Genre
Memoir
Setting and Context
The memoir is set in New York, USA.
Narrator and Point of View
First-person narrative
Tone and Mood
Fascinating, optimistic, reflective
Protagonist and Antagonist
John Marrant is the protagonist of the story.
Major Conflict
The major conflict is when His family disowns John because he is insane.
Climax
The climax is when John reunites with Whitehead, who connects him with Lady Huntingdon, who aids him get ordained as a church minister. John accepts the ministry and decides to serve God and humanity.
Foreshadowing
Joining the Royal Navy as a musician foreshadows John’s ordinance as a church minister in later years.
Understatement
John's family is understated when it decides to disown him on the claims that he is insane. The reality is that John was never insane, and he was destined for greatness.
Allusions
The story alludes to the power of determination and staying on course to achieve set objectives.
Imagery
Hearing imagery is present in the autobiography. For instance, as John walked by a school, he heard music playing. John says, "Sometimes after I had been in Charles-Town, as I was walking one day, I passed by a school and heard music and dancing, which took my fancy very much, and I felt a strong inclination to learn the music."
Paradox
The main satire is that His family disowns John because he is insane. In any case, this is the time that the family should be even closer to John to help him get out of his insanity.
Parallelism
John's refusal to take medication when he was sick parallels the religious fanatics who argue that the Lord heals, but not doctors.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
Music is personified as the guiding angel who leads John to his ministerial call.
