Genre
Biography/memoir
Setting and Context
The book is set between the years 1987 and 1989 in Chicago in the context of societal violence.
Narrator and Point of View
Third-person narrative
Tone and Mood
Violent, Resentful, Somber
Protagonist and Antagonist
Pharoah and Lafeyette are the protagonists of the story.
Major Conflict
The major conflict is when Pharoah and his brother witness their fellow children and adults killed people who rob them by force.
Climax
The climax in the story is reached when Pharoah and Lafeyette decide to join crime and violence activities because that is the only way to be safe.
Foreshadowing
The Ghetto foreshadows violence and crime because of the congestion of people and inadequate resources.
Understatement
Life in the Ghetto is understated when the author says that it is full of violence and crime. On a broader note, people are fearful because their safety is not guaranteed.
Allusions
The story alludes to the challenges of living in a ghetto and highlights the significance of improving living conditions in such areas.
Imagery
The images of the snake, home, and Lafeyette’s depict sight, while the decay depicts the sense of smell which enhances the use of imagery in the book.
Paradox
The main paradox is the three triplets. Out of the three triplets, two look-alike to the extent of confusing their father to identify them. Ironically, the father is not expected to confuse his daughters at any time.
Parallelism
N/A
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
The Ghetto is personified as having the human abilities to make life harsh and unbearable to those who do not join crime and violence.
