Genre
Children’s Literature
Setting and Context
The novel is set in England in an apartment building.
Narrator and Point of View
Third-person narration from the perspective of an omniscient speaker.
Tone and Mood
Funny, Warm, Innocent, Conversational
Protagonist and Antagonist
Protagonist: Mr. Hoppy; Antagonist: The challenge to convince Mrs. Silver that Alfie is growing bigger.
Major Conflict
Mr. Hoppy loves Mrs. Silver but from afar and hopes to prove himself and win her love. The opportunity presents itself through Mrs. Silver’s need for Alfie to grow bigger and he takes on the challenge.
Climax
The climax happens when Mrs. Silver notices that ‘Alfie’ can no longer fit through the door of its house.
Foreshadowing
“Oh, if only, he kept telling himself, if only he could do something tremendous like saving her life or rescuing her from a gang of armed thugs, if only he could perform some great feat that would make him a hero in her eyes. If only …”
This foreshadows the extreme lengths that Mr. Hoppy goes to prove himself to Mrs. Silver.
Understatement
“I can’t see a lot of difference myself”
In the statement, Mr. Hoppy understates his opinion regarding Alfie’s growth.
Allusions
The novel alludes to the slow growth of tortoises as it takes them years to grow few inches.
Imagery
“The floor was swarming with tortoises of different sizes, some walking slowly about and exploring, some munching cabbage leaves, others drinking water from a big shallow dish. They made just the faintest rustling sound as they moved over the canvas sheet, but that was all.”
Paradox
N/A
Parallelism
N/A
Metonymy and Synecdoche
“Here’s the heart of the lettuce for you”
Personification
The narrator personifies Alfie the tortoise throughout the novel.
