Analysis

This section highlights the main elements of our analysis of the story “The Idea” by Raymond Carver.

The story’s plot structure is linear, and it features narrative techniques such as foreshadowing and backstories. The story recounts an incident about a couple who spy on their neighbors while the neighbors enact a sexual fantasy.

There are only a few important characters in the story. The main character is an unnamed first-person narrator. Her partner Vern and their neighbors are secondary characters.

The events take place in America, towards the end of the twentieth century. The social setting explores the growing social movement of sexual liberation in the 1970s.

The events are described by a limited first-person narrator.

The story is told in a descriptive style, and includes important examples of 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

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