Structure

The short story “The Rocking-Horse Winner” by D. H. Lawrence has a chronological structure, with the events taking place, over a longer period of time. 

The beginning of the story introduces some of characters – Hester and her children. At the same time, the opening sentence – which resembles the beginning of fairy-tales – misleads the readers into thinking the story is going to be like a fairy-tale and have a happy ending: “There was a woman who was beautiful, who started with all the advantages, yet she had no luck”. Therefore, the opening sentence suggests that there might be some fantastic elements to the tale.

The story continues with the contrast between the family’s income and their decision to maintain a luxurious lifestyle, and with Paul’s attempts to solve the family...