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" An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge", 2006.
A review of " An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce.
883 words (approx. 3.5 pages), 4 sources, MLA, £ 21.95
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Abstract
This paper reviews and discusses Ambrose Bierce's " An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge". According to the paper, in the work Bierce takes his readers on an ironic journey through a brutal death and the possibilities of heaven and hell. The paper further reports that this horror story takes a poignant, ironic look of the process of death and possesses an eerie tone.
From the Paper
"This story, a poignant, ironic look of the process of death, possesses an eerie tone, as well, as evidenced by its appearance as a Twilight Zone episode. I believe that Bierce created a horror story to impress his readers with the finality and futility of war and the gruesome misery it entails. Rather than simply write another war story, Bierce captivates his readers with a supernatural cliffhanger that shifts in and out of the realm of possibility and leaves us affected and caring about Peyton Farquhar."
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"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge", 2005.
Examines the literary elements in Ambrose Bierce's short story.
1,000 words (approx. 4.0 pages), 5 sources, MLA, £ 24.95
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Abstract
'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge' is a literary work that has undertones of the civil rights movement woven into a plot that is infused with elements of realism, illusion, and imagination. This paper shows that, with realism neatly integrated into fictional narration, this story reflects an innovative approach to short story writing.
From the Paper
"Changing tone from present to past and backforth, and oscillating from reality to fiction and back again, the author presents a gripping story with the background of the civil war. Literary elements such as imagination, deception, sarcasm, illusion and reality are skillfully intertwined into the plot. There is a neat blend of reality with fiction and fantasy in this short story. By mounting the tension and creating more suspense the author manages to take the readers on a trip from reality to fiction and sustains the momentum until the final moment when they are jolted back into reality. Ambrose Bierce was way ahead of his time in terms of his literary approach and is rightfully considered the 'precursor of postmodern fiction'."
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Bierce's Owl Creek Bridge, 2005.
This paper offers a literary analysis of the short story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce.
675 words (approx. 2.7 pages), 1 source, MLA, £ 16.95
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Abstract
The paper examines Ambrose Bierce's short story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge." The paper looks at the author's style of lyric realism and the use of irony. The paper reviews the main character and the plot.
From the Paper
"Ambrose Bierce wrote "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" in order to crawl inside the minds of her audience and psychologically play with their brains just to find out what might happen at the other end. The detailed characterization of the unlucky protagonist, as well as the elegantly crafted style of the narrative work together produce the irony that so often characterizes Bierce's writing and causes us to marvel at its composition."
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Confronting Death in Short Stories, 2006.
A review of two short stories that deal with the theme of death: "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce and "Greasy Lake" by T. Coraghessen.
950 words (approx. 3.8 pages), 4 sources, MLA, £ 23.95
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Abstract
This paper compares how the characters in two different short stories face the experience of death. The stories are "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce and "Greasy Lake" by T. Coraghessen. This paper shows how both characters experienced time distortion and a heightened sense of awareness of their surroundings when they were in the grip of fear and confronted with death.
From the Paper
"We often hear stories of people who have near death experiences and say that their "lives flashed before their eyes", or that "everything seemed like it was happening in slow motion". In the two short stories, the reader gets a real sense of what that feels like. "Greasy Lake", is a contemporary story about a group of young men who are bored and out drinking at the lake on evening become involved in a fight that escalates out of control and sets off a chain of events that will change the characters lives forever. In "Greasy Lake", when the unnamed main character thinks that he may have killed someone, time seems to go in slow motion."
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The Use of Irony, 2002.
This paper discusses the use of irony to tell horrific stories in compelling ways in three stories: ?A Good Man is Hard to Find? by Flannery O?Connor, ?The Curse? by Andre Dubus and ?An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge? by Ambrose Bierce.
1,045 words (approx. 4.2 pages), 3 sources, £ 25.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that in all three stories---?A Good Man is Hard to Find,? by Flannery O?Connor, ?The Curse,? by Andre Dubus and ?An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,? by Ambrose Bierce---the authors' use of dramatic irony to force the reader?s perspective into the minds of the protagonists, making the pain of what they experience surreally intense. The author believes that in these stories the irony can make us laugh, reveal truths that would otherwise be hard to express, or sharpen our focus on the absurdity of a situation. For example the paper explains that in ?A Good Man is Hard to Find?, the use of irony force?s the reader?s perspective to take in what the grandmother cannot ? the horror that is going to unfold, committed by men who gave no more thought to murdering children and old women than they would to catching a fish for dinner.
