Structure
The structure of the short story “A Fable” by Robert Fox is simple and includes narrative techniques like backstory and foreshadowing. The narration is mixed with dialogue, which helps the readers understand more about the characte…
...
...
Beginning
The short story begins in medias res, in the middle of events. The narrator introduces the main character, a young man, by describing his appearance: “The young man was clean shaven and neatly dressed.” (p. 31, l.1)
He continues with a brief description of the setting: it is Monday morning, and the man gets on the subway to begin the first day at his first job (p. 31, ll. 1-2). This emphasizes his youth and indicates that he does not have much life experience. It is also a foreshadowing element for his naïve, ideal…
...
Middle
In the rising action, the train reaches the business district, and many people get off. The two women now sit opposite the young man. He and the girl exchange glances. He gives his seat to an elderly man as a pretext to stand closer to the two women and then takes a seat next to the girl.
The young man starts speaking to the girl – he tells her that she is pretty, that he loves her, and that he wants to marry her. A tension point is created as the mother insists that she should not answer him (p. 32, ll. 3-4), despite previously telling her daughter that she should talk to him.
The girl, however, continues to speak with him and tells him that she loves him. Tension increases as he asks her to marry him, and she says that he will have to ask her mother.
To t…
...
Ending
In the falling action, the boy remarks that life is wonderful. The mother agrees: “Beautiful, the mother said.” (p. 33, l. 24). This highlights their superficial nature and self-involvement and connects with the opening paragraph, in which the man loves the world because he had a job. He now loves life, because he has found a wife.
The resolution shows the conductor approaching them with a black book in his hand …
