Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 33 views

    Owl Time

    Uploaded by

    ram
    The document summarizes and analyzes the short story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek" in relation to the theme of time. It discusses how the main character, a soldier about to be hanged, perceives the passage of time. As he awaits death, time seems to speed up as he thinks of his life flashing before his eyes, but also slows down as the sounds of his execution are drawn out and painful. The document analyzes the soldier's changing perceptions and experiences of time as the story progresses and his death approaches.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Owl Time

    Uploaded by

    ram
    33 views5 pages
    The document summarizes and analyzes the short story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek" in relation to the theme of time. It discusses how the main character, a soldier about to be hanged, perceives the passage of time. As he awaits death, time seems to speed up as he thinks of his life flashing before his eyes, but also slows down as the sounds of his execution are drawn out and painful. The document analyzes the soldier's changing perceptions and experiences of time as the story progresses and his death approaches.

    Original Description:

    Owl Time (1)

    Original Title

    Owl Time (1)

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    The document summarizes and analyzes the short story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek" in relation to the theme of time. It discusses how the main character, a soldier about to be hanged, perceives the passage of time. As he awaits death, time seems to speed up as he thinks of his life flashing before his eyes, but also slows down as the sounds of his execution are drawn out and painful. The document analyzes the soldier's changing perceptions and experiences of time as the story progresses and his death approaches.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    33 views5 pages

    Owl Time

    Uploaded by

    ram
    The document summarizes and analyzes the short story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek" in relation to the theme of time. It discusses how the main character, a soldier about to be hanged, perceives the passage of time. As he awaits death, time seems to speed up as he thinks of his life flashing before his eyes, but also slows down as the sounds of his execution are drawn out and painful. The document analyzes the soldier's changing perceptions and experiences of time as the story progresses and his death approaches.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 5

    Running head: OWL TIME

    Owl Time
    Students Name
    Institutional Affiliation

    OWL TIME

    2
    Owl Time

    Time is the measurement of a concept that humans cannot see without the help of
    watches, clocks, the changing seasons, and the phases of the sun. The purpose of this essay is to
    identify the relative measure of time according to human perception in the short story An
    Occurrence at Owl Creek. The next section addresses a soldiers death and his perception of
    time.

    The Soldiers Death


    The first theme encountered centered on military justice. A crime was committed by a
    soldier and at this point he is about to be hanged with a hemp rope. There is a sense of honor in
    the air concerning death but only a certain kind of death. "Death is a dignitary who when he
    comes announced is to be received with formal manifestations of respect, even by those most
    familiar with him (Bierce, 2004)." Dignitaries are individuals that have high prestige and are
    revered by everyone. When these individuals come to visit the people who receive them are
    showed with honor and accolades. Something like bragging rights that they are the best at least
    for that fleeting moment in time.
    The solider about to be hanged is described in detail such as a straight nose and a
    moustache not whiskers. The author even included that the soldier did not look like "a vulgar
    assassin". Apparently, for the crimes committed by this solider the perception is given that he
    should look more sinister and he does not. The solider was a planter and according to the
    seasons time passes quickly during the spring and summer, while moving more slowing during
    the fall and winter. Waiting to die must have been both painful and exhilarating at the same time.
    Painful because there would be no future after this and exhilarating because time passed quickly

    OWL TIME

    as the soldiers life flashed before his eyes. The next section reveals the events going on around
    the solider before his death.

    The Death Proceedings


    As the solider waits for his death it is revealed that he is a pirate. Pirates are known for
    stealing, killing, and being rowdy overall. It is no wonder now why the solider will die. While
    waiting to die the solider describes his thoughts. "Striking through the thought of his dear ones
    was sound which he could neither ignore nor understand, a sharp, distinct, metallic percussion
    like the stroke of a blacksmith's hammer upon the anvil; it had the same ringing quality (Bierce,
    2004)." As death draws nearer the reality of leaving his family is becoming more rooted in his
    mind, undeniable and the striking sounds displayed as thoughts solidify this truth. It appears that
    death is taking a long time to come; however, the reality of leaving his family comes faster and
    faster.
    There is another instance during the pirate soldiers contemplation of leaving his family
    in death which caused more agony for him. "They hurt his earl like the trust of a knife; he feared
    he would shriek (Bierce, 2004)." The longer he has to wait to die the more painful the sound in
    his ears becomes, emphasized by what a knife can do to the body.

    Conclusion
    Death has its own rhythm which assailants between fast and slow. The swiftness is
    related to the thoughts of the individuals life before he or she dies. In this case it was the lives
    of the family members the pirate soldier would leave behind. At the same time the slow nature
    of death was that the actual environment around him appeared to be moving slow. It was almost
    like time was standing still for him. Time can also seem longer during torment. The soldier

    OWL TIME
    pirate described "the striking of a blacksmith's hammer", and "being hurt by a knife". The long
    these perceived pains endured the longer time seemed to drag on.

    OWL TIME

    5
    References

    Bierce, A. (2004). An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge. Retrieved Oct 4, 2013 from
    http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/Ambrose_Bierce/An_Occurrence_At_Owl_Creek_Bri
    dge/I_p1.html

    You might also like