Structure

The story “The Whaler” by Joe Sheerin is structured around a young boy’s meeting with a local legend, the Whaler – a whale hunter whom the boy idolises. However, the meeting does not go as planned, as the boy finds out that his childhood hero is nothing more than a liar.

The story follows a traditional plot line, having an exposition, a rising action, a climax, a falling action, and a resolution. We will discuss each of these plot elements below.…

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Beginning

In the exposition, readers are introduced to the main character – the young boy – and to his idol – the Whaler. The following q…

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Middle

The rising action begins with a foreshadowing element that hints at the Whaler not being the man who the boy thinks he is. The boy finds the Whaler defecating in the field, which makes him feel ashamed and which hints at the man being far from the hero the boy imagines. Furthermore, when the two of them shake hands, the boy is amazed to note that “it was a softer hand…

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Ending

In the falling action, the boy swears to keep the Whaler’s secrets and goes home. On his way, he stops and looks at Mrs Early’s house and watches her as she heads to the spring f…