Genre
Fiction
Setting and Context
Set in 550 B.C. in modern-day Iran.
Narrator and Point of View
Third-person narrative
Tone and Mood
The tone is benevolent, and the mood is informative.
Protagonist and Antagonist
King Cyrus the Great is the protagonist of the story.
Major Conflict
The main conflict is that King Cyrus the Great schemes to overthrow those who help him extend his empire.
Climax
The climax is attained when King Cyrus concurs with Babylonians and diverts the Euphrates River to symbolize his victory.
Foreshadowing
training he got from his grandfather and the education he received, which helped him to be a critical thinker and strategist.
Understatement
The tactical war strategies employed by King Cyrus to defeat his enemies are understated. Despite being a critical thinker and great influencer, the king sided with the Egyptian army to help him defend Medeans.
Allusions
The story alludes to leadership strategies that can help a leader succeed in leading his people.
Imagery
N/A
Paradox
The main paradox is that the great empire built by King Cyrus the Great collapses when he dies. Ironically, the king did not mentor a leader to take over after him the way he was trained and mentored.
Parallelism
N/A
Metonymy and Synecdoche
Spartan tradition is a metonymy for supremacy and tactical strategy formation.
Personification
The empire is incarnated as loyal to the king.
