Structure

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Title

The title of the short story “Ray the Rottweiler” by Alice Jolly might mislead readers at first because they might assume the story is about a Rottweiler dog named Ray. Furthermore, the title is very catchy and musical as it creates alliteration (the use of the same letters repetitively in close by words) on the letter ‘R’.

However, the title is ironical because Ray is not an animal. Ray the Rottweiler is a nickname given to a man because he owns numerous Rottweiler dogs, which he claims he is saving from death and torture: “…Ray the Rottweiler, three fields away and down a track, is our only neighbour.” (ll. 16-17).

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Beginning

The story begins in media res by presenting Ray directly from the community’s perspective, through free indirect speech:

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Middle

The middle of the short story presents the interactions between Tess and Ray. The rising action develops with the woman’s first visit to Ray’s. Tension is created through the presence of the Rottweiler dogs on his property: “But now that I’m getting closer I’m beginning to wonder. It’s all dog. Dog everywhere. Slobbering dog faces at every window. Paws sticking out through a chewed gap at the bottom of the ruined front door.” (ll. 17-20)

From Tess’ conversation with Ray, we find out important details about each of the characters. We find out Tess has just moved to the area with her husband and her son Josh. She keeps Josh out of school because he suffers from eczema and has been bullied: “The thing is he had to go when he was only just four and really he was too little and the other kids. Well. I find it hard to say more.” (ll. 56-58)

We also find out that Ray rejects the idea of school and that he has so many dogs because he believes that he is saving them:

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Ending

The ending of the short story includes the falling action and the resolution. In the falling action, Josh is enrolled in school by his father, and Tess is sent to see a doctor about her anxieties:

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