Plot and structure

In the following section, we will help you identify the elements of the plot and structure of “The Rental Heart”. By plot, we understand a literary term used to describe the events that make up a story.

In this short story, the plot is not chronological; the author uses flashback to convey information about events that occurred earlier letting the readers gain a full understanding of the present events. This is also known as a nonlinear narrative.

Elements of the plot

Generally, every plot has about five elements, but not necessarily. In this short story, the actions are not chronological, they jump in time and we can identify only four of the five elements of the plot.

 Exposition

 In a future, unknown time, the protagonist meets Grace and deci...