the character have for their families really sticks out and how they fight for them as well.

[@drwhitneykosters]

Surreal is a great word to use to describe this story.

[@VallerieFlores]

This was a very intense story for me. I had a family member take their own life the same way Peyton almost lost his. One of the main theme’s in the story is definitely death. We as readers learn how relevant Peyton’s event of his near death experience is. The first time reading this story, I was a bit confused as to why he was hallucinating until I realized that it was between the time the rope was off from around his neck to the time of him falling to the ground. This lecture helped me better understand what the main character was going through and what elements of the story I am missing. I think this story is by far one of the most powerful stories I have read this semester. It’s gives a mixed range of emotions and also an eerie feeling.

[@drwhitneykosters]

Glad the lecture helped!

[@clairebug]

What a wild roller coaster of a story. I definitely needed the lecture to tell me what was going on because I would NOT be able to figure it out. Ambrose Bierce's magic tricks are too strong for me. But what struck me as the most interesting was Bierce's quote that you included in the beginning, about "bad readers" who don't critically parse the words that they consume, and instead "take whatever is put before them" like slop-fed pigs. Not to sound pessimistic but isn't that what's happening a LOT more frequently in today's day and age? I feel like media literacy has been on a steep downward decline. I feel like I see a lot more people on social media who consume art without really absorbing the meaning. The famous meme that goes around whenever someone tries to analyze art is; "Why did the author make the curtains blue? Because they wanted them to be blue. No other reason." People chastise others, saying "it's not that deep." There is a sad thing happening to people's relationship with art.

[@drwhitneykosters]

Um, yes, absolutely! In fact, I’m teaching about media literacy and responsible research right now. We all need it direly!

[@alyssalopez5823]

This story was amazing in how it illustrates courage as admitting fear rather than wishing it away and the impermanence of time. The man's senses heightened as he struggled to accept his fate as his body went into fight or flight mode. Though he wasn't successful, I thought it was clever how he imagined his getaway, and I believe that shows how many of us look for ways to escape reality, just as he did. As I would, he thought of his family, but this story caught my attention and got me to thinking about a person's final thoughts before passing away.

[@drwhitneykosters]

Is it clever or simply arrogant?

[@betzyy]

I can't deny that I was tricked when reading this story. I allowed myself to get caught up with the Fahrquhar imaginary narrative. After finishing the story and watching the lecture, I kept thinking to myself how I let myself get tricked. Even if I wasn't able to follow along with the hints that it was all in his mind, I should've seen that some of the events happening are hard to believe even by themselves. For example, escaping from the noose and surviving a long plunge into a moving stream to eventually dodge and survive bullets. Hard to believe that could ever happen, but I did believe it at first! The first time reading this story, the ending caught me by a total surprise. Reading this story has allowed me to realize that it is the readers responsibility to not be misled, in this story specifically the author provided us with all the information we need to not be tricked, however us as readers look past those. It is important that we take a look at even the smallest of details in order to understand the story correctly. I really enjoyed this story and lecture, thank you!

[@drwhitneykosters]

Yes, we all have to be more careful readers!

[@juniorreyes6368]

Thank you for this lecture. After reading this story, I was a bit confused based on the narrative that was being conducted. This story was definitely interesting based on the perspectives it was being told through, and the expectations that readers get based on the reading. From the neurological perspective, I think it is interesting how the brain can produce certain scenarios moments before death. It truly reflects the actions and thoughts being accounted by Fahrquhar from moment up until his death.

[@drwhitneykosters]

It’s amazing what the body and brain do under traumatic circumstances.

[@daneeklund6822]

From just reading the title I was skeptic of what this was going to be about, I was truly not expecting such a narrative masterpiece. I will say, much of an agreement from my classmates as well, that the story itself lost me at a few points but I was able to reconnect with the story by watching the lecture...it really helped. While the depiction of the author Peyton lacks adequate detail for my style of writing, his actions evoke an unmistakable sense of emotion especially, despair. Being able to "witness" his deeds stirred anger and a growing disdain, leading me to perceive his punishment as fitting was truly interesting. As I delved deeper into his character, my disdain heightened, accompanied by a degree of perplexity regarding the veracity of the accounts presented. The story's conclusion, for me, carried an intense quality, reminiscent of the film "Enter The Void," where the protagonist navigates the experience of death, creating a captivating and surreal atmosphere. It underscored the reader's responsibility to meticulously grasp the narrative's nuances, allowing them to independently assess the justifiability of the characters' actions.

[@drwhitneykosters]

Yes, I think Bierce definitely forces us to recognize the integral role that we have as readers.

[@gvg.8785]

From the beginning of the story, the narrator does not describe the main character in detail and what it means to him to be there. Still, the scene and the suspense of a normal beheading that could occur during the civil war becomes very intense and moving when the narrator begins to describe why the victim makes everything possible to escape. Every bullet Farquhar dodges is after thinking about his wife. For me, the story's climax is the most important after knowing the ending, since the victim finds even more strength than his body could resist just by imagining seeing his wife face to face again. As a reader, it was a little tricky for me to understand each part because the story explains every detail, both about the person and the surroundings of each scene, which led me to read many paragraphs twice, and each time I read it, I found more details which helped me create a complete set of the stage. For me, the story was very creative and emotionally deep.

