Genre
African-American; Post-modern
Setting and Context
Fictional Willow Springs and New York City
Narrator and Point of View
Cocoa and George each provide their own first person perspectives.
Tone and Mood
The tone is mysterious and unusual, the mood is of love and tragedy
Protagonist and Antagonist
Cocoa is the protagonist, George is the antagonist
Major Conflict
The novel's major conflict occurs when George chooses not to leave New York as Cocoa keeps the abnormal activity in Willow Springs a secret.
Climax
The climax of the story is reached when Cocoa reveals to George that she is dying as she has been cursed by an evil witch.
Foreshadowing
Cocoa falling ill is foreshadowed by her childhood, where her family all experienced pain as this has continued throughout her life.
Understatement
The importance of maintaining relationships, no matter the cost, is an example of understatement in the story.
Allusions
The novel alludes to the position of African-American women in society, despite the novel being set in a fictional world.
Imagery
The image of desperation is shown through the ritual performed to save Cocoa's life.
Paradox
Cocoa wished to save the lives of other people, and yet it was George who sacrificed his life in order to save her.
Parallelism
N/A
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
Mama Day is personified through the collective movements of the community in Willow Springs.
