Owl+Creek+Bridge+Part+I

This first part of the story was not very exciting at all. Bierce focused too much on describing the scene and the people in it. In fact almost all of this portion was description. I am not saying that description is a bad thing, but too much of it will quickly bore readers. So far in this story, there was way too much description. I was bored after the first two or three paragraphs. Towards the end, however, Bierce did break away from the description in order prepare the reader for the next part of the story. Hopefully the next part will be more exciting, because if I want to stand a chance at liking a story, there has to be a good action scene or two. One thing I did like though, was the suspense created at the end of this part. Bierce seems to just cut the story off in order to build up the suspense. He definitely made the right decision in doing so. So far, I do not like this story, but it might get more exciting in part II. I am definitely crossing my fingers for more excitement.1204153688

I completely disagree because i thought the 1st part was really good and descripted. I liked how it came out with it right away and said that the guy was being executed. I like the description and how it explains the scenario. I felt like i was actually there when this was about to take place. It told us his hands were tied behind his back as if he were a fugitive and that gave it away that the poor guy was going to get hung and killed. It explained the guardes and how they were as still as statues. I liked how it emphasized the smallest details like how the rope was rapped around his neck and was hanging so when they pushed him off or he jumped off it would be like bungy jumping. Except he was going to die no matter what, and if i were that guy i do not know what i would do. 1204166500

Within the first couple of lines in this story, i was able to get the picture that someone was soon going to be killed and hanged. From what I could take from the first 3 sentences, I felt that an accurate conclusion of the tale could be drawn. The man would be pushed off of the railroad bridge, and the rope tied around his throat would kill him rather instantly. Moving through the story, Bierce explains in detail the appearance of the soldiers present at the execution scene. He uses words and a sense of imagery for the audience to get a clear depiction of what the authoritative people look like. I think that the author of the entry uses this type of writing to stress the important role that these important people had during this time in history. 1204173604

i liked the first part of the story because of all th description, it really put you in the seat of Farquahr. it showed that he was lookinjg at things and focusing on thing that you would never really see unless you were i his postion. i normally like stories that have great description in them, unless they are in some boring town or it's describing a person, but i really think that this is a good starting point because it is a cool setting. on top of a bridge with a ton of guys watching you die, wow. i thought the setting was really cool just because it was different but at the same time the same thing. it is placed in a time where alot of stories come from, but in a different spots from that time era. i just really ,liked the setting and how Bierece described the whole thing. about the board and the bridge, i just eally liked the first part of the story.

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I have to disagre with psa. I was hanging on Bierce's every word. I think that his amount of description was perfect because it got the reader really familiar with what he was trying to say. I thought that it was important to go into that much detail about everything so the reader can understand everything about the setting and story. The part I especially liked was when he describes the man's last thoughts before being hanged. I thought that he did a pretty good job of doing so, considering he has never experienced being ghanged before. I thought that it was interesting how the man kept getting distracted by the raging water below him instead of thinking about his wife and kids in his last moments of being alive. Then, I thought that he did a pretty good job of discribing how his ticking watch was driving him insane for a few minutes. I believe that that part shows how scared and helpless a human can be when they have no control over their fate or destiny- like the man is right now in the very last seconds of his life. Bierce was also very clever in not telling us why the man was being hanged until Part II. This kept me even more interested in what I was reading because I wanted to know so badly why this guy was being hanged- especially because Bierce described this man as appearing to be innocent. 1204243595

I found this poem rather intriguing in many ways. It kept me guessing in hopes of what might've happened to the main character. I wanted to know if he were to live or not. Throughout this poem, I see that not only is he getting killed but it's in the time of the Civil War. A **lot** of people were being killed and I find it interesting how such a story like this one, could bring out the raw emotions that were displayed among this sad death. I'm not gonna lie, before I read the whole reading I looked at the last part of Part III, just to see if he'd live. Once I saw that he died, I just realized how cruel and so wrong this all was. And, what's even more sad is the fact of how he tried to block this all out of his mind while thinking about his family such as his wife and kids. To know that he was leaving them behind was so sad. Especially since it was the last moments of his life, and to be spent while being hung is anything but right.1204250356

Part One of this story just basicly just tells you that this man, around 35 years of age, is about to die by being hung. I like how the author gave such description in the telling of the scene on the railroad bridge. I felt like I knew exactly where this place was, what it looked like and how the man was tied up. I also like how the author wrote about the mans last thoughts before he was about to die. I don't even know what I would be thinking of if I were in that postion. So many things would be racing through my mind I don't think I would be able to even process what would be about to happen. The part where time is going by so slowly for him was one of my favorite parts of the story. I didn't really understand it until Brother Tom explained it though. Everything that is happening to the man is all in a short amount of time, but for him, in his own mind, it is taking forever. (Kind of like when I want class to be over, it only takes longer!) I thought it was weird that you do not find out why he is in this position until Part two. 1204253032KCa

This was definently one of my favorite stories from this year so far. I thought that this first part was really well written and the most necessary part of the story. It set the scene for the rest of this very intriguing story. I thought that the description the author wrote about the situatation. If i were to be on the gallows i imagine these would be the feelings that would be running though me. the descriptions of the way everything around the character was changing in his eyes. like the time slowing down. he was also having crazy thoughts about being able to escape when it was obvious he would never be able to. I belive these are very likely things to happen to a person looking into their near future death. i thought this part set the stage for a very good story. 1204253813

I liked this first part of the story because it was not dragging on and it got to the point. It did have a lot of detail but it helped set up the setting which helped me understand it. I like that it was about the hanging of someone and not a shooting because a hanging is more respectful to the person and the people hanging him. This would show the reader that the Union soldiers were humane instead of just shooting the man which would be inhumane because the man, Peyton, did not have anything to harm them with. This was a well written beginning of this story.

