Frame Story
Where the Crawdads Sing
by Delia Owens

Where the Crawdads Sing: Frame Story 1 key example

Key Examples in Where the Crawdads Sing

Frame Story
Explanation and Analysis—Kya's Trials:

Where the Crawdads Sing opens in 1969 with the sheriff and deputy starting a murder investigation, then quickly cuts back to the 1950s and Kya’s earliest memories in the marsh. In this novel Owens uses a frame story to organize the plot across two timelines. This lets the reader see both the investigation of Chase’s death and Kya’s childhood unfold together. The narrative alternates between Kya’s coming of age and the present-day criminal inquiry. It’s a large part of how Owens develops the growing suspense around Chase’s death and Kya’s involvement.