Structure

The short story “Logjam” by Ron Wallace is structured following a traditional plot line and includes narrative techniques like character’s point of view, foreshadowing, flashback, and backstory. 

The plot revolves around the conflict of a married couple who have different personalities, a conflict that ends up affecting their daughter Phoebe. The plot is conveyed using Peterson’s perspective.  In what follows, we will look at the plot structure of the short s…

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Beginning

The short story begins in media res (in the middle of events), as the characters are caught in a heavy rain during a camping holiday: “It wasn’t his fault. When they pulled into the campground, conditions were as bad as they could possibly be. The weather report called for high winds and hail.” (ll. 1-2)

The bad weather foreshadows the conflict between the parents which is developed throughout the story…

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Middle

The middle of the short story combines present events with Peterson’s flashbacks about the past.

The rising action focuses on the present tensions between Christine and Paterson regarding camping in the rain: “He knew she knew he didn’t want to camp, and it was making her surly. The more agreeable he was, the more she was sure of his insincerity.” (ll. 36-37). The more Peterson tries to convince Christine that he is comfortable with camping in the rain, the more Christine doubts it.

Peterson convinces Christine to go and buy a mosquito repellant while he and…

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Ending

The story’s falling action and resolution overlap in a short paragraph. Phoebe puts an end to the climactic argument by pointing out that the parents are acting like children: “ ‘Hey, kids!’ she screamed, her voice all crackle and static, ‘What time is it?’ ” (l. 128)

However, the conflict betwe…