Structure

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Beginning

The story begins in medias res, with the narrator waiting for someone. He is sure the people he is waiting for will arrive quickly, because they always do, which suggests that whatever is about to happen is a regular event: “I have gathered the equipment together and now I am waiting for them to arrive. They will not be long; they never are” (p. 207, ll. 1-2). This creates foreshadowing and tension, as readers know s…

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Middle

 The narrator’s confession brings with it a tension point. We learn that he is forced to film executions by beheading in his “war-broken city” (p. 207, l. 9). He confesses this right after he mentions his “artistic signature” (p. 207, l. 8), which makes the admission even more shocking, as readers probably would not expect someone to talk about artistic signature and style when mentioning beheadings. It also gives some insight into the narrator’s state of mind. He sounds detached and technical, which is probably something he does to cope with the difficulties of his life.

In the rising action the narrator admits that he has never wanted to film beheadings. (p. 207, ll. 11-12). Tension increases as the narrator reco…

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Ending

In the falling action we are shown what happens after the beheading, when the executioners celebrate: “They cheer and fire off their rounds” (p 209, l. 5), while the filmmaker checks the shots. At the end, he is driven to another location, where they upload the video and send it to the public.

The ending is open. The narrator reflects on his job, comparing it to that of war photographers, but adds that, unlike them, those forced to film beheadings do not have a choice. They are “innocent” (p. 209, l. 12).…