Guidelines

• Your essay should present a clear, debatable thesis in the introduction.
• Support your argument with at least three pieces of textual evidence, including direct quotes.
• Analyze how Bierce's use of narrative structure (the three-part division) enhances the story's central irony.
• Explore how the unreliable nature of Peyton Farquhar's consciousness serves as both a literary device and a thematic statement.
• Conclude by reflecting on what Bierce ultimately conveys about war, heroism, and self-deception.

Assessment Focus

Clarity of thesis, use of textual evidence, depth of literary analysis, and thematic insight.

In your essay, be sure to:

• Analyze how Bierce organizes the three sections of the story and what each transition in time and viewpoint reveals about Peyton Farquhar's mental state.
• Examine at least two specific literary techniques (e.g., stream of consciousness, dramatic irony, sensory distortion, or shifts in narrative distance) and explain how each supports your central argument.
• Consider how the story's Civil War backdrop operates thematically — does the historical context strengthen or complicate the story's commentary on illusion and mortality?
• Address a counterargument: some readers view the story's ending primarily as a clever narrative trick. Explain why this interpretation falls short and what it overlooks regarding Bierce's deeper thematic intentions.

Length

4–6 paragraphs (or as directed by your teacher)

Format

Standard literary analysis essay with a clear thesis, textual evidence, and a conclusion that expands your argument beyond a simple plot summary.