[@drwhitneykosters]

Thanks for sharing!

[@thedarknessunderneathpodca6366]

I still remember seeing this on Twilight Zone in high school back in the 90s

[@drwhitneykosters]

Really?! I didn’t know that, but I do know that this has been used over and over in popular culture since the publication of this story. Thanks so much for watching and sharing your thoughts!

[@thedarknessunderneathpodca6366]

@@drwhitneykosters yeah, you got a great channel going. Always a pleasure.

[@thedarknessunderneathpodca6366]

Crane, who wrote the poem there is a man on the stair? Love that poem.

[@drwhitneykosters]

Hughes Mearns, I think!

[@ianhamilton2035]

I was 12, (1974), a 5th grade teacher would read the last 15min of class everyday. She read this and I was blown away! I was so mad he didn't make it! As I grew older, I began to realize, that to me, the theme is that you can believe and hope that everything will be ok, but that sometimes in reality it isn't, no matter what you do! Damn.....

[@drwhitneykosters]

Isn’t it terrifying?! Also, what a great way to read this story to students!

[@mug7546]

I find it so interesting that we follow the story of a man technically on the wrong side of history, Peyton has done awful and terrible things that we can assume, and yet we still are concerned for him and are shocked when he doesn't reach this dream of his at the end of it. It's a kick in the face and can further show that he can have these fantasies and continue prolonging the inevitable, but salvation will always be just out of reach.

[@drwhitneykosters]

Thanks for sharing!

[@XxGibleRSxX]

As like many others who have attempted to read and interpret this story, I was very confused initially and it took me a few re reads and going back to to understand. To say it was shocking would be an understatement after discovering that Peyton actually died on the bridge much earlier as opposed to at the very end. I can relate it most to the saying of “Our lives flash before our eyes” just as we are close to death or being incapacitated. Though Peyton wasn’t necessarily recalling memories he is imagining and having vivid descriptions of things that aren’t real.

[@drwhitneykosters]

Thanks for sharing!

[@A-Dash315]

If any story was the abolsute example of hubris it is this story. The "adventure" of Peyton Fahrquhar is both hilarious and tragic at the same time. His Indiana Jones-eque adventure being cut short at the end with his hanging body was both hilarious and depressing. The fact this was written by a former civil war veteran who made it as a crique to upper class men glorifying war as heroic really makes this story hit harder and better, it is understandable why Ambrose Bierce would write a story were a man like that gets a real taste for "heroic" warfare.

[@drwhitneykosters]

Great comment. You’re right. Fahrquhar is absolutely hubristic and a highly problematic character for Bierce.

[@kaylaL180]

To be quite honest, this story had me confused for quite some time. It wasn't until I watched the lecture that I was able to grasp the idea concerning it. In terms of Peyton Fahrquar, I didn’t really have a reaction towards him. The main thought I had was just reading about his escape. I feel like it was such an intense adventure that it was easy to get caught up in the story. My feelings toward his character were neutral, but the destination of his journey caught my attention the most. I was wondering about what his next move would be or where he would go to escape. With that being said, the ending thoroughly surprised me because I thought he actually did escape. The ending felt like a reality check because it brought one back to the beginning as if no time had passed from the first page to the last. In terms of the reader’s responsibility, the reader should not be so easily misguided and should be more attentive to the details of the text. As you mentioned in your lecture, there were many signs that told the reader the truth of the story. Unfortunately, I did not do a good job as a reader because I failed to recognize the hints. With that being said, I think this highlights how great of an author Bierce is. Authors often want to create vivid worlds and imagery where the readers are not able to discern the difference from what they are reading to reality. Overall, this story was very interesting and mentally engaging.

[@drwhitneykosters]

Bierce is an excellent writer, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t a good reader! Falling for the trick is what makes the story so good, right?!

[@ashleygharbi]

Wow, this story was very interesting for me. One of the most interesting aspects of the story for me was Farquhar's desperate attempt to escape his fate and how he came back to reality about his execution. I believe this strengthens the story's theme and in a way leaves room for the readers to interpurt the story in many ways. As stated in the lecture video, it's most important for a reader to be able to analyze a story on their own. Also, the story's theme of death and suffering is reflected through Farquhar's attempt to escape his fate and what occurs as he is moments away from his death. Overall, I really enjoyed this story.

[@drwhitneykosters]

It was a pretty unique narrative for its time.

[@vickyperez3602]

This story had me in a world wind of emotions. I did not really like the main character throughout the story it was very fascinating seeing him invision his freedom but it really ticked me off how little he tried if you are already sentenced to death why not try to escape. The ending really surprised me it had me fooled I genuinely thought it was actually occuring just to be surprised by the fact he was hung so it was all a reverie, that made me quite sad because it is a nice thought that never happened. I thought his character was very family oriented which I liked it showed how much he loved his wife and kids even in his final moments he was thinking about being in her arms. I believe the responsibility of the reader is to captivate the meaning of the story in their own way and try to find deeper explanation to what is written. There is many things in the story that can be interpretted in several ways and the explicit details of the surrounding really helped invison the scenery almost as if you were there.

