Analysis

Here is an outline of our analysis of the short story “Let’s Go to the Videotape” by Fiona Maazel. The short story explores the struggle with grief which a father and his son are going through after tragically losing their wife and mother in a car accident three years prior.

The short story’s structure is not chronological as it includes several flashbacks. It also contains foreshadowing hinting at the climax when Nick is forced to realise that his son has been hit harder by the tragic accident than he thought. 

The main character of the story is Nick Slocombe, who is a grieving widower has worries that he is not doing a good job as a single parent. His son, Gus, is another major character of the story. The short story also explores the father-son relationship between these two characters.

The setting of the short stoyr is in the United States of America. The social setting explores the issues of a consumerist society and the risks presented by social media, especially to children.

The events are described by a third-person narrator. The narrator is limited to Nick’s point of view.

The language includes devices such as similes and metaphors. The style of writing in lines 102-113 reflect the different speech patters of adults and children and also includes personification. 

You can read a full analysis of the story on the following pages.

Further help

Short story analysis

For more advice about analysing short stories, you can read our general guide to short story analysis.