From the Paper
"?An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,? by Ambrose Bierce, tells the story of a man being hanged from an intensely personal viewpoint. Peyton Fahrquahar, southern gentleman and planter, is about to be hung by Union soldiers after he attempted to burn a bridge and so prevent their advance. As the author dryly notes, ?The liberal military code makes provision for hanging many kinds of persons, and gentlemen are not excluded..? As with the protagonists in the other two stories, Fahrquahar has played a part in his situation by not being alert enough, soon enough: when a man in a confederate suit comes to his gate to get a drink of water, he doesn?t realize he is a Union spy setting a trap for confederate collaborators."
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The Importance of Honor, 2007.
An analysis of the importance of honor in "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce, "The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allan Poe and "A Rose for Emily" by William Faulkner.
1,631 words (approx. 6.5 pages), 3 sources, MLA, £ 36.95
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Abstract
This paper examines the importance of honor over the importance of life over death in three American short stories. The paper discusses "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce, "The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allan Poe and "A Rose for Emily" by William Faulkner. The paper explores, using examples from each of these stories, how and why their central characters value honor more than they value life over death, and how this affects their attitudes and actions.
From the Paper
"After Emily dies and they open her house, where no one has set foot for 40 years, they find the remains of Homer Barron, and the toiletries she purchased for him long ago. "The body had apparently once lain in the attitude of an embrace" and "then we noticed that in the second pillow was the indentation of a head" "we say a long strand of iron-gray-hair (p. 36)." Emily has been sleeping with Homer's corpse. Apparently, to Emily, it was better to have Homer's dead body with her all this time than no Homer at all. Perhaps she could not have faced the rejection that would have felt if Homer had managed to leave her, so she kills him instead. Thus Emily, iron-willed and honor-bound as ever, "claims" what she feels is rightfully hers - Homer - right up until the moment of her own death."
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Literature Comparison - William Faulkner and Ambrose Bierce, 2008.
A comparative analysis of William Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily" and Ambrose Bierce's "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" .
1,403 words (approx. 5.6 pages), 0 sources, £ 32.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses how the stories William Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily" and Ambrose Bierce's "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" compare in so many ways. It looks at similarities such as the setting of war, the theme of death and the the love that the characters of Emily and Peyton have for their families.
From the Paper
"Ambrose Bierce's "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" is a story of a man who breaks the law and dies. The story describes why the man was hanged, the life after death and his life before death. The irony in this story is great in the fact that that the entire story is a description of the man's "great escape." In reality they are describing what has happened in his afterlife after he is hanged. The story proceeds to tell about how he was freed from the rope that was supposed to kill him and how he gets away. He swims with all of his strength until he can reach the point where it is safe to get out and be free of the bullets. The author depicts beautiful scenery that ironically seems heavenly with "the fragrance of their blooms," and "the wind made in their branches the music of Aeolian harps," when describing the sounds this man hears. "
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Cruel Humankind, 2002.
The following paper compares Ambrose Bierce?s short story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" where a young man faces execution, to W. H. Auden?s poem "Musee des Beaux Arts" which describes Breughel?s painting, "Fall of Icarus".
1,095 words (approx. 4.4 pages), 2 sources, MLA, £ 26.95
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Abstract
This paper examines how both Bierce?s short story and Auden?s poem imply that humankind is cruel at best, indifferent at worst. However, the author discovers how these pieces also differ from each other in many ways. This essay distinguishes between the way in which Bierce sees death as a 'dignitary' who must be met with certain rituals as compared to Auden who sees death as haphazard, accidental, occurring without ritual or even much notice.
From the Paper
?Bierce and Auden seem to take a similar dim view of human nature. In the early paragraphs of ?An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,? Bierce shows the condemned Farquhar to be a loving husband and father. (?He closed his eyes in order to fix his last thoughts upon his wife and children.?) Bierce also describes Farquhar as having a ?kindly expression.? However, this does nothing to soften the hearts of his captors. ?The liberal military code makes provision for hanging many kinds of persons, and gentlemen are not excluded,? Bierce tells the reader. Not only are the officers committed to hanging Farquhar, they make every possible effort to kill him following his ?escape.?
