Genre
Historical, Korean
Setting and Context
Korea in an unspecified time period
Narrator and Point of View
An unnamed third-person omniscient narrator.
Tone and Mood
The tone is moving and powerful; the mood is overwhelming and dramatic.
Protagonist and Antagonist
Tree-ear is the protagonist; Min is the antagonist.
Major Conflict
The major conflict of the novel occurs when Tree-ear visits Min's yard to see the pottery that he produces and dries.
Climax
The climax of the story is reached when Tree-ear sees Kang working through the night and preparing the pottery for the royal visit.
Foreshadowing
The failure of Min's copied pottery is foreshadowed by his rough handling of them.
Understatement
The role that art plays in establishing relationships is understated throughout the novel.
Allusions
The story alludes to overcoming barriers in friendships.
Imagery
The imagery of delicate and intricate pottery is present in the novel.
Paradox
N/A
Parallelism
There is a parallel between Min and Tree-ear in their love and appreciation for art and pottery.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
Tree-ear is personified through the complicated pottery that Min produces.
