Genre
Fiction
Setting and Context
Set in 1997 in the fictional town of Railto, West Central Pennsylvania University.
Narrator and Point of View
Third-person point of view
Tone and Mood
The tone is benevolent, and the mood is calm.
Protagonist and Antagonist
The central character is William Henry Devereaux Jr.; the antagonist is his past.
Major Conflict
Devereaux struggles with his past and blames his current challenges on his family tree. For instance, Devereaux says his urination problem is rooted in his family genes. In addition, Devereaux blames his divorce on his family because his father and grandfather had divorced their wives and married other women.
Climax
The climax comes when Devereaux accepts his situation and devotes time to writing a novel.
Foreshadowing
The launch of the computer center foreshadows the sacking of the employees on the campus.
Understatement
Devereaux downplays his doctor’s advice when he says that his urination problem is linked to the problem of kidney stones in his family.
Allusions
N/A
Imagery
There is a sense of autonomy and exhalation when Devereaux says, “It's hard to explain, but when I'm running, it feels like I'm flying." The imagery shows the protagonist is ready to confront his challenges with new energy.
Paradox
The main paradox is that characters in the novel are doing the contrary in an academic set-up. Instead of pursuing knowledge and helping learners accomplish their dreams, the characters engage in unnecessary power and struggles. For instance, there is a conflict on who is fit to head the English department, but the procedure is based on something other than competence.
Parallelism
There is a parallelism between Lily’s wish for her ex-husband and Devereaux’s final decision to confront his challenges to be happy.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
The river is personified when the narrator says, "The river was swollen with rain, and the water churned and roiled like a living thing." The personification shows that the river walks like an ordinary human.
