Genre
Children’s Literature
Setting and Context
Set in the late 1950s in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Narrator and Point of View
Third-person narrative
Tone and Mood
The tone is ardent because Chris is passionate about finding out about the existence of Santa Claus. The mood is optimistic because nothing can stop Chris from traveling to the North Pole to look for Santa Claus. For instance, Hobo tries to discourage Chris that Santa does not exist, but he is still optimistic about accomplishing his mission.
Protagonist and Antagonist
The central character is Chris, and the antagonist is Hobo.
Major Conflict
The main conflict is that Chris finds it hard to believe in Santa Claus' existence. Chris is not alone because some of his friends struggle to believe that Santa Claus exists.
Climax
The climax comes when Chris secures a ticket to travel to the North Pole using the Polar Express train to discover the reality of Santa Claus.
Foreshadowing
Curiosity foreshadows Chris’ decision to travel to the North Pole.
Understatement
N/A
Allusions
The train passing through forests and mountains (obstacles) without stopping alludes to the children’s undying spirit to be the first people to receive Christmas gifts from Santa Claus.
Imagery
The Polar Express train is described as weird and ugly, painting a picture of how trains looked way back before the advancement of technology.
Paradox
The main paradox is that Chris is given a magic bell, which he guards tightly, but when he gets home, he finds it missing. Fortunately, Santa decides to fix his pocket and he recovers his magic bell.
Parallelism
There is a parallelism between Hobo's conclusion that Claus does not exist and Chris’ ambition for self-discovery.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
Hobo is a ghost but personified when he boards the train and discourages Chris that Santa does not exist.
