Genre
Collection of short stories
Setting and Context
The action described in the story "Willing" takes place over the course of a few days in Chicago.
Narrator and Point of View
The action in every story is told from the perspective of a third-person objective point of view.
Tone and Mood
The tone and mood in "Willing" is a neutral one.
Protagonist and Antagonist
The protagonist in "Beautiful Grade" is the teacher and the antagonist is is former best friend.
Major Conflict
The major conflict in "Beautiful Grade" is an internal one and is between the narrator's desire to be happy and to follow his heart and the need to fit in and submit to the social norms promoted by society.
Climax
The story "Dance in America" reaches its climax when the teacher decides to stay with the sick boy and offer him emotional support.
Foreshadowing
The teacher's connection with her pupils described at the beginning of the story "Dance in America" foreshadows the way in which she will grow extremely attached to her friend's child.
Understatement
We have an understatement at the beginning of the story "Willing" when the main character claims that all she wants to from a man in love. This however is an understatement when the narrator reveals that she is more interested in money and in a sexual relationship rather than finding someone who loves and respects her.
Allusions
The main allusion we find in "People Like That Are The Only People Here: Canonical Babblign in Peed Onk" is the idea that a person's happiness depends on inner peace.
Imagery
We have an important image at the end of the story "Dance in America" when the young boy is described as dancing without a care in the world. The reason why this image is important is that it transmits the idea that everyone, no matter how sick or healthy they are, can be happy.
Paradox
The main paradox we find in "People Like That Are The Only People Here: Canonical Babbling in Peed Onk" is the idea that the characters in the story became a lot happier after having to deal with the possibility of dying than they were when they were happy and safe.
Parallelism
A parallel is drawn in the story "Beautiful Grade" between the older and younger generation. This is used to point out the differences between the two and also to transmit the idea that the younger generation has a more balanced view of life.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
The act of dancing is used in "Dance in America" as a general term to make reference to the idea of freedom.
Personification
We have a personification in "Willing" in the line "the car ran along the freeway with the speed of light".
