Genre
Fiction
Setting and Context
United States and Nigeria, roughly 1980-2010
Narrator and Point of View
Third-person omniscient; the narration mostly follows Ifemelu but sometimes follows Obinze
Tone and Mood
Critical, nostalgic, observational
Protagonist and Antagonist
Ifemelu and to a certain extent Obinze are the protagonists.
Major Conflict
Ifemelu has made a major life choice - to move back to Nigeria - and must grapple with its repercussions. In addition, she is still in love with Obinze, her first boyfriend, and seeks a relationship with him though he is married and has a child.
Climax
Obinze comes to Ifemelu's door and confesses his love for her.
Foreshadowing
As the story skips in time, much exposition and foreshadowing is done through Ifemelu's thoughts while getting her hair done in Trenton.
Understatement
N/A
Allusions
N/A
Imagery
Adichie's imagery focuses on descriptions of people and culture in the United States and Nigeria, as Ifemelu focuses her observations and criticisms on these topics.
Paradox
N/A
Parallelism
Ifemelu and Obinze lead similar lives while living in foreign countries and working illegally under grueling conditions, before coming into success in different ways.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
N/A
