The present thesis aims to trace the plots of coincidence and counterfactuality in Richard Ford’s selected short stories, from two noted collections: Rock Springs (1987) and A Multitude of Sins (2001), in the light of Hilary Dannenberg's theory. It follows the characters to examine if their path in the fictional world is convergent and results in the coincidence plot and subsequently a recognition scene or it is a divergent one which leads to an alternative version of reality. The current study also takes into consideration the technique of epiphany which adds the element of mystery to Ford’s stories. Since epiphanic moments and the recognition scenes in coincidental plot both entail the illumination or discovery, they can be considered as equivalent. While in the traditional recognition scene of the coincidence plot, characters discover a secret relationship, in the epiphanic moment, one of the characters receive a new insight about life and this moment turns to be a life-changing experience. Subsequently, when the protagonist changes her view toward life, she generally feels regret about the past .This feeling of regret creates a counterfactual version of real events. Consequently, through employing epiphany, Ford generates new configurations of coincidence and counterfactual plots.
