Genre
science fiction
Setting and Context
futuristic world, Earth, Space and the planet with Omza University
Narrator and Point of View
Narrator: Binti
Point of view: first person
Tone and Mood
Nightmarish, adventurous
Protagonist and Antagonist
Protagonist: Binti; Antagonist: Meduse, humans
Major Conflict
Binti secretly decides to leave her home on Earth to get aboard a spaceship to the Omza University, a university for gifted students on another planet. On the way there, the spaceship gets taken over by a species called Meduse, with Binti being the only survivor of their attack.
Climax
Binti succeeds in negotiating peace between Meduse and Omza University, with Okwu becoming a student like her.
Foreshadowing
"I was going to be a pariah."
-Binti foreshadows her future as she secretly leaves her home to get aboard the spaceship to the Omza University.
Understatement
"Suffering is against the Way. Let us end you."
-Meduse trying to convince Binti to give up, after they fail to enter the room she's hiding in.
Allusions
N/A
Imagery
Imagery of hair: the importance of Binti's hair covered in red clay, for which she gets ostracized but which represents home and tradition. Her hair becomes Okuoko, a living part of her that connects her to Meduse.
Paradox
"Green tiny leaves of green tiny life when I was so close to death."
Parallelism
"I held it to my chest, shut my eyes, and prayed to it, I am in your protection. Please protect me. I am in your protection. Please protect me."
-Binti praying to Edan to protect her from Meduse
Metonymy and Synecdoche
The Chief - the leader of Meduse
Personification
"The ship made all sorts of sounds, even before the Meduse attacked. It was a living thing and like any beast, its bowels gurgled and quaked every so often."