Realism in An Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge

Realism is defined as Born out of the ideas of the romantic novel but infused with concrete details and accurate descriptions of society, the characters of realist fiction are drawn from the events and contexts of modern life and face everyday obstacles (Diamond.) In An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge realism is the main literary genre of the story and it’s characteristics are prevalent throughout the story.
Several characteristics of the novel demonstrate it’s realistic influence and draw. The characteristics the primarily demonstrate it’s realism are it’s setting, it’s characters, and the conflict the protagonist encounters in his time during the novel.
The main character Fahrquhar is a southern sympathizer during the Civil War who is attempting to help the Confederacy by burning down a railroad bridge at Owl Creek. The south constantly fought with Guerrilla warfare against their more powerful Northern opponents. The nationalism in the South was rampant and southern farmers were fighting for their right to slavery and their land, as well as their right to be their own nation so it was a much more urgent war for them. Due to this they were constantly using covert tactics to sabotage Northern efforts in the war. In this line from the story by Bierce Fahrquhar hatches his plan to sabotage the bridge to assist union troops as evidenced by these lines from the story, “How far is it to the Owl Creek bridge?" Fahrquhar asked. “About thirty miles." "Is there no force on this side of the creek?" "Only a picket post half a mile out, on the railroad, and a single sentinel at this end of the bridge." "Suppose a man -- a civilian and student of hanging -- should elude the picket post and perhaps get the better of the sentinel," said Fahrquhar, smiling, "what could he accomplish?" The soldier reflected. "I was there a month ago," he replied. "I observed that the flood of last winter had lodged a great quantity of driftwood against the wooden pier at this end of the bridge. It is now dry and would burn like tinder." In this small excerpt the reader sees Fahrquhar begin to probe for evidence of the bridge so he may destroy it.
This goal of Fahrquhar reveals his loyal and devoted character and gives him validity as a real person, as the author gives him real characteristics that flesh out his character. His issues and dilemmas are human and relevant to the time period because he is trying to assist his nation and help the greater good in his eyes. This type of quality is very human and exposes the realistic nature of the character which in turn provides realism for the story bunching it in with other romantic stories of the time.
The issues dealt with, the setting, and the character of Fahrquhar in the short story all lend themselves to the stories realistic nature and group it into the realism group due to it's similar qualities to other realistic works and the definition of realism.






Diamond, Marie Josephine, ed. "realism." Encyclopedia of World Writers, 19th and 20th Centuries. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2003. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= GEWW480&SingleRecord=True (accessed January 18, 2011).

Bierce, Ambrose. "An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge, by Ambrose Bierce; I Page 1." Page By Page Books. Read Classic Books Online, Free. Web. 18 Jan. 2011. .