Analysis

The analysis of the short story “The World Ending in Fire” by Jan Carson shows that the story follows a non-chronological plot structure. The story presents the narrator’s memories from her childhood, from around the time she was eight until the time she was ten. 

The main character of the story is the unnamed narrator. Though her gender is not revealed, she is likely a young girl. The narrator’s friend Lyndsey and her mother Mrs Agnew are also important characters. The relationship between them is explored throughout the story. 

The physical setting of the story is the city of Belfast, in Northern Ireland. Several clues place the time setting somewhere in the 1970-1990s, during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. 

The story is told by an adult first-person narrator who looks back on some events from her childhood. The narrator maintains a child’s point of view , but also expresses her adult understanding of the situation she witnessed back then. 

The language is informal and reflects a child’s worldview and vocabulary. Several symbols, such as Mrs Agnew’s paddling pool and the stain it leaves behind, add different layers of meaning to the story. 

You can read a full analysis of the short story on the following pages.