Structure

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Beginning

The short story "Sweet Potato Pie" by Eugenia Collier begins in medias res with Buddy observing his brother Charley: “From up here on the fourteenth floor, my brother Charley looks like an insect scurrying among other insects.” (p. 5, ll. 1-2)

In the exposit…

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Middle

In the rising action, Buddy begins to develop his and his brother Charley’s backstories through a series of flashbacks about their childhood and family life. Buddy and Charley were the children of poor sharecroppers who had to work long hours (p. 5, ll. 9-11). A flashback that describes the parents dividing their pay (p. 5, ll. 15-23) explains further how poor the family was. It also creates a tension point in the story, as it suggests the family struggled to survive and could not even afford buying new clothing.

Buddy goes on to explain in detail how his siblings, Lil and Charley, had taken care of him and the other younger siblings. Buddy’s …

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Ending

In the falling action, Buddy says goodbye to Charley. A tension point is created as Buddy can’t seem to hide his frustration over the pie: “I slammed the door harder than I had intended, walked rapidly to the hotel, and entered the brilliant, crowded lobby.” (p. 10, ll. 1-2)

The resolution shows Buddy being overwhelmed with emotion as he realizes that Charley is bringing him the sweet …