Analysis
This section highlights the main elements of our analysis of the short story “How to Lose” by Victoria Patterson.
The story’s plot structure is traditional , and contains flashbacks through the Natalie’s memories and perspective.
There are two important characters in the story, Natalie and her nephew AJ. Their relationship and development are the centre of the action and the focus of the theme.
The story takes place somewhere in modern-day South California. The social setting revolves around issues of mental health and grief. The story is told by a third-person narrator, whose point of view is mostly limited to Natalie’s perspective.
The choice of words reflects an informal language. This is accompanied by similes and metaphors that enhance the intensity of the main characters’ feelings.
You can read the full analysis in the following pages.