How does the structure of "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” affect readers' understanding of the story?

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Bierce used the literary technique of flashback in his stories. When authors use flashbacks in their works, it can be difficult to keep track of the chronological order of the story's events. Ambrose Bierce uses flashbacks and flash-forwards in "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge.” In section 1 of the story, the reader sees a man on a bridge with a noose around his neck and surrounded by soldiers. It’s apparent that the soldiers aim to execute the man, but the reason for his execution is unknown, so some readers might sympathize with the man at this point. Section 2 uses a flashback and shows the circumstances leading to the man being on the verge of execution on the bridge. Readers now learn the man’s history and realize that it’s the man’s foolhardiness that got him into trouble. In section 3, the author uses a flash-forward but tricks the reader into believing that the events taking place are in the present. It's only at the end of the story that readers realize that the man on the bridge never escaped the noose around his neck.

The structure used in the story "The Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" was a flashback. Hence the chronology of the events was difficult to understand for the reader.

What is a flashback technique?

A flashback is a technique used in literary works such as stories in which events from the past are mentioned in between the current events. This affects the chronology of the events.

Flashbacks are difficult to understand for the reader. The chronology interruptions are not easy to crack.

In the story "The Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" the author used flashbacks in the middle of the story that the reader might find difficult to link at the end. For say, till the end, the reader didn't realize that the man on the bridge never escaped the noose.

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