Genre
Fiction, Historical Fiction
Setting and Context
Australia, New South Wales, in the early years of the setting up of a penal colony
Narrator and Point of View
The point of view is that of Daniel Rooke, an astronomer who is accompanying the fleet to New South Wales.
Tone and Mood
The tone is at first filled with promise and adventure; there is optimism and a tone of "anything is possible" but the tone later becomes more threatening and dark.
The mood follows suit; initially buoyant, it becomes murderous and angry.
Protagonist and Antagonist
Daniel Rooke is the protagonist, the Governor of New South Wales the antagonist.
Major Conflict
There is conflict in Daniel's life as a commissioned officer in the British military. There is conflict in the novel physically, when a group of British soldiers go into the Aboriginal areas outside the camp and attempt to kidnap and behead Aborigines. There is ethical conflict between Daniel and his superiors because he disagrees wholeheartedly with the enslavement of the indigenous population by the colonial British.
Climax
Daniel is sent back to England, disgraced, and stands trial for insubordination which is seen as a kind of treason. He is spared and goes to live on Antigua where he works to free slaves.
Foreshadowing
Daniel's decision to warn the little girl about the impending attack foreshadows his dishonorable discharge and repatriation for trial.
Understatement
Daniel tells the Governor that beheading the Aborigines is wrong, but this understates both how wrong it Is and also understates his own position of complete opposition.
Allusions
The novel alludes to real-life historical events and also alludes to the way in which the penal colonies were set up in Australia.
Imagery
N/A
Paradox
Daniel is dishonorably discharged but in his own view the dishonor is all on the part of the Governor and the colonial army.
Parallelism
There is a parallel between Daniel's attempts to warn the Aborigines and spare them from attack by the military and his work in Antigua to free slaves.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
The Fleet describes the entire force that was sent over to New South Wales and it is described as a unit with shared thought and intention.
Personification
N/A
