A Very Very Very Dark Matter Literary Elements

A Very Very Very Dark Matter Literary Elements

Genre

Surreal Comedy

Language

English

Setting and Context

1800s Copenhagen

Narrator and Point of View

Told through the point of view of the narrator/told through a third-person point of view

Tone and Mood

Surreal, Violent, Tense, Chaotic, Strange, Ominous, and Disconcerting.

Protagonist and Antagonist

Marjory (Protagonist) vs. Hans Christian Andersen (Antagonist)

Major Conflict

Hans' quest to remain relevant is the primary conflict of the play. To that end, he violently encourages Marjory -- who wants to escape Hans' torture -- to write more popular books.

Climax

Towards the end of Hans' visit to Charles Dickens when the two have a spirited discussion

Foreshadowing

The fact that Charles Dickens also has a pygmy woman he imprisons to write for him is foreshadowed early on in the play.

Understatement

The extent of Hans' depravity and the effect his torture has on Marjory is understated throughout the play.

Allusions

To various figures in European literature, particularly Hans Christian Andersen himself

Imagery

McDonagh's description of Marjory in her cage evokes colonialist imagery

Paradox

Marjory has made Hans rich and famous, yet he treats her inhumanely.

Parallelism

The story of Marjory are her sister are routinely paralleled throughout the play.

Personification

The box which Marjory is imprisoned in is routinely personified.
A violin is called "whiny"

Use of Dramatic Devices

There are several fourth-wall breaks in the film. The most notable one comes when McDonagh mentions that Andersen died from falling out of his bed and that he was gay.

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