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Human Nature in Two Novels, 2004.
Comparison of ?An Occurrence at Owl Creek? by Ambrose Bierce and ?Adventures of Huckleberry Finn? by Mark Twain.
2,460 words (approx. 9.8 pages), 2 sources, MLA, £ 51.95
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Abstract
The stories, ?An Occurrence at Owl Creek? by Ambrose Bierce and ?Adventures of Huckleberry Finn? by Mark Twain, are significant because they emphasize qualities of human nature. This paper discusses how, through his unique style and setting, each author reflects on social customs dealing with the issue of slavery. Through colorful characters and intense detail, Bierce and Twain display some of the most common characteristics of humanity. This paper examines the style, setting, and social and literary contest of each story.
From the Paper
"The style of ?An Occurrence at Owl Creek? is dramatic and very gripping. Bierce successfully engages us from the very beginning of the story with drama when we are told that a man is standing on a bridge ?looking into the swift waters twenty feet below? (Bierce 92). Elaborate detail is Bierce?s style and he successfully keeps us engaged until the end of the story. For example, when Farquhar is falling, he ?awakens? to extreme pain in his neck. We are also told how ?these feelings were unaccompanied by thought? (96) and the loud ?plash? of hitting the water causes him to realize the rope has broken and he has fallen into the water. Farquhar?s instinct to free himself and his ultimate success place us on the edge of our seats, hoping for his escape. Even as Farquhar raises to the surface of the water, his senses become ?preternaturally keen and alert? (97). In Farquhar?s dream, we too can see the individual trees and the ?veining of each leaf,? as well as the ?insects upon them, the locusts, the brilliant-bodied flies? (97). With such attention to detail, Bierce is slowly pulling us into Farquhar?s dream. The narrator?s convincing interpretation of every moment convinces us that Farquhar has indeed fallen into the water. We are even convinced of Farquhar?s escape by his mental faculties. For example, when Farquhar realizes that the scouts would not shoot at him again, they ?will use the charge of a grape? instead. (98) Additionally, Bierce convinces us that Farquhar has reached land as he digs his fingers into the sand and blesses it. Bierce continues this dream by having Farquhar wonder through the woods with the thought of his wife and children urging him on. This is an excellent technique because we have no reason to suspect that what he is imagining is not happening."
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Bridge Management, 2004.
This paper is an extensive discussion of a systems approach to decision- making in bridge management systems worldwide, especially in the UK.
19,945 words (approx. 79.8 pages), 43 sources, APA, £ 172.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that, inevitably, bridges deteriorate over time at different rates: Timely maintenance activities, which are well-planned and carried out with minimal disruption to road users can present substantial savings in terms of both time and money for both bridge owners and road users. The author ponts out that, to tackle the complicated issues regarding bridge management, research activities in the UK as well as other countries in continental Europe concentrate largely on the bridge management process, with attention given to improving the use of limited finances to maximize the returns from the maintenance and repair of the bridge stock as well as reduce additional costs due to traffic delays and lane closures for these activities. The paper includes a critical review of other BMSs used worldwide, development of models to predict bridge condition over time, analysis of the various road user costs and using different optimizing techniques to best allocate finances and optimize bridge performance. 39 tables. 40 figures.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Objective
Bridge Conditions in the U.K.
Introduction
Maintenance and Upgrading
Expenditure
Department of Transport (DoT) Programme
What is a Bridge Management System (BMS)?
Introduction
Department of Transport Structure
Maintenance Agents
BMS in the U.K. and Other Countries
Introduction
Bridge Condition
Other Information in BMS's
Condition Prediction
Cost Models
Decision for Maintenance and Repair
Prioritization
BMS in the U.S.A.
