What are the parts of structure of "Guests of the Nation"?

This is a popular question to ask because O'Connor has
constructed "Guests of the Nation" in episodes that correspond to literary function. The
first episode is, of course, the exposition in which
O'Connor introduces characters and then establishes their interactions with each other,
showing not only how the Irish rebels act with each other but also how the rebels act
with the English prisoners.

The second episode develops the
complication. The officer in charge keeps his distance from
the others and shows no friendliness toward the English prisoners. The other two rebels,
Bonaparte and Noble, are informed that the English soldiers are no longer prisoners;
they are now hostages and will be executed in retaliation if the British forces execute
any of their Irish rebel prisoners. This news is distressing to Bonaparte and Nobel;
they can no longer relate with ease to the prisoners and can't sleep at
night.

The third episode is rising
action. Bonaparte and Noble get the report they have been dreading; the
British have executed four Irish rebels, one of whom was a sixteen-year-old boy. Donovan
gives orders that the British hostages, Hawkins and Belcher, will be executed by
Bonaparte and Noble in the woods.

Episode four comprises
both the climax and the falling
action. Donovan and Bonaparte take the hostages through the woods to a
bog. Donovan tells them that there is to be no transfer but they are to be executed. The
theme of duty and responsibility arises while Hawkins tries to talk Donovan out of
fulfilling his orders. Hawkins is shot. Belcher sees Hawkins is still alive and asks
Bonaparte to shoot him a second time. Then Belcher joins Hawkins
fate.

The falling point is
when they must dig graves for the men who are now dead. The falling
action follows when the rebels return to the cottage. The old woman of
the cottage who has been with them all through the story falls to her knees in prayer
when she realizes what has been done; Noble joins her in prayer on his
knees.

Since this is Bonaparte's narrative and a story
about his experience, the resolution occurs when Bonaparte
goes into the dark night, looks at the dark sky and feels small, lost and alone. He ends
his narrative by saying he could not think about things, like duty and personal
responsibility, the same way as he did before.