Final answer:
In 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,' Peyton Farquhar envisions a cannon firing a deflected shot, which contributes to the tension and drama of his hallucinatory experience during his execution.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the story An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, the protagonist Peyton Farquhar experiences a series of hallucinations as he faces execution. Among these visions, he imagines a cannon firing at him. The text describes the cannon firing a deflected shot that hums through the air, cracks, and smashes the branches in the forest beyond him - a part of his vivid final thoughts. Farquhar also speculates about the type of ammunition that will be used next, anticipating a charge of grapeshot. These intense moments contribute to the story's dramatic climax, as Farquhar contemplates his fate while the cannon blasts create chaos around him.