Genre
Fiction
Setting and Context
The book is written in the context of ideological nationalism.
Narrator and Point of View
Third-person narrative
Tone and Mood
Enlightening and moving
Protagonist and Antagonist
The protagonist is the nationalist, while the antagonist is the monarch.
Major Conflict
The main conflict is that Anderson argues that a nation does not exist physically because it is socially construed by people who share similar cultures and citizenship. This statement is conflicting because a nation is also marked using a physical boundary.
Climax
The climax is that socialism is stronger in unifying a nation because it helps people share a common identity. A good is an example is modern America which is unified through social identity.
Foreshadowing
The tomb of the unknown soldiers in America foreshadows endless socialism and identity among the Americans for many years to come.
Understatement
A nation is understated in the text. According to Anderson, an entire nation does not exit. However, the reality is different because a nation is identified by its physical boundary showing that it exists.
Allusions
The story alludes to the unity of America that is enhanced through socialism.
Imagery
The imagery nationally dominates the book. According to Anderson, the mental experience of humanity and society is enhanced through nationalism. Therefore, Anderson paints a picture of unity that is enhanced through emotional attachment.
Paradox
The main paradox is that the media, which is supposed to Unite Americans, plays a partisan role of propaganda and demeaning the nationalistic ideas that unify America.
Parallelism
N/A
Metonymy and Synecdoche
Nationalism is a metonymy referring to a common purpose.
Personification
N/A