Final answer:
The language and pace in Ambrose Bierce's 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge' is best described as detailed and cohesive, accurately reflecting the protagonist's sensations during his ordeal. Time is manipulated to echo Farquhar's subjective experience, while flashbacks offer depth to his character and the plot. Option B is correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The language and pace of the narration in the excerpt from An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge where the protagonist Peyton Farquhar experiences excruciating pains as he seemingly falls from the bridge, can be described as detailed and cohesive. The pains are depicted as having well-defined pathways and an inconceivably fast periodicity, which emphasizes the precision and cohesiveness in Bierce’s description. This meticulous account contrasts with the chaotic nature of Farquhar's situation, creating a vivid and precise experience for the reader.
Time in An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge is depicted as both elongated and immediate. The narrative meticulously measures time in sharp contrast to the grand, albeit momentary, escape Farquhar imagines before his imminent death. This manipulation of time is significant as it reflects Farquhar's subjective experience under extreme duress and illustrates Bierce's exploration of perception and reality.
Lastly, the purpose of flashbacks in literature, such as those in Bierce’s story, is to provide background information to the reader that enhances the understanding of the current predicament of the characters. In Farquhar’s case, it reveals his motivations and the circumstances that led him to the bridge, enriching the narrative and giving depth to his character.