Structure

The story “To Keep the Faith” by Michael Becket has a linear plot structure. The story begins in medias res with Jean being told of her husband’s death. The action then follows the events chronologically, ending with the day of the funeral.

The situation creates a short-term conflict between Jean and Siobhan and Billy and Jamey. Since Siobhan and Jamey are Catholic, Jean and Billy reject their attempts at comforting them, because they blame all Catholics for William’s death. Jean is also going through an inner conflict, as she is grieving her husband’s death and does not know what to do. There is also a conflict between the father’s beliefs of peaceful cooperation and Jean and Billy’s feelings of anger and hatred after his death.

An element of fore...