Question

How to analyse a short story:

An analysis of a short story requires basic knowledge of literary elements.

1. Setting: It is a description of where and when the story takes place. What role does setting play in this story?
2. Characterization: In short stories there are usually fewer characters compared to a novel. We get to know about the characters through his/her words, actions, Reactions, feelings, thoughts and movements.
3. Plot and structure: The plot is usually centred around one experience.
4. Narrator and point of view: The narrator is the person telling the story. By point of view we mean through whose eyes the story is being told. Short stories tend to be told through one character’s point of view.
5. Conflict: In a short story there is one main struggle. It could be internal/external.
6. Climax: It is the turning point where events take a major turn as the story reaches its conclusion.
7. Theme: is the main message
8. Style: The writer’s style is seen in language, vocabulary and tone. The style conveys the writer’s attitude towards the theme

Based on the guidelines given, write a 200-250 word analysis of the story, giving your opinion at the end.

Answer 1

The story centres on Anne, a widowed mother, and her seven-year-old daughter Marian, who is deaf and unable to speak. It takes place mainly at home, in the garden during the school holidays. This quiet domestic setting allows the reader to observe Anne’s private thoughts and Marian’s solitary play.

The story is told in the first person from Anne’s point of view. Through her reflections, we learn that she loves Marian deeply but has also mourned the confident, golden-voiced child she once imagined. Marian is sensitive and finds comfort in nature, while Freda, the new neighbour, is outgoing and determined. The main conflict is internal: Anne must recognize how her unfulfilled expectations may have affected Marian’s sense of worth. There is also an external difficulty in Marian’s struggle to connect with other children.

The turning point comes when Marian asks, “Mother, would you rather have her than me?” Anne then understands the depth of Marian’s hurt and finally lets go of her foolish longings. The ending, with Freda and Marian happily playing school together, offers hope and acceptance. The story’s simple language and gentle tone make its emotional change convincing. Its central message is that children need to feel loved and accepted as they are. In my opinion, the story is moving because it shows how a parent’s honest self-reflection can strengthen a child’s confidence and open the way to friendship.