"Boule de Suif" and Other Stories Literary Elements

A short story

The events of the story take place during the Franco-Prussian War. The Dumpling (or "Boule de Suif") and several other people try to flee from the city occupied by Prussians.

The story is told by an omniscient narrator from the third point of view.

The narrator’s tone is sarcastic. The mood is worrying.

Elizabeth Rousset is the protagonist of the story. The society around her is the antagonist.

The first major conflict is person vs. society, for the Dumpling is considered unworthy from the very beginning. The second major conflict is person vs. self, for it the Dumpling has to step over her own principles and spend a night with an enemy to save others. That is a difficult decision to make.

The persuasion of the Dumpling is the climax of the story.

The moment when the Dumpling returns from an office of a Prussian officer and calls him “a cur” foreshadows the events of the story. It is as clear as a day what kind of an offer he has made. There is no doubt that the Dumpling won’t be able to protect herself.

When people say that if it the girl’s “trade” a night with a Prussian officer will do her any harm, they underestimate her feelings.

The story alludes to the Franco-Prussian War.

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"She fell silent, afraid of causing offense."

The Dumpling was generous enough to offer her food to people who judged and despised her. However, it was she who was afraid of causing offense. The woman did have the most disgraceful profession among all of them, but she was clearly a better person than any of them.

They begged her, pressured her, lectured her, and finally convinced her.

Every eye was trained on her. (Every eye is metonymy that denotes undivided attention.)

The basket was now empty. (The basket is synecdoche which means that there was no food in the said basket.)

The coach moved forward slowly, slowly, at snail’s pace. The wheels sank into the snow; the whole body of it groaned with dull creaks.