Question

Which phrase in this excerpt from Ambrose Bierce's 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge' highlights the use of everyday characters in realism?

A. Meanwhile he did what he could. No service was too humble for him to perform in the aid of the South, no adventure too perilous for him to undertake if consistent with the character of a civilian who was at heart a soldier, and who in good faith and without too much qualification assented to at least a part of the frankly villainous dictum that all is fair in love and war.

B. One evening while Farquhar and his wife were sitting on a rustic bench near the entrance to his grounds, a gay dad soldier rode up to the gate and asked for a drink of water.

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

The phrase that highlights the use of everyday characters in realism is:

B. One evening while Farquhar and his wife were sitting on a rustic bench near the entrance to his grounds, a gay dad soldier rode up to the gate and asked for a drink of water.

This excerpt depicts a scene of everyday life, with Farquhar and his wife engaged in a mundane activity—sitting on a bench near their home. The arrival of a passing soldier seeking a drink of water adds to the sense of normalcy and realism in the setting. The use of common, relatable situations and characters is a hallmark of realism in literature, grounding the narrative in familiar, everyday experiences.

Answer 2

The phrase that highlights the use of everyday characters in realism is the one describing Farquhar and his wife's interaction with a soldier asking for water.

Step-by-step explanation:

The phrase from Ambrose Bierce's 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge' that highlights the use of everyday characters in realism is option B: "One evening while Farquhar and his wife were sitting on a rustic bench near the entrance to his grounds, a gray-clad soldier rode up to the gate and asked for a drink of water." This phrase depicts a common scene of domestic life and a mundane interaction with a soldier, which are characteristic elements of the Realism movement in literature, focusing on ordinary people and everyday events.