Analysis

An analysis of the short story “Breakfast” by John Steinbeck shows that it follows a traditional chronological plot structure. The story focuses on the narrator’s pleasant memory of having breakfast with three strangers he meets by chance. The memory is framed by the narrator’s reflections in the present time. The plot is characterized by a significant lack of tension.

The characters include the unnamed narrator as the main character, a young woman, and two men that might be father and son. While the narrator and the family do not know each other, the act of sharing breakfast bonds them and leaves a lasting impression on the narrator.

The events presumably take place in the US in California. The social setting explores aspects related to the lives of migrant workers, such as the difficulties they encountered and the lack of financial security. The social setting also touches briefly on the situation of migrant mothers and on gender roles.

The story is told by a first-person narrator. The narrator is initially more of an outside observer but later becomes a participant in the events.

The language used by the narrator is descriptive. The story is told mostly from the narrator’s point of view, while the few lines of dialogue help readers understand more about the other characters.

You can read a more detailed analysis in the following pages.