Genre
Short stories
Setting and Context
The short stories are set in the context of nostalgia, fun, tragedy, and Irish traditions.
Narrator and Point of View
Various depending on the text
Tone and Mood
The tone and mood are nonaligned.
Protagonist and Antagonist
Larry Delaney is the central character across the stories.
Major Conflict
The major conflict is in the story 'The Late Henry Conran' in which Henry files a case against his wife, who announces that he is dead. According to Henry, he wants authorities to charge his wife with defamation.
Climax
The climax is in the story 'The First Confession in which Jackie reveals to the priest that he was planning to kill his grandmother.
Foreshadowing
The letting of the cat out of the dog between the female teacher and Cheapjack in the story ‘The Cheapjack’ is foreshadowed by instructional dairy.
Understatement
The holiness of the monks is understated in the story 'Song without Words.' For instance, even if monks took the oath of silence, they still commit minor sins because they are human.
Allusions
The stories allude to Irish traditions and Catholic practices.
Imagery
The description of the funeral in the story 'The Drunkard' depicts sight imagery. For instance, the author describes the vehicles and carriages that took place in the funeral procession, which helps the reader see how the events unfolded.
Paradox
The main paradox is in the story 'The Frying Pan' in which a couple goes to the priest asking him to help unite them because they are unhappily married. Ironically, the priest is already in love with the wife behinds the husband's knowledge.
Parallelism
N/A
Metonymy and Synecdoche
A vow of silence in the story 'Song without Songs' is a metonymy for spiritual commitment.
Personification
N/A
