Genre
Non-fiction
Setting and Context
The novel is set in New Jersey
Narrator and Point of View
First-person narrative
Tone and Mood
Suspicious, ambitious, enlightening
Protagonist and Antagonist
John McPhee is the protagonist of the story.
Major Conflict
The major conflict is that the people who live in the Pine are considered unintelligent, animalistic and incestuous.
Climax
The climax is that the Pine’s people are composed and determined to preserve their culture despite the threats of destroying the forest to develop a new city.
Foreshadowing
The increase in population in the Pine foreshadows the development of a new city.
Understatement
McPhee underestimates the usefulness of Wasovwich when he first meets him. However, he later realizes that it is only Wasovwich who can help him hike like a native among the Pines.
Allusions
The story alludes to the ancient life of the Pine people especially Fredrick Chambers and his family of seven children in Hog Wallow village. Chamber’s life reflects the primitivism of the Pines people because they do not have phones and they do their operations remotely and traditionally.
Imagery
The description of the expansive acreage of the Pine Barrens Forest is vital in depicting scale to readers. Consequently, through this imagery, the reader can visualize the setting of the story.
Paradox
The main satire is that despite the civilized urban people assuming that village life is awful, the contrary is the reality. For instance, the Pine people live a healthy and rich life. More importantly, they are focused on conserving the environment, making the earth a better place to live.
Parallelism
The lifestyle in the Pine parallels the careful life of mindful people whose intention is to conserve the environment.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
N/A
