Genre
A novel
Setting and Context
The end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th. The majority of events take place in London.
Narrator and Point of View
The story is told from the third point of view by an omniscient narrator.
Tone and Mood
The narrator’s tone is often ironic whilst mood is worrying and a little bit depressing.
Protagonist and Antagonist
Odd women are the protagonists whilst the society is the antagonist.
Major Conflict
The major conflict is person vs. self.
Climax
The moment when Mr. Widdowson finds out about Bevis is the climax of the novel.
Foreshadowing
"I should grieve indeed if I thought my girls would ever have to distress themselves about money matters."
This quote foreshadows the events of the story. Dr. Madden is worried that he doesn’t have enough money to provide his daughters with everything they need if he dies prematurely. His fears are about to come true.
Understatement
“You have told me there is no one else who – whose rights I ought to respect.”
Mr. Bullivant behaves as if Miss Madden is a possession that he can claim.
Allusions
The story alludes to Locksley Hall by Alfred Tennyson.
Imagery
See the imagery section
Paradox
N/A
Parallelism
“I had nothing but moans and groans to send.”
Metonymy and Synecdoche
She had a good head. (A head is metonymy. In other words, she is clever.)
Personification
“Fresh circumstances could be dealt with as they arose.”
