Structure

The story “Flight” by Katharine Susannah Prichard follows a single-event structure, typical of short stories. An Australian policeman removes three half-caste girls from their Aboriginal mothers as required by a government measure. The traditional plot structure (with an exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution) follows the inner conflict of Constable O’Shea - who disapproves of the government policy - as well as the perspectives of his wife and the three g…

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Beginning

The short story begins in media res, showing Constable O’Shea riding his horse together with the three half-caste girls: “Constable John O’Shea was an angry man, as he rode away from Movingunda with three little half-caste girls strapped on behind him.” (p. 161, ll. 1-2)

The exposition g…

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Middle

The middle of the short story includes the rising action and the climax. The rising action is comprised of various tension points and conflicts.

First, the author uses the flashback technique to convey events prior to the time of the narration. John O’Shea recalls how he took the girls, the reactions of three local white men to the event, and the bureaucratic process of registering the girls. These flashbacks help illustrate the conflict between the character and  the authorities, other white people, and Aboriginals: “Constable O’Shea sweated and swore as he thought of it, and the laughing-stock he had been to the white men on Movingunda, not one of whom would lend a hand to help him.” (p. 164, ll.  8-11)

The narration of the present events describes the ride from Movingunda to Lorgans by focusing on John O’Shea’s thoughts and his attitude towards the girls, and the whole situation, giving the reader a greater understanding of his character…

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Ending

In the falling action, we see the girls back in the room in Lorgans before the O’Shea family wakes up, thinking about their future not being as terrifying as the evil spirit. When Mrs O’Shea wakes up she is happy the girls did not r…