Job #3 Literature Connections

   The short stories of Washington Irving and those of Ambrose Bierce have some similar traits, but overall, they are very different. Both men wrote of their homeland, both wrote tragedy into their stories. Yet somehow the end results have such a different feel to them. Irving often set his works in cozy, ultimately happy setting with some comedic tragedy befalling his characters. His works do not  have Deus ex machina endings, but they do tend to end on a much lighter note than Bierce's stories do. Bierce firmly grounds his stories in his grim view of reality. No trimmings or fairy tales from him. His characters start out in the misfortunes of realism, make their gallant effort at bettering themselves in some way and settle down to the hard learned lesson that life does not have happy endings. 

   The time periods and popular genre that surrounded these authors seems to have contributed greatly to their works. Irving's career took place while America was young. New things were being discovered, nations being formed, possibilities were endless. I think Irving's works show this fantastical, romantic element. His stories incorporate magic, legend, and mystical creatures; and the simple idea that anything can happen. Bierce, however, lived and fought during the Civil War, and his works reflect the disheartened nation that was getting a shocking awakening to the realities of war. Bierce's works show the bleak view of life that pervaded a war torn country. His works are so sardonically realistic, and altogether without hope or excitement for the unknown. His works are ultimately cold hard realism swirled in with disheartening uncertainty. In my opinion, both authors were strongly influenced by their time periods. 

Job #2 - Thinking Question

   In the moments of his death, Peyton Farquhar, sees many strange and unnatural things happen in his imagined escape. Since, as we later find out, Peyton was in the process of dying; I wonder if these things are supposed to have significance. Are they supposed to be a part of his spiritual transition from life to death? Or is it purely natural? In which case it could be either his oxygen starved brain/adrenaline or his emotional longing for escape to his family illustrated in his imagination (the way you can be laying in bed thirsty and dream that you get up to get a drink).

   Regardless of what the scientific origin of these visions is, they reflect the author. Maybe this is what Ambrose thought death would be like. He was a sardonic atheist. Was this his idea of the afterlife? Ambrose writes that Peyton thought the strange stars were aligned in a specific order. He also writes,
      "--once, twice, and again--he distinctly heard whispers in an unknown tongue."
What is Ambrose Bierce trying to tell us with these 'hallucinations'? 

Job #1 - Line Illuminator

"... a gray-clad soldier rode up to the gate and asked for a drink of water. ...

 "Suppose a man--a civilian and student of hanging--should elude the picket post and perhaps get the better of the sentinel," said Farquhar, 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 tow."

The lady had now brought the water, which the soldier drank. He thanked her ceremoniously, bowed to her husband and rode away. An hour later, after nightfall, he repassed the plantation, going northward in the direction from which he had come. He was a Federal scout." - End of Chapter 2

   This passage really made me do a double take! So, Farquhar, a very ardent supporter of the confederate side, is eager to help the cause. He is, for some reason or other, unable to serve as a soldier in the confederate army and consoles himself by doing whatever he can as a civilian to help the South. When a 'confederate' soldier rides up and asks for a drink, Farquhar and his wife are only too happy to serve him. When the soldier tells Farquhar that the Owl Creek Bridge has been rebuilt, Farquhar sees an opportunity to slow the Union progress and help his beloved South. The soldier then tells Farquhar the best way to sneak up to the bridge and then leaves. But wait! After he is hidden by darkness he goes NORTH. And Bierce flat out tells us He was a Federal spy. So the spy set Farquhar up and must have had soldiers waiting to capture him. This Union spy is the reason for Farquhar getting hung in the first place. Since this little item goes on to be the plot of the entire book. I find that very interesting. What about you?

 Okay this one will be shorter, (maybe). The other thing I find intriguing about this passage/story as a whole is the roles that Ambrose Bierce puts the Union and the Confederates in. He sets the Union army as "the bad guy" and has the central hero of the story a confederate loyalist. This gets even more complicated when you consider the fact that Farquhar knew the penalty for breaking the Union Edict and went any way. (Kinda seems like, at this point anyway, he values his cause more than his family. hmmm...) And the executioners are merely doing their job, excatly what they said they would do if anyone messed with the bridge. So I wonder... What was Bierce's reasons for setting the stage as he did? Was he trying to make a political point? Was he trying to help the North realize that the Southerners were people too? better people maybe? Or is there another agenda he was pushing? I am really curious about this and I would love to hear your feedback! 

BlogRoll!

Woohooo! I finally figured out how to add a blog roll!!
Actually, I figured out I had already added a blog roll when I was messing around with the gadgets you can add. I just hadn't realized that a blog list is the same as a blogroll. Now that I see the attachments at the bottom of Mrs. Jones email, I am feeling enlightened. ;)

Just A Warning

Well, this is a disclaimer. I do not even pretend to be responsible for anyone (with the exception of my teacher Mrs. Jones) to be able to understand or make sense of any or all posts made in this blog, as I have no idea what I am doing! 

  I am, however, excited to study and discuss literature in this interesting and unique way.