Genre
Religion and Anthropology
Setting and Context
The setting is either abstract and theoretical, or relating to Aricia, Italy, in pre-Christian times
Narrator and Point of View
The narrator is the author and he writes from his own perspective since it is his own journey of discovery that he is writing about
Tone and Mood
Seeking knowledge
Protagonist and Antagonist
The author is the protagonist and the knowledge that alludes him the antagonist
Major Conflict
When someone wants to be the priest they challenge the current priest and they fight to the death. This means that there is constantly conflict because many challenge for the position
Climax
The climax of the book is Frazer's own feeling that he has found the knowledge and understanding that he was seeking
Foreshadowing
A challenge made to the priest foreshadows his likely death as in order to become priest the challenger must kill him first.
Understatement
The author calls the fight to become priest "gruesome" but this is an understatement because the battles were battles to the bloodiest of deaths.
Allusions
The writer alludes to the ancient myths and legends of many different cultures that all have a similarity to them.
Imagery
The most vivid pictures that the author paints for the reader are the scenes of the would-be priest attacking the current one and the bloody fight that follows.
Paradox
Magicians in the earliest times used their magic mostly for the benefit of their own family, which is paradoxical because religion was intended to bring more people to belief, and by practicing independently they are not really "briber f religion"
Parallelism
There is a parallel between believing in a higher power but not forcing a personal relationship with them, and appearing to be having a relationship with the higher power but in reality going through the motions for appearances. Neither is religion.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
Pagans is the term used to describe many different kind of pre-Christian people who believe in higher powers.
Personification
No specific examples