Becoming Literary Elements

Memoir, Political Memoir

Each section of the book is set in a different place; Section One is set in Chicago, Section Two in Harvard, Section Three in Washington D.C.

The narrator is the author, Michelle Obama, and she narrates from her own point of view.

The tone is upbeat and the mood is one of trying to uplift the reader.

Michelle Obama is the protagonist; there is no real antagonist in the book.

The major conflict in the memoir comes with the general election campaign of 2008, particularly the war of words between Obama and Hillary Clinton, his rival for the Democratic nomination.

Barrack Obama wins the Presidential Election in 2008 and the Obama family become the First Family of the United States.

Barrack Obama's success as a community organizer, and the way in which he could build up a crowd with his oratory, foreshadows his success in the election.

Michelle Obama describes herself as "motivated" which would seem an understatement given her academic achievements and the way in which she was able to use education to improve her life.

The author alludes to the political situations that arose during the Obama's time in the White House.

No specific examples

On the face of it, it was Michelle Obama who had achieved more academically but the role of First Lady meant that she had to take somewhat of a back seat to her husband's position and take less of a vocal stance on many things she had strong opinions about.

There is a parallel between the way in which both of the Obamas propelled themselves through life using education as a springboard to better things.

Voters is used to represent individual citizens who have individual views on different issues.

The White House is personified indirectly as it is given a role in the make up of the family when in fact a building, as an inanimate object, cannot really take a "role" in anything.