Structure

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Beginning 

“The Moment Before the Gun Went Off” begins in medias res and with a highly dramatic first sentence, as we are told that “Marais Van der Vyver shot one of his farm laborers, dead.” (l. 1). This functions as a narrative hook and creates tension, which falls only slightly as the occurrence is described as an “accident” (l. 2). 

The exposition presents the consequences of this event from Van der Vyver’s point of view, outlining the conflict between him and the activists who will report on this event to further their political agenda. Through these hints, the readers get a better understand…

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Middle 

In the rising action, the tension rises as we learn there will be an inquiry (l. 43), although it falls again as we are told it will only have the purpose to “stop the assumption of yet another case of brutality against farm workers, although there’s nothing in doubt – an accident” (ll. 43-45). Van der Vyver’s out of character grief at the police station foreshadows the connection between him and Lucas.

The tension rises again as the event is described in detail. The mention of the gun, which Van der Vyver believes is not loaded because his father never allowed loaded guns in the house, foreshadows that it might act…