Analysis

The short story “The Fly-Paper” by Elizabeth Taylor follows a chronological plot structure, with elements of foreshadowing. An analysis of the structure shows that the tension rises and falls only to rise again throughout the story, keeping the reader in suspense.

The main character is Sylvia Wilkinson, an 11-year-old girl. The other characters are the man and woman on the bus, whose names we learn at the end to be Herbert and Mabel. The conflict between Sylvia and the man is at the center of the story, and the woman’s role shifts from protector to threat in the climax.

The action takes place on the bus, on the street, and in the woman’s house. The social setting explores issues such as social expectations, child kidnappings and family issues.

The story is told from the point of view of a third-person narrator. The narrator is limited and only has access to Sylvia’s thoughts and feelings.

The language is formal, with no contractions, and there are several long words which are rarely used in everyday conversation. There are also a lot of negative words, which create a sense of unease and build up the external conflict.

Further help

For more advice about analyzing short stories, you can read our general guide to short story analysis.