Analysis

In this section, we will highlight the elements of our analysis of “Self Defense” by Samuel Wilkes.

The story follows a linear plot structure, while including narrative techniques like in medias res, backstory, and foreshadowing.

The characters include Norman, who is the main character, and Daniel, as a secondary character. Note that the story also mentions Daniel’s friend Stuart, the clerk of a gas station, the elderly man who shoots Daniel, the elderly man's wife, and the Alabama State Troopers.

The events take place on the road through Alabama towards the Gulf of Mexico. The social setting explores issues such as male relationships, prostitution, killing in self-defense, and the effects of prison on inmates.

The events are described by Norman as a first-person narrator with limited knowledge, who also shares his thoughts and feelings with the readers. The first-person narrator is also a relevant narrative technique in the story.

The language is simple, mixing narration with dialogue, which helps the readers understand more about the characters. The author uses contractions both in the dialogue and the narration, which helps the narrator convey the main character’s voice and keep a generally informal tone throughout the story.

You can read the full analysis in the following pages.