Genre
Philosophy, spirituality
Setting and Context
2006, Multiple countries mainly Russia
Narrator and Point of View
The author is the narrator and POV is his autobiographical first-person narrative as a writer.
Tone and Mood
Tone and mood are mostly serious and philosophical, though they keep on varying keeping with the narrative.
Protagonist and Antagonist
The narrator is the protagonist as he is trying to achieve the Aleph but due to his own shortcomings he is also the antagonist.
Major Conflict
The major conflict is with the narrator who is trying to be the 'king of his kingdom', he is trying to achieve the eternal peace. He is also conflicted as the women who will show him the path are also the women for whose death he was responsible in Dark Ages in a certain incantation.
Climax
The maximum tension is achieved when Hilal threatens him after learning that he was responsible for her death in an incarnation.
Foreshadowing
The prophecy by a clairvoyant, that the soul of Turkey will drive his blood but lead him towards eternal peace is a clear reference for Hilal.
Understatement
Hilal's determination and passion are often understated by other and the author. Her importance is also understated as she is misunderstood by everyone as a harmless groupie.
Allusions
There are multiple allusions to scriptures, folk lore of multiple countries as the narrator uses these allusions to make his point.
Imagery
The most predominant imagery is of the train, which is described as a dream, magnificence, jail, and city in quick succession as the narrator spends two weeks on it.
Paradox
N/A
Parallelism
The parallelism is shown with the stories of narrator and Hilal in present time and in 1492 when they were different people in the a different country.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
Strings are often used to describe Hilal's violin. This is a metonymy in this case.
Personification
The are of Aikido is personified as a woman. The martial art form is described as making love with a woman. It is as passionate and draining.