BRIDGIT System
PONTIS System
SMIS System
Inventory
Inspection and Assessment
National Structures Programmes (NSPs)
Prioritization
Project Creation
Whole Life Assessment and Costing
Activities Schedule
Data Accuracy
Design Specifications
Access
Integration with External Systems
Bridge Inspection and Assessment
Bridge Inspection Types
Defects
Bridge Scoring
Introduction
Definitions
Bridge Condition Score (BCS)
Bridge Condition Index (BCI)
Bridge Stock Condition Index (BSCI)
Multi Span Bridges
Bridge Scoring Example
Interpreting BCS's
BCS Results
Histograms for Bridge Stock
Interpreting BCI's
BCI Results
Interpreting BSCI's
Predicting Bridge Condition with Time
Introduction
Markov Chain Approach
Example Calculation
Bridge Condition Example
Bridge Condition Results
Bridge Aggregation Example
Bridge Aggregation Results
Bridge Stock Example
Bridge Stock Results
Traffic Costs
Introduction
Traffic Count Example
Traffic Count Results
Traffic Delay Cost Examples
Delay Costs Results (1st Example)
Delay Costs Results (2nd Example)
Accident Cost Example
Accident Costs Results
Environmental Impact
Introduction
Emissions Example
Emissions Results
Decision-Making and Prioritization
Decision-making
Introduction
Prioritization
Introduction
Dynamic Programming
Budget Allocation Approach
Budget Allocation Results (1st Example)
Budget Allocation Results( 2nd Example)
Budget Allocation Results ( 3rd Example)
Improvements to Budget Allocation Approach
Introduction to BCI optimization approach
Service Potential (BCI) Examples
BCI Optimization Results (1st Example)
BCI Optimization Results (2nd Example)
BCI Optimization Results (3rd Example)
Maintenance Costs Examples
BCI Optimization Results (4th Example)
BCI Optimization Results (5th Example)
BCI Optimization Results (6th Example)
Conclusion
Future Research
From the Paper
"It is proposed that the transition probabilities to be used are the Bridge Condition Index (BCI), which operates on a linear scale of 0 (worst) to 100 (best). The degree of severity of bridges is linearly distributed over this range (i.e. BCI of 50 to 51 is the same as 90 to 91), except that costs are expected not to have a linear distribution. This is a useful approach as the BCI (average) is interpreted as 'service potential' and is used as a performance indicator.
Using the example for multi span bridges earlier on, the transition probabilities for a three-state Markov chain model with limiting stage value of 3 is proposed. The probabilities are in accordance to the BCI values for the 'good' bridge arranged in order of descending magnitude (i.e. P(1) = 0.9845 and P(2) = 0.9246). For the purposes of comparison, the other two bridges ('medium' and 'bad') are also modelled and the three are plotted together."
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Peace Bridge, 2007.
The paper discusses the Peace bridge and looks at the proposal of a new additional bridge.
2,152 words (approx. 8.6 pages), 6 sources, MLA, £ 46.95
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Abstract
In this article, the writer explains that the Peace Bridge spans the Niagara River and links the cities of Fort Erie, Ontario and Buffalo, New York. The writer points out that this bridge is considered a critical link for cross-border commercial traffic with considerable economic significance for the region. The paper explains that the bridge was built in 1927, has three traffic lanes and sidewalks, and has been well-maintained so it is in excellent condition. The writer points out that the proposal to construct a new bridge that would cross the river is not due to damage to the existing bridge but to the limited capacity of the roadways on the bridge.
From the Paper
"Someone designed the highway, while no one designed the space under the bridge. Such extra spaces are often created with such large-scale projects. This space is not likely to be useful in the current project to add three lanes of traffic to the existing bridge, though a more useful design for this space could be included at the same time to improve the area."
"The current bridge is a 3,600-foot steel truss built in 1927. The bridge is made up of five arched spans crossing the Niagara River, with an added through-truss span crossing the Black Rock Canal on the American side. The bridge was built of tons of steelwork and concrete abutments to hold it. The bridge was built to relieve traffic on the International Railway Bridge erected in 1873. The construction had to overcome the swift river current in that area, running at about twelve miles per hour. It is hoped that an addition to the bridge can increase traffic by one-third."
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Corrosion in Concrete Bridge Girders, 2008.
A critical examination concerning the problem of corrosion in concrete bridge girders with recommendations to resolve the issue.
5,442 words (approx. 21.8 pages), 10 sources, APA, £ 92.95
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Abstract
The paper discusses the fact that roads invariably require bridges to cross over roads and rivers, and as strong as the bridges may seem to be at the time of their construction, engineers have not been able to build corrosion-proof bridges. The paper highlights the problems associated with corrosion of steel reinforced concrete bridge girders as they are vitally important to travelers and to engineers. The paper also reviews the numerous studies that have been conducted, and provides recommendations for better predictability vis-a-vis when a bridge is due to be replaced.
