“An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” leads readers to question Ambrose Bierce about the many shifts in point of view his story takes. Ambrose Bierce's descriptive writing style captures the reader's attention, unconsciously manipulating them throughout the entire story. This statement remains true as the plot develops. “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” presents a series of ups and downs throughout the story, changing direction and perspective through its point of view as an omniscient and limited omniscient. Ambrose Bierce's various changes trick readers into believing that the protagonist, Peyton Farquhar, has escaped a dangerous fate. Readers are left confused as the conflict becomes actualized with Peyton Farquhar finding himself on a bridge awaiting his execution. Even though Farquhar is about to be hanged, he still manages to stay calm and focus on what's important, his family. However this is where the story takes its first turn when Farquhar's thoughts are interrupted by the ringing of his watch. The description of the penetrating sound is but a small glimpse of the “dream” to come. This is where time and perspective tend to get confused. Predominantly this idea is due to the temporary solution that comes when Peyton Farquhar "dreams" of escaping such a dangerous fate and reaching his wife. In "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" a couple of changes throughout the story change the point of view of the entire story. essentially disconcerting readers. For example, in paragraph five, a change occurs when Peyton Farquhar closes his eyes right before he is hanged. While Farquhar focuses on his family, Bierce makes a sudden change by switching to third-person limited omniscient. In turn the story takes on another form concerning... the medium of the paper... its history. Ambrose Bierce triumphantly created a story that readers perceive as manipulated. Leave it up to the reader to repeat the entire story once. complete. It is at this point that the reader can become aware of the dynamics of Ambrose Bierce's “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” regarding the shifts in shifts in perspective as well as the shifts in time that the story undertakes. As readers reconsider the story, they are given the opportunity to decide for themselves what exactly was happening to Peyton Farquhar, moments before her death. Once readers do that, they can truly appreciate Bierce's dark story as a whole, however manipulative it may be. Works Cited Bierce, Ambrose. "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge." The story and its writer An introduction to short fiction. 8th edition. Karen S Henry. Boston: Bedford St. Martin, 2011. 103-110. Press.