An Occurence at Owl Creek

"An Occurrence at Owl Creek", by Ambrose Bierce, is a work of realism in many ways. Its keen attention to detail, at times excessive, gives it an obvious sense of realism, since so many realist works include such detail. This detail comes from the meticulous description of Peyton, with the rope around his neck, the flight of soldiers at parade rest, the bridge on which the executioner and his protege wait, just to name a few of the scenes that Ambrose paints with his use of descriptive writing. Although his attention to the smallest, and seemingly unimportant, details could be seen as unnecessary, it helps the reader to visualize, in vivid detail, how it feels to be hanged, be shot at, lied to, and in the end what it feels like to die. All of these details are a calling card of a realist work.
Bierce also includes many details of Peyton's home life. His wife and children flash into his mind at one point before he is hanged. Ambrose also includes the explanation of why a man would do what Peyton did. Because he was tricked into it, the author gives the reader a reason to be sympathetic towards the executed man. His brief thought of his children and wife, possibly his last thought, before his execution also helps to build sympathy.
Bierce writes in vernacular throughout his prose. This enhances the feeling of realism in the story. It highlights the fact that Peyton, the center of focus, is just a normal guy, although maybe a little delusional. He, Bierce, doesn't try to sound fancy highly educated in his writing. He writes it as it would be said. That Bierce writes in natural vernacular is one more reason that this is a work of realism.
The story reads as if it is a non-fiction work, although it is not. Although the details may not have been the same, the background of the story, extremely patriotic saboteur takes it upon himself to help his nation by destroying something of significance gets caught and then executed, has very likely happened at some point, even during the Civil War. The Federal Army would have, almost certainly, run into other zealots who though they were defending the Southern Confederacy. Although it is rarely practiced today, and never from a bridge, there are still a select few who are executed in today's world. It is still not nearly as common place as it would have been during the Civil War and the years before. Had the Union not pardoned so many Confederates, the hangings would have been in the hundreds.
Ambrose makes few inputs and does not include any kind of narration throughout the story. There are no interruptions during the story, which, according to the book, is a characteristic of realism. This is another reason why this short story is a work of the realism literary period.
"An Occurrence at Owl Creek" is an obvious product of realism. Throughout the story the author uses an extraordinary amount of detail, has no narration or interruptions, uses natural vernacular and excludes any fancy language, could have happened at some point during the Civil War, and also excludes any thoughts that would point towards the authors point of view. All of these are characteristics of realism.

"An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge, by Ambrose Bierce; I Page 1." Page By Page Books. Read Classic Books Online, Free. 2004. Web. 19 Jan. 2011. .