Plot and structure

“The Traveller” by Ryan O'Neil is structured in several parts or sequences which make up the story’s plot: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution.

Apart from the plot structure, you can also divide the story into several scenes according to the setting.

• The first part takes place on the streets of a city in Australia and it involves Richard and Paul.
• The second part takes place in the house, when Richard’s sister comes and informs him her cancer has come back.
• The third part takes place in Richard’s room, when we discover the whole orphanage story is only a scam invented by Richard to gain money.

In terms of plot sequences, here is how the events in “The Traveller” unfold:

Exposition. A man feels lost in his hometown after many years of travelling and living in Africa. He is going to pick up his nephew from school: “Lockhart was lost. He crossed a border of shade to stand in the sunlight, looking around for a sign.” (ll. 1-2)

Notice the way the story opens with a na...