Students
Teachers & SchoolsStudents
Teachers & SchoolsPlot Analysis
James Thurber tricks us in his opening paragraph; this sounds like a story of fantasy.
This is the real heart of the story – Mitty's attempt to resolve his conflict. It's not exactly a typical "complication" to a typical "conflict." As you can see, this story doesn't really lend itself to typical plot breakdowns.
This is the real heart of the story – Mitty's attempt to resolve his conflict. It's not exactly a typical "complication" to a typical "conflict." As you can see, this story doesn't really lend itself to typical plot breakdowns.
Again, "Walter Mitty" is known for not subscribing to typical plot elements.
If there is suspense in this story, it's this lingering question with which we are left at the end of the tale. Is Mitty headed for some sort of psychological breakdown? Or are his fantasies just a harmless way of making his life more exciting?
This is Walter's last fantasy and does indeed have a sense of finality or falling action, as opposed to his other fantasies which are full of action of drama.
You can read "What's Up With the Ending?" for more discussion, but there are two basic ways of thinking about this conclusion. The first is that Walter is victorious in some way, and the second is that he is ultimately defeated.