Genre
Graphic Novel
Setting and Context
It is primarily set in Samwell University, a fictional college in the United States.
Narrator and Point of View
The narration and point of view are primarily through the perspective of the main character, Eric Bittle.
Tone and Mood
The tone is lighthearted, warm, and humorous. The mood is upbeat, optimistic, and supportive.
Protagonist and Antagonist
The protagonist is Eric Bittle. The antagonist is the challenges around personal growth, overcoming fears, and navigating relationships.
Major Conflict
The major conflict centers on Eric Bittle's struggle for self-acceptance and identity in a world where he grapples with being a gay man with non-traditional interests. Bitty navigates the complexities of forming relationships, dealing with societal stereotypes, and overcoming the pressure of sports competition as a member of the college hockey team. These conflicts revolve around his personal growth, confronting prejudice, and balancing his passion for figure skating, hockey, and baking.
Climax
The climax occurs when the Samwell hockey team loses the championship and Bitty hugs Jack in the locker room.
Foreshadowing
Jack's reputation and sportsmanship foreshadow him being elected as the captain of the 2014-2015 school year.
Understatement
“That wasn’t really a speech. I was just reminding everyone we made it work before.”
Parson is using understatement to downplay the significance of what he said or did.
Allusions
The book alludes to pop culture references and celebrities such as Ellen DeGeneres and Lindsay Lohan.
Imagery
The book vividly describes the intensity and excitement of the hockey games. It paints a picture of the action on the ice and the sounds of skates cutting through the rink.
Paradox
Bitty grapples with the contrasting aspects of his identity and interests. This creates a paradox of expectations and stereotypes associated with masculinity and sports.
Parallelism
The story often follows a parallel structure in the way events unfold, character interactions, and the progression of relationships. For example, each hockey season at Samwell University is presented in a parallel manner.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
The term “hat trick” is a metonymy for a player scoring three goals in a single game.
Personification
“The weather’s been doing its best to snow us in.”
The author personifies the weather by giving it the human-like quality of determination or effort.
