Plot

“Not Wanted” by Maggie Cobbett is a short story following a flashback plot. This means that the sequence of events that makes up the storyline is not chronological. Osman, the main character, is now in Britain and recalls what brought him to his current setting.

The story can also be divided into two parts, according to the setting. Part of the events happen in Turkey, in the city of Iskenderun, where Osman is from, and where he had his love affair with British tourist Liz.  The other part of the events happens on the road to England and in the city of Leeds, where Liz is from, and where Osman is met with her refusal and decides to stay anyway.

In what follows we will outline the elements of the plot as they unfold in “Not Wanted”:

Exposition. In the exposition we are introduced to the main character and the setting he is in: “OSMAN FACED the big pile of greasy pans and smiled wryly. His life had come full circle from the little hotel back home in Turkey to this squalid Leeds basement.”  ...