Genre
A short story
Setting and Context
The events take place at the old Pommeroy summer place on the shore of one of the Massachusetts islands. The time period is the second part of the 20th century.
Narrator and Point of View
The story is written from the first-person point of view. One of the Pommeroy brothers is the narrator.
Tone and Mood
The tone is sad whilst mood is rather depressing. The tension between the members of the Pommeroy family is almost palpable.
Protagonist and Antagonist
The nameless narrator is the protagonist. Lawrence is the antagonist.
Major Conflict
The major conflict is person vs. person. Lawrence manages to offend almost everyone, even though he might not do it intentionally, his harsh words are still rather unpleasant.
Climax
The climax of the story happens when the protagonist hits his brother. For a brief moment, he thinks that Lawrence might be dead.
Foreshadowing
“Lawrence is the member of the family with whom the rest of us have least in common.”
These words prove readers’ initial suspicions that Lawrence is a black sheep.
Understatement
“Is that the one she’s sleeping with now?”
Lawrence makes sure to show how lowly he thinks of his sister. He uses this word – sleep – to make it known that he doesn’t believe in their future together.
Allusions
The story alludes to World War II.
Imagery
See the imagery section
Paradox
“This is not because he is poor or because he has any principles about gambling but because he thinks the game is foolish and a waste of time. He was ready enough, however, to waste his time watching the rest of us play.”
Parallelism
“The world of debts and business, men and war, hunting and fishing has on her an exacerbating effect.”
Metonymy and Synecdoche
Isn’t Irish what you’ve always liked? (Irish is metonymy that means whiskey).
Get me my glasses, get me my checkbook, get me something to drink. (Glasses are synecdoche that means spectacles.)
Personification
N/A
