Analysis

An analysis of the short story “What We Talk about When We Talk about Love” by Raymond Carver shows that it has a chronological structure centered around a conversation between two couples. The narrative also contains flashbacks that reveal more about the characters’ backgrounds. 

The characters of the story are the two couples, Mel and Terri, and Nick and Laura. As the narrative progresses, the main characters talk about other people who used to be a part of their lives, but also about people who have a different take on the idea of love. 

The physical setting is Albuquerque, New Mexico. The two couples are sitting in Mel and Terri’s kitchen. The story’s social setting contains references to divorce and attitudes towards domestic violence.

The story is told by Nick, the first-person narrator who is involved in the events. He mainly presents what he observes, and his focus is mostly on Mel, who does most of the talking. 

The language used in the story is neutral and simple. The style of writing is minimalist, with brief descriptive passages. Most of the story is delivered through dialogue. 

A full analysis of the short story can be found in the following pages. 

Short story analysis

I denne vejledning får du Studienets hjælp til at analysere noveller (short stories) i engelsk.