Structure
The structure of the short story “The Storm” by Kate Chopin includes narrative techniques like backstory and foreshadowing. The writer also uses the narrative technique of splitting the story into five parts to divide the narrative time and present different scenes in the sto…
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Beginning
The short story is told using the past tense, and it is organized into five parts. In the first part, the narrator describes the setting and introduces Bibi and Bobinôt’s characters.
The exposition includes an introduction, where we learn that Bibi, a four-year-old, and Bobinôt, his father, are at Friedheimer’s store (ll. 4-5). Bobinôt shows Bibi the “sombre clouds that were rolling with sinister intention from the west, accompanied by a sullen, threatening roar.” (ll. 3-4). The clouds are a foreshadowing element for the powerful storm that is approaching but also for Calixta’s and Alcée’s affair.
Bibi and Bobinôt decide to stay at the store until the storm passes. They have a brief conver…
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Middle
In the rising action, Alcée Laballière appears at Calixta’s house (ll. 24-25). Readers learn that they know each other, but that Calixta hasn’t seen him often since she got married, which creates a backstory about Calixta and Alcée’s relationship. The rain starts to fall in big drops (ll. 26-27), suggesting that Alcée will have to take shelter in Calixta’s house.
Alcée asks for Calixta’s permission to wait out the storm in the house’s gallery, and she welcomes him. This creates an interesting effect: “His voice and her own startled her as if from a trance” (l. 31). This creates a tension point, as it suggests that Calixta still has feelings for Alcée, which take her by surprise.
Alcée helps Calixta gather Bobinôt’s clothes – in a symbolic way, by taking Bobinôt’s clothes and helping Calixta, he replaces him as the man of the house. This is a foreshadowing element for the two protagonists’ affair. When Calixta and Alcée enter the house, the…
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Ending
In the falling action, the affair and the storm are coming to an end: “The growl of the thunder was distant and passing away. The rain beat softly upon the shingles, inviting them to drowsiness and sleep. But they dared not yield.” (ll. 99-100)
In part 3 of the story, Calixta watches Alcée ride away. They both feel happy: “He turned and smiled at her with a beaming face; and she lifted her pretty chin in the air and laughed aloud.” (ll. 103-104).
The narrator then focuses on Bobinôt and Bibi, who stop at the cistern to clean their muddy clothes. Although Bobinôt expects Calixta to scold them for their dirty clothes, she is happy and affectionately welcomes them ho…
