Genre
Autobiographical
Setting and Context
Switzerland during the 1700s.
Narrator and Point of View
Rousseau narrates the book in the first-person.
Tone and Mood
The tone is intriguing; the mood is tense.
Protagonist and Antagonist
Rousseau is the protagonist; education is the antagonist.
Major Conflict
The major conflict of the book occurs when Rousseau begins to describe his education and early life, as if he is reliving it while he writes.
Climax
The climax of the book is reached when Rousseau dives into the method behind his works and explains the significance of each publication.
Foreshadowing
The fact that Rousseau includes humiliating moments is foreshadowed by his seemingly open character.
Understatement
The importance of truth is understated throughout the book.
Allusions
The book alludes to the impacts that childhood played at the time.
Imagery
The imagery of growing up and changing is present in the book.
Paradox
The fact that the autobiography contains many factual inaccuracies is an example of paradox in the story.
Parallelism
There is a parallel between Rousseau's own life and the story described in the book.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
N/A