Structure

The short story “England versus England” by Doris Lessing is structured around a single event in the life of the protagonist, his trip back to Oxford, London, from his home village.

Although the narrative is organised following a traditional plot line with an exposition, a rising action, a climax, a falling action and a resolution, modernist techniques such as flashback and stream of consciousness are more important. This is because the focus of the story is actually on the inner conflict of the protagonist who is affected by the class divisions in British society.

Title

The title – “England versus England” – already indicates that the story is going to be about a conflict, most likely a social one. As we read the short story, we realise the narrative follows the way the social conflict between the working and...

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Beginning

The short story begins in media res, in the middle of events, a technique used to hook readers’ attention by creating mystery regarding the plot.

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Middle

The middle of the short story develops the rising action which includes three episodes: Charlie’s way to the train station, accompanied by his brother Lennie; Charlie’s chat with Irish Mike, a pub owner; and Charlie’s train ride with a middle-class young woman and an older working-class couple.

Each of these scenes is marked by several tension points, and it is mixed with flashbacks from the recent past and Charlie’s thoughts.

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Ending

The end of the short story includes a short falling action in which Charlie exits the compartment and starts crying, and a resolution in which...

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