1. In Part 1, Bierce includes few details about the condemned man and does not reveal the reason why he is being hanged. How does this help create suspense?
Human nature insights curiosity so that the reader will continue to read on. The more the reader continues, the more suspense is created.
2. In what ways are the condemned man�s perceptions of time and motion distorted as he is waiting to be hanged? Why are his distorted perceptions important
The watch in his pocket begins to sound like a hammer striking steel, and as he is falling, he slips into a dream. This is important because it tells what the man�s thoughts and feelings are while he is awaiting death.
3. What seems to be the narrator�s attitude toward Farquhar in Part II? What is the narrator�s attitude toward war? The narrator�s attitude seems to reflect that Farquhar is an ardent opponent toward the Northern armies and their values. The narrator also gives the impression that they think that war is somewhat of an evil and criminal thing.
4. Considering the outcome of the story, what is ironic or surprising about Farquhar�s longing for the �larger life of a soldier?� What is ironic about the fact that Farquhar agrees with the saying that �all is fair in love and war?� It is ironic that Farquhar wanted to be a soldier and to die in a blaze of glory, because in reality he died alone and shamefully on a rope. The fact that Farquhar was deceived and tricked into being caught makes Farquhar agreeing with �all is fair in love and war� ironic.
5. What details in Part III suggests that Farquhar�s journey occurs in his mind? How is the journey connected with the plan of escape that occurs to him moments before he is hanged? Details such as Farquhar thinking his watch sounded like a hammer striking steel and him realizing every single little detail around him suggests that Farquhar is traveling across his mind. The journey is almost the same as the plan of escape that Farquhar had.
6. Explain whether you think the portrayal of Farquhar�s final thoughts and sensations is realistic. I don�t think that the portrayal of Farquhar�s final thoughts is realistic because for Farquhar, time has drastically slowed down, which even the thought process of the mind can�t do.
7. Point of view refers to the vantage point from which the story is told. Why is the limited third-person point of view appropriate for this story? How might the story be different if Bierce had used an omniscient third-person narrator? Third person limited is appropriate for this story because it shows only the thoughts of Farquhar and not those of the soldiers standing on the bridge. If the point of view were omniscient, the story would end much more quickly with simply the statement �Farquhar hung there, limp and most certainly dead�.
8. How does Bierce�s use of flashback contribute to the effectiveness of the story?
Bierce�s use of a flashback contributes to the effectiveness of the story by adding background information and causing the reader to grow more and more sympathetic to the main character�s plight.