The Chrysanthemums Literary Analysis

Final Paper
Analyze the plot in terms of its exposition, complication, crises, falling action, and denouncement. “The Chrysanthemums” by John Steinbeck is set in Salinas Valley (Steinbeck 226). The is about a woman Elisa Allen who has a passion for growing chrysanthemums and her interaction with a man on a wagon. The plot is very influential in this story and it consists of exposition, complication, crisis, falling action, and denouncement.The elements of the plot help with the development of “The Chrysanthemums”.
The exposition consists of the main characters, setting, and primary conflict. In “ The Chrysanthemums” there are three main characters that are important. These three characters are Henry Allen, Elisa Allen, and the man in the

While working her on chrysanthemums the man on the wagon shows up and at first Elisa is surprised by his sudden appearance. This is shown in the story when Steinback says” Elisa, squatting on the ground, watched to see the crazy, loose-jointed wagon pass by. But it didn’t pass. It turned into the farm road in front of her house”(228). Elisa doesn’t think that the man on the wagon would come to her house. But he does and this is where complication starts because she was working on chrysanthemums which is what she normally does when he shows up

This is the story's crisis because at first, Elisa isn’t open to helping the man but then he takes an interest in the chrysanthemums and starts talking to Elisa about it. Tim Akers explains why Elisa decides to help the man on the wagon and how she helps him perfectly. He says “Clearly, Elisa envies the man’s life on the road and is attracted to him because he understands her love for flowers” and therefore she decides to help him by finding “him two pots to mend, and he drives away with fifty cents and the cuttings, promising to take care of the plants until he can deliver them to the other woman” (Akers). Elisa’s envy is shown when she says “It must be nice. I wish could do such things” (Steinbeck 230). Elisa says this after she asks the man if he sleeps on the wagon and he says yes. Elisa’s attraction to the man is because he “understands her love for flowers” which is shown when he talks about how nights are on the wagon after Elisa tries to explain to him how to take care of the