An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce Bierce employs powerful imagery, foreshadowing. characterization and arrangement to create suspense.

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Learning Goals: 

• how authors develop suspense through arrangement, foreshadowing, allusion, rising action, and the manipulation of readers’ perceptions of the protagonist;
• how readers can discern an author’s point of view by examining motifs: diction, imagery and plot elements;
• how authors can manipulate time;
• how authors can use imagery along with plot elements as means of foreshadowing;
• why archaic word connotations should not be overlooked;
• how to identify key words in writing prompts.

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce (pdf file)
The complete text of the story

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge Analytical Questions (pdf file)
These questions should guide you through the story and help you prepare for the literary analysis assignment.

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge Literary Analysis (pdf file)
You will compose a well-written essay on one of three prompts.

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