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The first of lines in this story were very discriptive along with the whole story. I felt like a witness to the execution, I picture that someone was soon going to be hung. After reading the first part I felt like the story was about the brigde and that Farquar was just a witness to the story. I didn't know that he was the main charactor. It was a creative way on how to hang him. Br. Tom had to explain what he was going to be killed by. The main charator even seemed interested of the idea they had because he was looking around wondering. Moving through the story, he explains in very detailed words the execution scene. He talks about time slowing down and how he is just thinking of his family. 1204311201

I thought that this first part of the story was quite interesting. It was very simple, but because of the lack of information it was tough to see where the author was going. He does an excellent job of setting the scene and making us understand what it would have been like to be there. When i read this story i felt so involved that it seemed almost as though i was sitting on the front porch sipping sweet tea. The fine attention to detail makes this story fun to read, without it it wouldnt made any sense. Overall great storymme

I liked the first part of the story. With out it the story would have never worked or came together like it did. There is a tremendous amount of detail in the first part of the story. Ambrose could be considered a painter for the image that he instills in our heads. Not only that, he took upon the task of trying to describe something indescribable. How could anyone possibly ever know what it is like to be hung or know that death is shortly awaiting unless you are put into the situation yourself. Ambrose Bierce did take a good stab at describing the event though. You could almost feel it yourself as if you where their and where Farquhar completely helpless. You can put, yourself in his place and think about what you think you would think about before your death, your family, your life, an afterlife etc. But then Farquhar also thinks of trying to escape his death, maybe he can run from death, maybe death isn’t as close as he thinks. Its all very interesting for such an old story, you could practically make a movie on it.1205093004

I think that the first part to this story was very suspencfull. I think this because you basically know in the very beginning that the main character is going to be hanged. You know from the very beginning that it is going it happen and that it is just a matter of time. All of the details in this helped give me a mental picture of everything that was going ot happen and the settin go fthe scene. These are the types of stories that i love reading. I love the extra detail so that you give each character and each setting a place in your mind and you think you know what they look like. The only down side to the detail is when the details are in the story to just give it more placing. That is one thing that annoys me, when you are trying ot read the story and all of this extra information is in there and you don't need it at all. Overall, i really thought the first part of the story was so good and setting the scene for a great second part!1205098440ape2

Ambrose Hooked me from the very begining. He got me on the edge of my seat waiting to here what was going to happen next. He just goes into such detail and its almost like you are standing right along side the railway watching this man in the middle of the bridge with people around you. I mean he gets in to detail about what the men are carrying and about there guns. He got into detail about how the barralls are standing and the behavoir of everyone. Right of the bat he hits you with entertainment and suspense. He really grabs everyones attetion and you know your in for a treat when you start reading. The topic he rights about is always intersting to its not often you here about the preperation for a execution. Im litterly Amrbose makes it seem like you are there telling the story everything is so vivid and clear. Ambrose talks about how he closes his eyes just to see his children and wife. I just feel in love with this story becuase of the way The author throws everything at you and really sucks you into everything that is happening. 1205190437Ale2

I think that the first part of the story I thought to be very suspenseful and interesting. In the first few lines it paints a picture in my head of what this would look like. I see a man who is on a plank type object about to be hanged. You know that it is going to happen but it is all a matter of time before the plank is dropped and then he has then taken his last breath. There were and incredible amount of details in the story which really gave me the feeling like I was watching this with my own eyes. These types of stories are my favorite because you can’t wait to get to the next part. Overall I really like part one and can’t wait to get to part two. 1205206637

I liked the first part of this story because it seemed like I was there with them, watching this happen. It was described in great detail, that it was very easy to understand. In the story it talks about how the death of this man is so final, that they need to carefully prepare for it because there is no room for mistake. I also thought that this part of the story was sad because while the man is waiting to be hanged, he thinks of his wife and family. He is going over in his head the things he will no longer have. I think while he is waiting for the man to step off the plank, he is so focused he forgets about what is happening in reality, and thinks about the things that he once had and enjoyed, and for a man to think about all that, right about when he is going to be hanged, is very courageous. 1205258707

I thought that the first of lines in this story were very descriptive along with the whole story in general. I felt like I was a witness to the execution, in my mind I picture that someone was soon going to be hung. After reading the first part I felt like the story was about the brigde and that Farquar was just a witness to the story. I didn't know that he was the main character either. It was a creative way on how to hang him. The main charater even seemed interested of the idea they had because he was looking around wondering. Moving through the story, he explains in very detailed words the execution scene. He talks about time slowing down and how he is just thinking of his family. 1205366199

I agree with dte, I also thought that the whole story was descriptive. It was as if I was there watching this being hung, I actually pictured him on the bridge being put into the noose and everything. When I read the first part of this story I wasn't sure what was going on in it, was it about farquar or the union soldiers or the bridge. I wasn't sure who the main character was either; I also thought that what they did to hang him was unique. It also was as if farquar was interested in the way he was being hung, he was looking around and stuff. After getting through the story he starts to explain the hanging in great detail. But when he starts to get hung he says that time slows down and starts thinking of his family and that kind of confused me. 1205369407

I think that the begining of this story was detailed and that an author does have to be carefull with how much detail they put into a story because that can easly make the reader bored and lose interest in the book. But for this particular story, I think that the details were almost needed so that way we could get the full impact of the story. If the author didn't put as much detail into the story like he did then we wouldn't some things that will help out the reader at a later point in time. But at the same time I think at times it does seem like all he did was ramble on about the same thing and it did make you want to fall asleep. Overall, I think that this story almost is one of those stories that needs to be detailed so that way you get the whole affect. 1205468974