Plot

By plot we understand the sequence of events that make up a story. The short story “The Ladder” by Sheila Purdy  is structured in the following way: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution.

This is how the events in “The Ladder” unfold:

Exposition. The reader gets to know Annie and her place of work.

“On the eighth floor of Virtual Processes & Systems Corporation you hang up your jacket in the still kitchen, kick off your runners and get into your Crocs. The water boiler has to be filled and switched on to have the water scalding by the time the catering girl comes in at 8.30 a.m.” (ll. 1-4)

Notice that the reader is not given any information about Annie’s age or looks at this point in the short story. Still, there are several hints which indicate the fact that Annie is young and good looking: “You have on the little animal print you got in the sales.” (l. 22)

Annie is also asked to take Kylie’s place and to cater an important meeting in the boardroom.

The writer int...