1. In Section I, Bierce includes few details about the condemned man and does not reveal the reason why he is being hanged. How does this help create suspense?
2. In what ways are the condemned man's perceptions of time and motion distorted as he is waiting to be hanged? Why are his distorted perceptions important?
3. What is a sentinel?
4. What is the significance of the man’s perception of his ticking watch?
5. In Section II, Bierce finally introduces Peyton Farquhar.  Why place this information in the middle of the story, and in a flashback?   How does this authorial decision contribute to suspense and our sympathies toward Farquhar?
6.  Why was Farquhar captured?  Why did the Federal scout lie? He was a spy. In order to trap him. 
7. What details in Part III suggest that Farquhar's journey occurs in his mind?   The dodging of bullets. How is the journey connected with the plan of escape that occurs to him moments before he is hanged? He was thinking about it before he was hanged. 
8.  What is the ultimate fate of Peyton Farquhar?   About how long did it truly take for the events of the story to unfold? A few seconds. 
9. Why is the limited third-person point of view appropriate for this story? It would ruin the supprise. How might the story be different if Bierce had used an omniscient third-person narrator?   
10. Were you surprised by the ending?  Why or why not? It would have been to good to be true if he got away.