The Petroleum Papers Literary Elements

Non-fiction

Dembicki's book takes places from the discovery of oil to the modern day, when oil is used extensively for things like fuel.

The book is told from the perspective of author Geoff Dembicki.

The book is inquisitive, hard-hitting, exposing, intense, fact-driven, and angry.

Dembicki and other people who have exposed the evils of the oil industry are the protagonists in the book; the oil industry is the antagonist of the book.

The conflict between the oil industry, which lies constantly and significantly to maintain their business, and those who are trying to expose the oil industry to save the planet from climate change.

Not applicable. There is no clear climax in the book.

The oil industry knowing that they were contributing to climate change as far back as the 1950s is foreshadowed by some of their studies and interactions with other entities.

The knowledge in scientific communities of the threat of climate change in the mid-1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, is understated in the book.

There are allusions to U.S. history, the history of conflict in the world, Earth science and Earth science concepts, the geography of the U.S. and other places in the world (mainly places with oil deposits), and the history of oil.

There is imagery in The Petroleum Papers surrounding the excesses of wealth. The oil companies got wealthy by destroying the planet and pillaging the planet.

Oil companies continued for decades to pollute the planet to make money, despite knowing that their activity was harmful. They did this despite the fact that their harm to the planet would mean the loss of their market.

Not applicable.

Fracking refers to the process by which water is shot deep into the Earth, which yields oil.

The oil companies, like BP and Standard Oil, are personified throughout the book. They are given human characteristics and described in human terms.