L'Ingenu Literary Elements

L'Ingenu Literary Elements

Genre

Philosophical novella

Setting and Context

The actions described in the story take place in the second part of the XVII century in France, in Low Brittany and in Paris.

Narrator and Point of View

The narration is revealed by the third-person

Tone and Mood

The tone of the story is sad; an atmosphere of sensitivity reigns here and it adds vague tragedy to the mood of the story in general.

Protagonist and Antagonist

The protagonist is the Huron, French society is antagonist

Major Conflict

The main conflict is in opposition of a “natural man” with corrupted and perverted society; civilization with its wisdom and cruelty is opposed to the simple feelings and perception of the world of a human, who is not familiar with the rules according to which the modern society lives.

Climax

The climax comes when St. Yves dies.

Foreshadowing

When the Huron gives away the talisman which was supposed to bring him happiness, it foreshadows that unhappiness and other misfortunes might follow.

Understatement

N/A

Allusions

The story alludes to Rabelais, Shakespeare, and some other poets and writers. Also there are allusions to Ancient Greek myths and Biblical legends.

Imagery

The central image of the story is the image of Huron as an embodiment of nature and spiritual purity; his image is opposed to other characters - abbots, judges, soldiers, and royal officials who are vicious and depraved.

Paradox

"The devil has certainly been in him since he has been christened."

Parallelism

“I set him at liberty. I made him my friend.” – grammatically these are parallel constructions.

Metonymy and Synecdoche

“All eyes were riveted on the Huron” (“all the eyes” is a metonymy for people looking).

Personification

N/A

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