The Valley of Amazement Literary Elements

The Valley of Amazement Literary Elements

Genre

Fiction, Asian-American Fiction, Historical Novel

Setting and Context

Shanghai, during the time of courtesan houses

Narrator and Point of View

The point of view is that of Violet, the protagonist of the novel.

Tone and Mood

The tone is one of resentment and frustration; the mood is one of gross unfairness and a sense of what might have been.

Protagonist and Antagonist

Violet is the protagonist; although at first glance her mother might seem to be the antagonist, it is actually the structure of Chinese society that enables men to use women as courtesans is actually the antagonist.

Major Conflict

There is conflict between Violet and her mother because Violet feels horribly betrayed when her mother moves to San Francisco in order to meet her son for the first time.

Climax

At the end of the novel Violet has reunited with both her mother and her daughter and is able to see her life in a positive light.

Foreshadowing

Edward, the father of Violet's child, is already married, which foreshadows his taking Flora from Violet without her consent.

Understatement

Women are said to be treated unfairly which is a huge understatement; they seem to have no rights whatsoever.

Allusions

The author alludes to the historical era in China in which women were to all intents and purposes enslaved and were able to be sold to the highest bidder.

Imagery

N/A

Paradox

Violet begins to understand why her mother left her after having her own daughter taken from her against her will.

Parallelism

There is a parallel between the lives of Violet and her mother in that both women gave birth to children that they were prevented from keeping.

Metonymy and Synecdoche

The courtesan house is the phrase used to describe all of the different women confined to it.

Personification

N/A

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