Outline:
Table of Contents
List of Figures, Nomenclature, Introduction
Hypothesis of Theoretical Considerations
Procedure
Results
Discussion of Results
Conclusions
Recommendations
From the Paper
"This paper provides a strong engineering and safety background into the problems associated with corrosion and bridges. The procedure used in this paper is presented through the careful examination of the existing literature. Some of the literature may be a few years old but the past is prologue; what went before is as relevant as what is going on today. Other literature presented is quite contemporary, and all of the materials presented in this paper are relevant. Especially relevant are studies that have been conducted six, seven, eight and more years ago; compared and contrasted with what engineers and scientists are saying in the latest bulletins and research documents. For example, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) offered standard specifications for highway bridges in the 1990s that seem to be practical and yet have clearly not provided a workable solution to the ongoing problems of corrosion.
In the article titled "Reliability of Reinforced Concrete Girders Under Corrosion Attack," the authors (Frangopol, et al, 1997) embrace the AASHTO strategy; first, the effects of corrosion "on both moment and shear reliabilities" are carefully investigated; second, a "reliability-based design approach" that is based on minimization of "total material cost including corrosion effects" is taken into consideration. This article suggests that taking into consideration the environmental stressors on concrete (due to corrosion), along with the AASHTO standards, can then be plugged into "reliability-based optimization software." That software is a product of the combining of general-purpose optimization software and a Monte Carlo simulation-based evaluation program.
Hence, the procedure for coming up with reliable estimates of the life expectancy of concrete girders comes in two phases, according to this research. Phase one spans the time from construction to corrosion initiation; phase two, from corrosion initiation to time when "unacceptable levels of section loss have occurred." But is this procedure proactive or reactive? The answer - it is indeed reactive, and it is also outdated. But nevertheless it should be researched and understood because it is part of the literature. Science cannot predict future conditions and dynamics based on models and hypotheses alone. A foundation for the projections of the future is based on evidence from the past. "
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?The Bridge of San Luis Rey?, 2004.
A review of the novel, ?The Bridge of San Luis Rey? by Thornton Wilder.
811 words (approx. 3.2 pages), 0 sources, £ 19.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses how, in "The Bridge of San Luis Rey", Thornton Wilder is trying to explore, with the reader, the meaning of life. It looks at how Wilder explores the theme of his novel through the point of view of a third person, Brother Juniper, who witnesses the collapse of the bridge of San Luis Rey and the death of five people. It also examines how the use of sunlight is symbolic of enlightenment and the message that the meaning of life is found among the living.
From the Paper
"Just as the reader begins to feel that the purpose of life is to discover the meaning of love and the importance of expressing it unreservedly, Wilder raises another complication. The Marquesa is never given a chance to begin anew as she dies on the Bridge of San Luis Rey a few days later. The conflict begins again. What is the meaning of life? If the narrative is taken at face value, it all seems rather senseless, for after all, where is the point in achieving self-realization literally at the point of death? Unless, Wilder intended the reader to derive the meaning through evoking a sense of sympathy for the character of the Marquesa or even a sense of outrage at the waste."
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London Bridge, 1999.
A historical, cultural and architectural analysis of the bridge and its evolution, fate and succeeding structures.
1,575 words (approx. 6.3 pages), 2 sources, £ 38.95
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Abstract
"When people in the United States today hear the term "London Bridge," they are most likely to think of one of the most peculiar sights anywhere within the United States that of the London Bridge in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.
From the Paper
"When people in the United States today hear the term "London Bridge," they are most likely to think of one of the most peculiar sights anywhere within the United States that of the London Bridge in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Surrounded by faked-up Tudor buildings and busloads of tourists, the large bridge is dwarfed by the majesty of the desert Southwest. The entire enterprise stands as a monument to a deep human appreciation for irony, for what else could explain the immense cost and energy that went into transporting such an immense structure such a long way for so very little purpose.
But this peculiar structure in the desert is in fact not the real London Bridge at all (if any bridge can in fact lay claim to that title, which seems unlikely), but the New London Bridge, designed in 1831 by the Scottish engineer John Rennie ..."
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