The Magic Lantern Literary Elements

Historical book, Essays.

The settings of the book include Poland, Prague, Hungary and the countries which came under Soviet Union rule after WWII. The book has been written in the context of revolutions and civil wars in Europe during 20th century.

The essays have been written from first person's point of view and the narrator is Timothy Garton Ash. He has jot down his subjective experience in the essays.

Solemn, Ridiculing, Ironical, Pensive.

There is no specific protagonist in the book as it is a kind of commentary on political scenario. The political leaders who prefer their own motives have been described as the antagonists by the author.

The major conflict in the book is between the public and the politicians or the ruling governments.

The climax in the book comes when the democracy takes the place of Communism.

The civil war and revolutions in Poland foreshadows the political upheavals in other European countries.

The understatement in the book is the exploitation of masses by the political systems.

There are allusions to Communism, democracy, political systems, political animals, history, revolutions, political upheavals, European countries, magic lantern theatre, killing, bloodshed, cigarette, revolts, cinema, resistance and past.

There are images of magic lantern theatre and people sitting there. The author has given a detailed description of the entrance in the theatre as he says, “Through the heavy metal-and-glass doors, past the second line of volunteer guards, you plunge down a broad flight of stairs into a curving, 1950s-style, mirror-lined foyer.” There are also images of the fall of communism in Europe and the strife prevailing in the European countries. The author has portrayed people as chanting slogans and resisting the rule of communists.

There are also images of death, killing, fighting, political upheavals and revolutions. Garton has demonstrated that how people were unhappy with the political system and the politicians were grinding them for their motives. The ruthless treatment of the government has also been highlighted by the writer.

The paradox in the book is that the magazine of communist party was stating the actual facts and the Democrats were waiting for that newspaper. People were expecting the democratic party to tell the actual scenario of society, but they themselves were reading the magazine of the communist party. Another paradox in the story is that the democratic system replaced the Communist system but it was following the footsteps of communism regarding election.

The writer has drawn a parallelism between past and present and communism and democracy. It has been demonstrated that communist system is crushing the society while democratic system is for the betterment of society. Furthermore, the author has paralleled the actual democracy and the democratic system which was prevailing in the sovereign states.

An example of metonymy is the revolution in Poland depicts the revolutions in European countries which came under Soviet Union after second world war. An example of synecdoche is political animals which refer to the politicians who exploit the masses for their motives.

Dogs have been personified in the book.