For the Relief of Unbearable Urges Literary Elements

Short Stories

The collection is set in various locations including New York, Israel, and during the Holocaust. The time period of the stories is not specified. The collection is a compilation of short stories written by Englander, an American author known for his fiction that explores Jewish identity and faith. The stories in the collection deal with themes of identity, faith, and relationships.

The narrator and point of view in the stories vary, as each story has a different narrator and point of view. Some stories are narrated in the first person, while others are narrated in the third person. For example, in the story "The Reader," the narrator is a man who is recounting events that happened in his past, and the point of view is in the first person.

The tone and mood of the stories vary depending on the specific story being referenced. Some stories may have a more light-hearted and humorous tone, while others may have a more serious and contemplative tone. For example, in the story "Camp Sundown," the tone is dark and ominous as it deals with the theme of revenge and the Holocaust.

The protagonist and antagonist in the stories vary, as each story has different characters and conflicts. For example, in the story "Camp Sundown," the protagonist is a Holocaust survivor seeking revenge against a former Nazi guard, and the antagonist is the Nazi guard himself.

The major conflict in the stories varies, as each story has a different plot and conflict. For example, in the story "The Reader," the major conflict is the narrator's struggle to come to terms with his past and his relationship with his estranged father.

The climax in the stories occurs when the conflict in the story is resolved or reaches its turning point. For example, in the story "The Reader," the climax occurs when the narrator finally confronts his father and learns the truth about his past.

Englander uses foreshadowing in the stories to hint at future events or to build tension and suspense. For example, in the story "The Reader," Englander foreshadows the narrator's confrontation with his father by including subtle hints throughout the story about the unresolved tension between the two men.

Englander uses understatement in the stories to downplay the significance of certain events or to create a sense of irony. For example, in the story "The Twenty-Seventh Man," Englander uses understatement when describing the execution of the main character and the other writers, stating that they "disappeared" rather than being killed.

Englander uses allusions to other works or historical events in the stories in order to add depth and context to the characters and settings. For example, in the story "The Twenty-Seventh Man," Englander alludes to the Holocaust and the Soviet gulags through the setting and the characters' experiences.

Englander uses imagery in the stories to help the reader better understand the characters, settings, and emotions being described. For example, in the story "The Twenty-Seventh Man," Englander uses vivid imagery to describe the harsh living conditions in the gulag, including the freezing temperatures and the prisoners' hunger and malnutrition.

Englander presents paradoxes in the stories as a way of challenging traditional ways of thinking and encouraging readers to consider alternative perspectives. For example, in the story "The Reader," the narrator's relationship with his father is presented as a paradox, as the father is both distant and demanding, loving and cruel.

Englander uses parallelism in the stories to emphasize the similarity or contrast between different ideas or to create a more structured and cohesive argument. For example, in the story "The Twenty-Seventh Man," Englander uses parallelism when describing the executions of the writers, stating that they "were marched out in twos" and "disappeared in pairs."

Englander uses metonymy and synecdoche in the stories to refer to complex concepts or ideas through the use of related words or parts. For example, in the story "The Reader," the narrator refers to the city of New York as "the island" as a metonym for the city as a whole.

Englander uses personification in the stories to help the reader better understand abstract concepts or to create a more vivid and engaging reading experience. For example, in the story "The Reader," the narrator personifies his memories, stating that they "haunt" him and "won't let go."