Structure

The short story “Uncle Dougie’s Suitcase” by Alastair Chisholm begins in medias res: “When I was nine years old my Uncle Dougie caught me looking in his suitcase” (l. 1). The opening sentence acts as a narrative hook, making the readers wonder about that incident and its consequences. It must be important since the narrator is thinking back on it. 

The incident where the nine-year-old narrator looks into his uncle’s suitcase marks the starting point for the “story within the story” told by Uncle Dougie, which makes up a large section of the short story.

There are several instances of foreshadowing in the story. For example, Uncle Dougie teasing Douglas about being naughty and not being caught (ll. 22-23) foreshadows that Douglas will eventually ...