Structure

The short story “Butterflies” by Patricia Grace has a linear plot structure. The story begins in medias res with the grandmother plaiting her granddaughter’s hair to get her ready for school. The plot is chronological, and the events take place during a single day. 

The climax of the story is foreshadowed by the grandparents repeatedly advising their granddaughter to listen to the teacher. Another foreshadowing element is presented when the grandfather tells the neighbor his granddaughter “ ‘Writes every day in her book.’ ”. This foreshadows the granddaughter reading her story about the butterflies.

The climax of the story occurs when the granddaughter reveals the teacher’s reaction to the story about her killing the butterflies: “ ‘You don’t ...