The Power of One Literary Elements

Bildungsroman, Historical Novel.

The setting of the novel is South Africa during mid 20th century. It has been written in the context of the life of a English boy in Africa after Boer war.

The narrator of the book is Peekay and the story has been narrated from his point of view I.e. from first person's point of view.

Reflective, Contemplative, Didactic, Pensive, Solemn.

The protagonist of the novel is Peekay who was an English boy living in Africa. The antagonist of the story is judge, Jaapie Botha who was Peekay's school fellow. The hurdles that Peekay face can also be considered as antagonists in Peekay's life.

The major conflict in the story is between Peekay and Jaapie Botha, who persecutes him just because of his English identity. Jaapie Botha compels him to eat feces and kills his chicken.

The climax in the story comes when Peekay travels to meet his grandfather in Barberton. His actually journey towards his aims begin after that.

The title of the book foreshadows the power of an individual I.e. Peekay. Along with this Peekay's high spirit and his unflinching efforts foreshadows that he would become a successful man and achieve his dreams.

The understatement in the novel is that one should not give up on his dreams. The hurdles come to make us stronger so one should strive to achieve his dreams even in a hostile environment like Peekay.

There are allusions to Boer war, mental illness, death, caretaking, bedwetting, boxing, music, prison, boarding school, nursing, bullying, judge, stormtroopers, torturing, chicken, cockroaches, catapult, trauma, camouflage, hatred for English people in Africa, magic, sea, dreams, and the corruption of Priests.

There are images of Peekay getting tortured by his school fellows. Jaapie Botha compels him to eat feces and murders his dear chicken. He also asks him to complete his homework. The author has portrayed him as a person striving for his life and success. The harsh treatment made him capable of working hard. There are also images of Peekay reuniting with his mother. The author has also demonstrated Peekay as boxing and learning music by visiting a prison. There is an imagery of winning the championship and different matches of boxing. The writer has also presented the images of violence and death.

The paradox in the story is that Peekay does all the homework of Jaapie Botha but still he hates him and kills his chicken with a catapult. He also compels him to eat feces which is actually an inhuman treatment. Another paradox in the story is that Peekay was unaware of his boss. He didn't know that he was working for the judge who had tortured him. Another paradox in the story is that the Priests who should have lead the flock were being searched by the police.

There is a parallelism between Africans' resentment towards Peekay and Peekay's attempts towards achieving his aims. Another parallelism has been drawn between Rasputin's death and Peekay's life.

An example of metonymy is Peekay, who represents all the people who works hard and do not give up in their lives. An example of synecdoche is Peekay's chiseling the letters PK on the judge's tattoo, which demonstrate that he is superior and has the power to knock him down. The judge's humiliation of Peekay depicts the attitude of Africans towards English people.

Chickens, Boxing, and insults have been personified in the book.