1. Non-linear Narrative: The story is told in a non-linear fashion, jumping back and forth in time. This structure helps in building suspense and gradually revealing the psychological impact of the traumatic event on the narrator. It allows the reader to see the event unfold from different perspectives, highlighting the narrator's evolving understanding and feelings.
2. Multiple Perspectives: The story is told from the first-person perspective of the unnamed narrator, allowing us to delve into his internal world and experience the events through his eyes. This also allows for the exploration of themes like memory, guilt, and trauma, as seen through the narrator's lens.
3. Symbolic Elements: The story is rich in symbolism, with the waves, the sea, and the seventh man (the narrator's friend who was swallowed by the sea) carrying significant weight. These elements represent the power of nature, the fragility of human life, and the impact of loss on the individual.
4. Recurring Motifs: Certain motifs, like the recurring dream about the sea and the constant presence of the narrator's childhood home, serve to reinforce the themes of the story. These motifs also add layers to the narrative and enhance the emotional impact.
5. Episodic Structure: The story can be divided into several episodes, each focusing on a specific stage of the narrator's life and his journey to grapple with the traumatic event. This allows for a detailed exploration of his emotional evolution.
6. Circular Structure: The story ends where it began, returning to the beach where the tragedy occurred. This circular structure suggests that the narrator, despite the passage of time, still feels haunted by the past and its unresolved emotions.
Overall, the structure of "The Seventh Man" contributes to the story's impact on the reader. The non-linear narrative, multiple perspectives, symbolic elements, recurring motifs, episodic structure, and circular structure work together to create a powerful and emotionally resonant narrative.