Analysis

This section highlights the main elements of our analysis of the story “One More Thing” by Raymond Carver.

The story’s plot structure is linear, and it features narrative techniques such as foreshadowing. The story recounts a moment in the life of L.D., who is an alcoholic. It shows his family’s struggle to deal with his behavior.

The characters of the story include L.D, who is the main character. His family members, Maxine and Rae, are secondary characters.

The events take place in America, towards the end of the twentieth century. The social setting explores the effects of alcoholism on a person and the people close to that person. It also explores the family values of the 1980s.

The events are described by an omniscient third-person narrator, but the minimalistic style means that not all details are fully revealed.

The story is told in a descriptive style, which includes imagery and symbolism. The language is easy to understand, mixing narration with dialogue, which helps the reader understand more about the characters and the events.

You can find a full analysis of the story in the following pages.

Further help

Do you want additional help with analysis of short stories? See our general guide for more: