Genre
Speculative fiction
Setting and Context
Bedford, England
Narrator and Point of View
The point of view is third-person and the story is told from the perspective of an omniscient narrator.
Tone and Mood
The tone of the novel is sympathetic and humorous. The mood is contemplative.
Protagonist and Antagonist
The protagonist of the novel is Nora Seed. There is no primary antagonist character.
Major Conflict
Nora's major conflict is struggling to find meaning in her life. After a particularly bad day, she is left feeling as if she has nothing to tether her to remaining alive, as she thinks no one needs or cares about her.
Climax
The climax of the novel occurs when Nora struggles to stay alive as the library collapses in flames.
Foreshadowing
The end of the novel is foreshadowed in the first chapter, as Nora plays chess with Mrs. Seed, and this exact scene is repeated many years later.
Understatement
N/A
Allusions
The writer Thoreau is alluded to multiple times throughout the novel, as he is Nora's favorite writer. The musical duo Simon and Garfunkel is also mentioned on multiple occasions.
Imagery
N/A
Paradox
N/A
Parallelism
N/A
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
N/A