[@drwhitneykosters]

Thanks for sharing!

[@Elk1112]

I was really confused when I read the story. It seemed like he was dying then got out, but it didn’t make sense. Once I watched this lecture, it helped me realize that Peyton did in fact die, and that his ability to free himself was either after his death (his soul making peace by freeing himself to see his family in his mind) or the last bit of his brain functioning before it died from oxygen deprivation. The other thing I would like to say is that Peyton Fahrquhar really speaks to us as a human being. He will do anything to be different and “special”. He wants to be noticed and is willing to die to be in the spotlight for even a short time. I believe this attention-seeking behavior that some people have stems off of greed. It would make sense for Peyton as he seems to envy the attention those in the war got, even the ones who died.

[@drwhitneykosters]

Yes, his feelings are certainly not unique!

[@Kiskitaa]

I felt like I could relate to Farquhar throughout the story in some aspects. He seems like a person that was highly devoted to his cause. I see him no different than any highly religious person devoted to their fate today. The difference being here that he attempted to burn a union bridge down. This is not okay, just like any extreme today. Good or bad. The point I'm trying to make is that Farquhar can symbolize the extremes of human devotion/belief but still be like everyone else in that when we face our end, we all have a longing for comfort and warmth through what warms our heart, our loved ones; a universal human desire. Farquhar believed he was doing "good" and being righteous while to others he was evil and deserving of his fate; an imposter to those who have actually fought in war, a disgrace, an embarrassment. But Farquhar was doing what he thought was acceptable, his intentions weren't evil. I was not surprised by the ending because all he was mentioning seemed like a dream. It sounded so improbable, like his mind must've been playing a trick on him and it was. In the end he was like everyone else (with a capacity to feel warmth and love) and as a reader I think we are responsible for seeing the protagonist under a different light versus the little background information given.

[@drwhitneykosters]

Thanks for sharing!

[@elenafarhanifar9841]

When I read this story for the first time, I thought how stupid is was of him to return home when he clearly knows the soldiers are looking for him. I thought the last place he could go to hide should be his home and it was not a very smart of him. Then when he got home and "died" in his wife's embrace, I thought it must be the soldiers that shot him to his death when he returned home but realizing that he had died on the bridge was really a twist. I was definitely tricked hence the lecture title.

[@drwhitneykosters]

You weren’t the only one!

[@frolik8187]

In Ambrose Bierce's "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge", it is a story that can easily deceive your eyes if you do not read carefully through the lines. Perhaps Descartes was right when he said that our senses deceive us because when we set our eyes upon this story to read it, we may read past it and think that Farquhar actually makes it out alive when in fact he doesn't. When I first read this story I to was duped from the start until the end. I feel it is impossible to know from the beginning that it is all just a strange, big, fictional heroic fantasy in Peyton Farquhar's head since this is a story that grips you right off the bat with no seatbelt! Just us the readers full throttle alongside Peyton in hopes that all ends well with him. Throughout the story I felt that Peyton Farquhar was actually going to make it because everything was going so well for him even though Ambrose Bierce laid hints that Farquhar was as good as dead from the start. In addition to me having hope for Farquhar throughout the story in him making it out alive, I never at all felt as if it was all fake. I was hooked from the start because it has such a gripping, fast narrative that it makes us the readers skip over certain real-world parts. For me personally, the end of Bierce's story left me in disbelief and in confusion because I felt as if Farquhar actually did make it out alive and was about to embrace his wife's arms. I genuinely felt there was going to be a good ending for Farquhar but then it had to come crashing down and end very anti-climactically and shockingly. It's almost as if the end of the story left me with the impression that a theme in this story is that death is certain and inevitable, and no matter what we do to try and avoid it, we still end up ceasing to exist. I feel that the responsibility of the reader is to pay attention to what is literally written and not on what is being said. When we read, we the readers usually imagine what is being written, but for this story in particular, we must not do so because then we run the risk of interpreting the story incorrectly as to how the character wants us to depict it with them rather than on how the writer themselves wants us to read it. But at the end of the day, our responsibility as readers when it comes to reading this story or any book should not be enforced by others because once a literary text is in our hands, it DOES NOT MATTER what the author thinks since, as Roland Barthes said, "The birth of the reader must be at the cost of the death of the Author." This was a story that made me rethink how to read a story because I never once could have guessed that what I was reading was never real! Thank you once again for helping those like us in pursuit of knowledge Professor Kosters!

[@drwhitneykosters]

Really insightful thoughts, as always!

[@KathrynKruger-id3bl]

Haunting!

[@drwhitneykosters]

Yes! I categorize this story as horror.

[@jayp3267]

Tricked!

[@drwhitneykosters]

Many people are!