I enjoyed reading the story that captivated and mesmerized its audience; pushing them into the world they create for their characters. The story is set on a railroad bridge in northern Alabama during the American Civil War. The Civil War began due to intransigent differences between the free and slave states. Peyton Fahrquhar, a slave owner, is the main character in this tale. In the short story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce, the author creates an entertaining tale through the use of vivid imagery, formal diction, and explicit syntax. The most important technique he used was images. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Throughout the story, Bierce uses imagery to convey a sense of focus and realism in the plot. One of the first examples of this is when the author describes Peyton Fahrquhar, saying that he “wore a mustache and pointed beard, but no sideburns; his eyes were large and dark gray and had a gentle expression.” This description of Fahrquhar draws me in and personalizes the character so that I can form a visual representation of him in their mind. This really helps me care about the outcome of this character's fate. Since the story revolves around the fate of the main character, Fahrquhar, the way the author creates the atmosphere is important to understand and appreciate the skill of the plot. To underline the gravity of the situation, the author uses formal diction. For example; in describing Fahrquhar's apparent safety on the riverbank, the author chose to write that "the sudden arrest of his movement, the abrasion of one of his hands on the gravel, restored him." This choice of diction – such as using the word “arrest” instead of choosing “stop” or using “restored him” instead of saying he “brought him back” – creates an atmosphere throughout the piece that the situation for Fahrquhar she is serious in life. and death. I felt that every action mattered and gave me the reason to keep reading. This made the story very entertaining. Finally, Bierce also uses syntactic choices to help show the emotion of the piece. The most poignant example of this occurs at the very end of the story. Bierce uses a hyphen and an exclamation point to emphasize the phrase "a sound like the shot of a cannon - then all is darkness and silence!". Creating this separation means that one part of the story is a key piece of the plot puzzle. Creating a direct indication that allowed me to understand the plot. I enjoyed the story because I wasn't left confused or in doubt about what I had just read. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay In conclusion, the author of “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,” Ambrose Bierce, was able to draw me into the tale through his use of brilliant imagery, solemn diction, and precise syntax throughout the story. A dream does not come true through magic; “It takes sweat, determination and hard work.” Bierce inspired me to question what is and isn't real in our lives. In order for more writers to create entertaining short stories, they should incorporate these techniques into their writing.