“The Elevator”
Short story by William Sleator
In the first paragraph, Sleator identifies
an old building (probably a high-rise) with
a small elevator described as ominous.
This adds to the tone (feeling you get)
and the suspense.
Exposition: Setting
Martin is a thin, twelve-year-old (written
out and with hyphens) boy. He lives on
the 17th floor of the building, and he gets
bullied at school and is picked last for
teams.
He is uncomfortable in elevators.
Exposition: Character(s)
Martin’s father obviously thinks he is a
coward.
External conflict
Martin has a fear of being trapped in an
elevator by himself. He is also very
uncomfortable when people are in the
elevator with him.
Internal conflict
The fat lady is introduced when she gets
on the elevator at the fourteenth floor.
She wears a green coat and dirty
sneakers. She is so large that she fills the
elevator by herself. She stares directly at
Martin.
Rising action begins
Martin develops a fear of the fat lady.
He frantically tries to figure out who she is
and why she is in the building.
Rising action continues
Martin can’t decide whether he should
ride the elevator or take the stairs. The
elevator means facing the fat lady; the
stairs mean facing his father and his
weakness.
Internal conflict
The fat lady gets on the next time at
the third floor and goes up to the
eighteenth. Martin can’t figure out why.
He worries about what would happen if
the elevator got stuck. He wants to get
off but thinks he can’t get past her.
Rising action continues
Martin asks his father about the fat
lady. His father accuses him of being
afraid.
External conflict
The fat lady meets him the next time on
his floor, so Martin decides to take the
stairs. He falls and fractures his leg. Now
he is forced to take the elevator.
Rising action continues
When they get home, Martin rides the
elevator with his father who gets off at
the ninth floor. At the tenth floor, the
elevator stops and the fat lady gets on.
She calls him by name and pushes the
STOP button.
Climax
Point of view: Third person (narrator is
NOT in the story)
 Theme: It is better to face your fears
 Irony: Martin is more worried about
displeasing his father than being honest
with himself.
 His fear of elevators ends up being the
thing that gets him.

Other elements…
The author chooses not to resolve the
story. He doesn’t tell us how the conflict
between Martin and the fat lady is
resolved.
(No) Resolution