Genre
Sports novel, drama
Setting and Context
Swedish town called Beartown, present time
Narrator and Point of View
Narrator: omniscient;
Point of view: third person
Tone and Mood
Tense, melodramatic
Protagonist and Antagonist
Protagonist: Maya Andersson; Antagonist: Kevin, most of the Beartown community
Major Conflict
In the anticipation of the national semi-finals and finals in ice hockey, the entire community of Beartown puts hope on the star player Kevin, who commits a vile act against Maya, the GM's daughter, at the celebration party.
Climax
Maya takes a shotgun to kill Kevin, and while he's deathly scared in the dark on his knees, pulls the trigger without the bullet inside. She tells him that she wanted him to be scared of the darkness, just as she is.
Foreshadowing
"In hindsight, Kira will wish a thousand times over that she had forced her daughter to stay home."
-after Kira allows Maya to attend the semi-final celebration party
Understatement
"It's only a game. It only resolves tiny, insignificant things. Such as who gets validation. Who gets listened to."
-about the importance of ice hockey to Beartown
Allusions
"How can you be too old for NIRVANA? How old are you?"
-Maya addressing her father
Imagery
Imagery of bears to imply the town's resilience and pride, but also their judgmental backwardness and cruelty.
Paradox
"Because this family does not lose. Not even when they do."
-about Kevin's family
Parallelism
"Kevin turns towards the goal and his eyes turn black. Bang-bang-bang-bang-bang. Again. Again. Again."
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
"The ice judges you by your ability to change direction and thought quicker than anyone else - that's what separates the best players from the rest."
