Structure

The short story “Neighbours” by Tim Winton begins when the newly-married couple first moves to the new neighborhood, and the story is told in a linear manner.

The short story is structured around the conflict between the couple and their neighbors and follows their relationship chronologically, as it develops during several months. The events are presented in a simple and straightforward way, with no flashbacks or foreshadowing. 

The story is split into three parts, sometimes indicated by the change in seasons. The first part presents the couple’s first months in the neighborhood and their first interactions with their neighbors. The second part starts once autumn arrives, when the neighbors’ acts of kindness make the couple warm up to them, and their new friendship develops throughout the winter. The last part follows the wife’s pregnancy through the ...