Structure

The short story “Tin Man” by Jennifer Kerslake follows a chronological plot structure, and the main action takes place over the course of several days, although the story also mentions events that happened in the past.

The story begins in medias res, capturing the attention of the readers and drawing them into the action:

As soon as I set eyes on the silver knit, I know he won’t be able to do it. With his big-knuckled hands, Dad can fell a tree in three strokes, but he can’t squeeze even his little finger into Mum’s silver thimble. I’d imagined a costume of armour, heavy and muscled, joints creaking across the stage. As I stretch the material – what did Miss say, lamé? – between my fingers, I think of catsuits and disco skirts.

The beginning offers several clues about the main characters and their situation. We can guess that the narrator is a young child in need of a costume for a school play, and that she doubts that her father will be able to make one for her, as he...