Genre
Personal History
Setting and Context
Ireland, from 1958 to the present day
Narrator and Point of View
The novel is told from the perspective of Fintan O'Toole.
Tone and Mood
The book is reflective, clinical, loving, reverent, and personal.
Protagonist and Antagonist
There is no clear protagonist or antagonist: this is a narrative history of Ireland through the perspective of O'Toole.
Major Conflict
The major conflict of the novel involves O'Toole's struggle to reconcile the true history of Ireland.
Climax
There is no discernible climax in O'Toole's book.
Foreshadowing
The change in Ireland's culture from religious-based to something entirely different is foreshadowed by the government's actions in letting foreign investment come into their lives.
Understatement
The sheer upheaval that Irish society underwent is understated in the book.
Allusions
There are a number of allusions to the history and culture of Ireland (and other countries in North America and Europe),
Imagery
As the Irish civil war raged, violent imagery becomes more and more common.
Paradox
The Irish government invited foreigners into their country who had different cultures but didn't expect their country's culture to change.
Parallelism
Not applicable.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
Stormont is a metonym for the Northern Irish Government.
Personification
Ireland itself is personified throughout the book.
