Analysis

An analysis of the short story “Zolo” by S. Bhattacharya-Woodward shows that the text has a chronological structure, but it also contains many flashbacks. The story follows Zolo during his dangerous rooftop walk when he thinks about his unstable family situation. 

The main characters are Zolo and his mother. Zolo and his younger brother, Zakky, become victims of their mother’s neglect, as she is passive and spends her days ignoring her children and her responsibilities. The mother’s neglect pushes Zolo to adopt responsibilities that are too big for a child and to seek control over his situation. 

The physical setting is London, UK. Zolo lives in a block of flats in a poor neighborhood, which is dirty and neglected. As he walks on the rooftop of his building, Zolo is attracted by the city’s skyline and by the skyscrapers, which make him yearn for a different life. The story’s social setting focuses on life in a low-class neighborhood and the social issues that people face there. 

The events are told by a third-person narrator who is mostly limited to Zolo’s perspective. At times, the narrator moves away from Zolo’s point of view and offers comments meant to explain the way Zolo is feeling, as he does not always know how to put his feelings into words. 

The language is mainly informal and reflects Zolo’s social background. At times, figurative language helps readers connect Zolo’s desire to control his rooftop walk with his desire to control his unstable family life. 

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