We notice immediately the strange amount of natural description, once Peyton is free from the noose and floating down stream, while being shot at by military men. Instead of panic the recent escapee "saw the individual trees, the leaves and the veining of each leaf-the very insects upon them, the locusts, the brilliant-bodied flies, the gray spiders stretching their webs from twig to twig"(p117). He was noticing the beauty of life around him. Things that he had never stopped to take notice of before were all of a sudden a vital experience, of immediate importance to him. Before the moment

Peyton also at this time became very pointedly focused on the people closest to him, a no longer on the war and the affairs of the greater world. While in the water Peyton's goal was to get away from the military men, that are now shooting at him, to get to his beloved wife and children. "By diving I could evade the bullets, and, swimming vigorously, reach the bank, take to the woods, and get away home"(p115). This is what keeps him going once he reaches the forest and is making his way to his home. "By nightfall he was fatigued, footsore, famishing. The thought of his wife and children urged him on"(p119). His devotion is now to them and not the same as it was at the beginning of the story when he was conned into blowing up the bridge.

Ambrose Bierce is telling an age-old story of redemption. Once life is at risk of being taken away, the main character starts to look at what is truly important in existence. He doesn't see the Federal scouts shooting at him and trying to kill him. Instead, he sees "the humming of the gnats that danced above the

Some common words found in the essay are:
Ambrose Bierce, Creek Bridge, Owl Creek, Peyton Yanks, Beauty Life, owl creek bridge, creek bridge, owl creek, beauty life, federal scouts, wife children, ambrose bierce,
Approximate Word count = 714
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)