The Young Musician Literary Elements

Young adult fiction

Rural New England, after the Civil War

Third-person omniscient

Optimistic

Protagonist is Philip Gray, an orphan almost sixteen years old. Primary antagonist is Squire Benjamin Pope.

Philip is struggling to support himself financially after his father's death, and insists he is able to earn an independent living. The novel shows his struggle to do so despite people like Squire Pope who strive to force him into a dependent role.

The climax of the book comes when Philip is cheated by his business partner, "Lorenzo Riccabocca", who absconds with the proceeds from their concert leaving Philip to pay the bills. Philip finds a way to pay the bills and confronts Riccabocca when they next meet.

The dishonest way in which Riccabocca advertises Philip's musical skills and appearance foreshadow his dishonesty in stealing the money from the concert and lying about his reasons for doing so.

Having been proven completely incompetent as an Indian fighter, since his expedition was an utter failure and he himself displayed extreme cowardice in the presence of an actual friendly Indian, Henry says: "I guess I'll leave the Indians alone."

Alger makes reference to "Mrs. Gilpin's Frugalities", a book about home economics in which the author presents ways to save money by cooking and using leftover food in a safe way.

Violins, and violin music, appear throughout the book. Philip earns his living with his violin, wins an impromptu playing contest against an older and more established musician, and delights many people with his performances.

Philip is not destitute because he has a means to earn a living: he can play his violin. However, Squire Pope insists on selling the violin, which will render Philip destitute, and qualify him to be lodged against his will in the local almshouse.

Philip's insistence on doing right by others, such as Sam (the boy who finds Philip's stolen money in Riccabocca's wallet) and the destitute and helpless Henry Taylor who has run away from home in a failed attempt to become an Indian fighter, parallels the efforts made by other older and established men to help and protect him to the extent they are able. Mr. Dunbar buys Philip's father's watch and keeps it for him, Farmer Lovett provides a gift of cash that comes in handy, Mr. Gates helps Philip get his stolen money back, and Mr. Taylor offers to send Philip to school.

When people respond to Philip's violin playing and prefer it over that of the more experienced Paul Beck, they are responding as a group even though the remarks are presented as a quotation. This is an example of synecdoche.

There is no significant anthropomorphism or personification in this novel. Animals and inanimate objects are not treated like people, nor do they respond the way people do. Even Philip's violin is just a violin. The fact he is emotionally attached to it, and to his father's watch, does not give either of those items human qualities or emotions. Inanimate phenomena such as the weather, train schedules, and such are not presented as having any kind of internal animus or will. Such a suggestion would be inconsistent with Alger's overall rejection of superstition. The closest Alger comes to anthropomorphism is in describing the fear and discomfort of a small dog that is being tortured by Zeke Tucker.