Genre
Fiction
Setting and Context
The novel is set in Harvey Greene Grammar School.
Narrator and Point of View
Third-person narrative
Tone and Mood
The tone is intense and the mood is gloomy
Protagonist and Antagonist
The protagonist is Tori Spring, and the antagonist is
Major Conflict
There is a major conflict between Tori and the world around her. Tori does not want to be associated with anybody or anything. Tori spends most of her time alone and feels comfortable doing so.
Climax
The climax comes when Tori bonds with Michael. Tori and Michael share a lot because they are isolated and lonely.
Foreshadowing
Doing solitaire together foreshadows the sexual relationship between Michael and Tory.
Understatement
n/a
Allusions
The story alludes to Radclyffe Hall's 1719 novel "Robinson Crusoe," in which the main character Crusoe finds solace in God and isolates himself from the rest of humanity.
Imagery
The sense of smell in the novel is depicted when the narrator says, “The smell in this corridor is a moldy egg."
Paradox
The main paradox is that Tori promises herself never to get involved in relationships, but she later falls in love with Michael.
Parallelism
There is a parallelism between Tori’s decision to stay alone and Michael's resolution to get preoccupied with playing computer games because he feels lonely.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
Video games are personified when Michael says they keep him company.
