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TL;DR: In 1963, two young ranch hands, Ennis del Mar and Jack Twist, are hired to herd sheep on Brokeback Mountain in Wyoming. During the long summer, they fall into a passionate relationship. Both later marry women and have children, but for twenty years they meet for “fishing trips,” unable to give each other up or to build a life together.
Table of Contents
Brokeback Mountain at a Glance
| Author | Annie Proulx |
| First published | 1997 |
| Type | Short story |
| Best for | readers who want a short, powerful love story about loss and silence |
Brokeback Mountain is a short story by Annie Proulx, first published in The New Yorker in 1997 and later collected in Close Range. It was adapted into an acclaimed 2005 film by Ang Lee. Below you will find a part-by-part summary, five key takeaways, ideas worth remembering and a note on who will enjoy it.
Content note: Includes sexual content, homophobic violence, a violent death and strong language.
Main Characters
- Ennis del Mar: A quiet, troubled ranch hand.
- Jack Twist: A talkative rodeo rider who dreams of a life with Ennis.
- Alma: Ennis's wife, who discovers the truth.
- Lureen: Jack's wife, from a wealthy Texas family.
- Joe Aguirre: The boss who hires them and sees more than he says.
What Happens, Part by Part (Contains Spoilers)
The mountain
Ennis and Jack, both nineteen and poor, meet while looking for work and are hired to guard a flock of sheep for the summer. One stays at the camp, the other sleeps up with the sheep. Living alone together in the high country, they drink, talk and become close. One cold night, they become lovers. When the job ends, they part awkwardly, and Ennis is shaken.
Separate lives
Ennis marries his fiancée Alma and has two daughters. Jack drifts to Texas, rides in rodeos and marries Lureen, whose father owns a farm machinery business. Four years later, Jack sends Ennis a postcard. When he visits, the two men embrace passionately, and Alma sees them from the window. She says nothing but begins to understand.
Fishing trips
For years, Ennis and Jack meet a few times a year for “fishing trips” in the mountains. Alma eventually divorces Ennis. Jack begs Ennis to buy a small ranch with him, but Ennis refuses. He remembers how, as a boy, his father showed him the body of a man who had been beaten to death for living with another man. He is terrified of the same fate.
Breaking point
Their time together is shaped by longing and frustration. On their last trip, Jack complains that they could have had a good life together, and that Ennis has given him only a few days a year. “I wish I knew how to quit you,” he says. Ennis breaks down. They part angry, without knowing it is the last time.
Afterward
Months later, a postcard Ennis sends comes back marked “deceased.” Lureen tells him Jack died when a tire exploded, but Ennis suspects he was killed with a tire iron. He visits Jack's elderly parents, who tell him Jack had planned to bring another man to their ranch. In Jack's closet, Ennis finds his own old shirt, hidden inside Jack's, both kept from the summer on Brokeback. Ennis keeps the shirts and a postcard of the mountain.
5 Key Takeaways
- Fear can keep people from the lives they want.
- Love that must stay hidden takes a heavy toll.
- Small objects can hold enormous meaning.
- Society's violence can shape a person's whole life.
- Some losses are never fully understood.
Ideas Worth Remembering
These are paraphrased, not direct quotes:
- Silence can be both a protection and a prison.
- The landscape can hold memories more strongly than words.
- Regret often comes after it is too late to act.
Who Should Read Brokeback Mountain?
Read Brokeback Mountain if you enjoy short literary fiction, love stories and tales of the American West. It suits adults.
About Annie Proulx
Annie Proulx (born 1935) is an American writer known for her vivid portraits of rural life. Her novel The Shipping News won the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. She has written three collections of Wyoming stories, beginning with Close Range, which includes Brokeback Mountain. Her later works include the novel Barkskins and the nonfiction book Fen, Bog and Swamp.
Questions to Think About After Reading
These prompts work for solo reading, a book club or a classroom discussion of Brokeback Mountain:
- Why does Ennis refuse to build a life with Jack?
- What do the shirts in the closet mean?
- How does the Wyoming setting shape the story?
How to Use This Summary
Use this page as a quick reference before a book club meeting, an exam, or a decision about whether Brokeback Mountain is worth your time. The takeaways are written to stand on their own. If a point interests you, go back to the book for the author's full story, characters and style, which no short summary can replace.
A Note on Accuracy and Spoilers
This summary is based on the published text of Brokeback Mountain, not on any film, series or stage adaptation, which often change the story. Details are kept at the level of the main events so that nothing is invented. Editions differ slightly in length and wording, so page numbers and small details may vary between copies.
Should You Read the Book?
Yes. It is only about 30 pages but leaves a lasting impression.
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What to Read Next
- The Shipping News by Annie Proulx: Proulx's prize-winning novel of fresh starts
- Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin: a powerful story of hidden love
- Call Me by Your Name by André Aciman: a summer romance and its long echo
Related: 15 Books Like Brokeback Mountain You’ll Love · The Shipping News by Annie Proulx: Summary and Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Brokeback Mountain about?
Two ranch hands fall in love on a mountain in Wyoming and spend twenty years meeting in secret.
Who wrote it?
Annie Proulx, first published in 1997.
Is it a novel?
No, it is a short story of about 30 pages.
How does Jack die?
His wife says it was an accident, but Ennis believes he was killed.
What do the shirts mean?
They show that Jack kept a memory of their first summer together.
Where is it set?
Wyoming, with scenes in Texas.
Is there a film?
Yes. Ang Lee's 2005 film starred Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal.
Did the film win awards?
Yes, including three Oscars, among them Best Director.
What age is it for?
Adults.
Where can I read it?
In Close Range or as a small standalone edition.
Is there an opera?
Yes, Charles Wuorinen's opera premiered in 2014.
Is the story sad?
Yes, it is deeply sad.
Should I read the story or watch the film first?
Either works. The story is short enough to read in one sitting, and the film follows it very closely.
Is Brokeback Mountain worth reading?
It depends on what you want. The book is best for readers who want a short, powerful love story about loss and silence. If that describes you, it is likely a good fit. If not, the titles under What to Read Next may suit you better.