Genre
Novel
Setting and Context
Set in 1934 and written in the context of criminality
Narrator and Point of View
Third-person narrative
Tone and Mood
Tense and horrific
Protagonist and Antagonist
The central character is Hermann Karlovich.
Major Conflict
There is a conflict between Hermann and Felix. Hermann realizes that he looks exactly like Felix, but Felix denies the claims.
Climax
The climax comes when Hermann finds his wife with Ardalion both naked in a room, and he believes that nothing happened between them. Hermann still believes that his wife cannot cheat on him.
Foreshadowing
The murder of Felix foreshadows Hermann's thirst for money. After murdering Felix, Herman claims his life insurance.
Understatement
Hermann understates the ability of Ardalion sleeping with Lydia.
Allusions
The story alludes to criminality and dark dealings for personal gain.
Imagery
The scene where Lydia and Ardalion are caught naked by Hermann depicts sight imagery.
Paradox
The main paradox is that Hermann does not believe that his wife can cheat on him even after catching her red-handed naked with a man in a secluded room.
Parallelism
N/A
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
Criminality is personified as cruel.
