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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the man wearing?

2. Who are the spectators for the execution?

3. Which of the following does NOT describe the condemned man?

4. Where are the spectators located?

5. Who stands with the spectators?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is the condemned man not a typical hanging victim?

2. What is the point of view used by the author in Part 2 and how can you determine that.

3. How does Part 2 help to fill in some information regarding the crime for which Peyton is to be hanged as learned in Part 1?

4. How can Peyton's devotion to the Southern cause be identified?

5. What idea does the soldier offer up on how a person could accomplish something regarding the destruction of the bridge?

6. What does the condemned man think of while closing his eyes and what breaks his concentration?

7. What is unexpected about the condemned man's appearance?

8. Who s present as spectators of the event and how do they conduct themselves?

9. What is known about Peyton's allegiance to the Confederate cause?

10. What does Peyton think has happened when everything goes cold and dark?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

AN OCCURRENCE AT OWL CREEK BRIDGE is a classic escape from reality story. What does that classification entail? Why does this story fit into this category?

Essay Topic 2

Denial takes on an almost human persona in this story. What is this literary technique called? Cite examples that support this position.

Essay Topic 3

Describe the overall setting for the story. Why does Bierce use the setting he does? What is the time period of the story? How important is the time period to the attitudes and issues of the characters?

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This section contains 676 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample