Genre
A travel book
Setting and Context
The book describes Frances Milton Trollope’s visit to America and her residence in Cincinnati in 1827.
Narrator and Point of View
The book is written from the first-person point of view. Frances Milton Trollope is the narrator.
Tone and Mood
The author has a sharp tongue, so her remarks are often sassy or snarky. The mood of the book is thoughtful.
Protagonist and Antagonist
Frances Milton Trollope is the protagonist.
Major Conflict
The major conflict is the new world vs. the old world.
Climax
The departure from New York is the climax of the story.
Foreshadowing
“On the 4th of November, 1827, I sailed from London, accompanied by my son and two daughters; and after a favourable, though somewhat tedious voyage, arrived on Christmas-day at the mouth of the Mississippi”. The quote presupposes the narrator’s acquaintance with the New World – America.
Understatement
“Her first object was to shew that nature had made no difference between blacks and whites, excepting in complexion.”
To “shew that nature had made no difference between bkacks and whites,”she has to start a fight not only against prejudices, but the whole social structure of the country.
Allusions
The book alludes to “Divine Comedy” by Dante Alighieri.
Imagery
Images of nature are to be found throughout the text.
Paradox
“The effect produced upon English people by the sight of slavery in every direction is very new, and not very agreeable, and it is not the less painfully felt from hearing upon every breeze the mocking words, "All men are born free and equal."
The paradox is that if all men are born free and equal, then slavery shouldn’t exist.
Parallelism
N/A
Metonymy and Synecdoche
“indeed it requires the pen of a Swift to do it justice”. (A pen of Swift is metonymy that means excellent writing talent.)
Personification
She was looking so mighty. (She is Mississippi.)
