Structure

The short story “Kiss and Tell” by John Sam Jones explores the topic of sexual orientation in the academic environment. The plot follows two characters, a teacher and a student (Dylan and Seimon), and concerns how being gay affects their lives.

Although the story follows a traditional plot (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution), it is also structured in parallel scenes, presenting Dylan and Seimon in parallel.

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Beginning

The short story begins with an exposition which presents in parallel the main characters, Seimon and Dylan Roberts. First, the author introduces us to the context and the social setting, school life: “Some of the girls in Seimon’s class already seemed much older – and a bit scary. Often they’d huddle into exclusive, whispering broods...” (ll. 1-2)

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Middle

The rising action also develops in parallel, presenting the lives of the teacher and the student.

When the government takes a more accepting and supporting approach to the gay community, and Dylan realises that his fellow teachers are not homophobic, he decides to be open about his sexual orientation: “Over the Christmas holidays, Dylan considered these revelations and made a new year’s resolution to come out at school.” (ll. 49-50)

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Ending

The ending of the short story comprises the falling action and the resolution. In the falling action, Seimon’s classmate Shân decides to tell a teacher about Seimon’s alleged affair with Dylan Roberts: “…all children and young people had rights, but with rights there were responsibilities. At the end of the lesson...

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