Genre
A psychological thriller novel
Setting and Context
The main action takes place in Stockholm, Sweden, where Lisbeth is trying to begin a new life. However, she is dragged into an unpleasant situation with a triple murder. Mikael Blomkvist is going to decide this issue.
Narrator and Point of View
The narrator of this novel is third-person.
Tone and Mood
There are many moments with violence and murders, which create an intensely psychological mood.
Detective investigations directly point to a mysterious mood.
Protagonist and Antagonist
The main protagonist is Mikael Blomkvist. The main antagonist is Alexander Zalachenko.
Major Conflict
The major conflict happens between Mikael and Lisbeth's father Zala. Mikael is trying to investigate the case about sex trade and the head of this trade is Zala, who is a ruthless man.
Climax
The climax happens, when Lisbeth finds out that her father is alive and he continues to scoff at women.
Foreshadowing
Dr. Teleborian’s guess is that the illness they might have been able to treat and cure ten years ago is now a fixed part of Lisbeth‘s personality. He predicts that when Lisbeth is apprehended, she will not be given a prison sentence. She needs treatment. Dr. Teleborian is right- Lisbeth begins to be treated at the clinic.
Understatement
N/A
Allusions
The novel alludes to famous people such as Archimedes, Pythagoras, Euclid, Isaac Newton, Martin Gardner, Britney Spears, and Carl Larsson.
Imagery
Descriptions of nature and weather may be observed in the book, they play is some situations a role of the background to the events described
Paradox
The main paradox concerns Lisbeth and her family. Lisbeth’s father and brother wanted to kill her. This is a paradox, because parents are not supposed to commit such a terrible act.
Parallelism
N/A
Metonymy and Synecdoche
There is a one line in the novel, which has a figurative sense. “People will be able to tell the sheep from the goats” means that people can separate more competent people from less competent or they can divide them into two groups or classes.
Mikael says that he has a great belief in “Lisbeth’s ability to land on her feet.” It means that Lisbeth always finds a way out of difficult situations and she is a survivor.
Personification
Lisbeth Salander personifies justice. She wants to punish men who destroy women's self-esteem.
