American Dirt Literary Elements

American Dirt Literary Elements

Genre

Novel

Setting and Context

Set in the context of drug dealership and illegal immigration

Narrator and Point of View

Third-person narrative

Tone and Mood

Sombre, horrific, violent, traumatic

Protagonist and Antagonist

The protagonist is Quixano Pérez saves.

Major Conflict

The entire family of Lydia is murdered in Mexico, but she luckily survives with her son, Luca. Lydia's family is murdered by Javier, a drug kingpin exposed by Lydia's husband.

Climax

The climax comes when Lydia and her son, together with the sisters Rebecca and Soledad, make it to America safely despite the many obstacles they come across.

Foreshadowing

Javier Crespo's expose about his drug dealership foreshadowed the merciless massacre of Lydia's entire family except her and her son.

Understatement

The influence of drug dealers in Mexico is understated. The reader realizes that drug warlords are very powerful and influential with networks both in government and society. When Lydia's husband exposes Javier, his entire family is wiped out except Lydia and her son.

Allusions

The story alludes to senseless massacres caused by drug warlords in Mexico and their influence.

Imagery

The sense of sight is depicted when the author describes Lydia's dangerous journey from Mexico to America.

Paradox

The main paradox is when Lydia spots Lorenzo in the migrant facility but claims he is also on the run, which is entirely satirical. Lorenzo is part of the cartel looking for Lydia to finish her.

Parallelism

N/A

Metonymy and Synecdoche

The patrol drone is used as a metonymy for surveillance to make it difficult for Lydia to cross the border.

Personification

N/A

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