Things We Didn't See Coming Literary Elements

Science Fiction

The Novel is set in a post-apocalyptic world where the Earth has undergone significant environmental and societal changes due to a series of cataclysmic events.

The story is told from the first-person point of view of an unnamed narrator.

Suspenseful, Mysterious, and Slightly tense.

The Protagonist is the unnamed narrator while Y2K Scare, the deadly flu, the government, and its oppressive policies are the antagonists

The novel's major conflict is around the unnamed narrator's never-ending battle for survival and stability in a harsh and uncertain dystopian society. The protagonist is confronted with the Y2K scare and its potential global ramifications from the start. As the story unfolds through multiple historical periods, he faces many challenges such as harsh government policies, limited mobility owing to the Barricades, and the prospect of a catastrophic virus pandemic. Amid natural calamities and social turmoil, the protagonist must deal with complicated connections, ranging from his parents' concerns to his rocky relationship with Margo, Juliet, and Jeph. Meanwhile, he is dealing with personal health difficulties most notably cancer which adds to his sense of vulnerability and uncertainty.

The story's climax happens when the unnamed narrator arrives at his father's garden home while working as a tour guide for wealthy people suffering from terminal illnesses. Struggling with his health, the protagonist is driven by a strong desire to see his father who has reinvented himself as a shaman. As he fades in and out of consciousness upon arrival, the protagonist learns the seriousness of his disease. This moving scene represents the coming together of several narrative threads as the protagonist faces the consequences of his arduous journey through a dystopian society.

The father's statement about taking "special measures" and the urgency in his actions at the beginning of the story suggest that the family's trip to Grandma and Grandpa's farm might not be a simple vacation. The inclusion of items like the toolbox, first-aid kit, and kitchen knives further hints at the possibility that they are preparing for something more serious or potentially dangerous.

"As if sheer boredom isn't the quickest road to the alternate economy." The narrator downplays the significance of "sheer boredom" as a reason for turning to the "alternate economy" which likely refers to engaging in illicit activities or bending the rules to survive in their challenging circumstances. The use of understatement minimizes the severity of the situation, suggesting that boredom is just one minor factor when in reality it likely plays a much more significant role in their choices and actions.

The mention of "Adam and Eve" refers to the Biblical story of the first human beings in the Book of Genesis. This allusion serves to evoke a sense of primal innocence and vulnerability in the characters' intimate moments. Similar to the Biblical story where Adam and Eve lived naked and unashamed in the Garden of Eden before their fall from grace, the characters in the excerpt strip down in a natural setting under the rain, emphasizing a return to a more basic and unguarded state. The reference to Adam and Eve also adds a layer of symbolism, suggesting a potential paradise-like experience for the characters amid their harsh and uncertain reality.

The grandma is depicted as a woman whose health has declined over the years but experiences moments of clarity and wisdom due to her medication. She is described as standing on her own not needing support from the walls which indicates her temporary recovery. The orange tracksuit she wears every day when she could pick out her clothes symbolizes her past independence and normalcy. The narrator mentions "She's been off the map for six years and now she's looking at me like a professor" which vividly portrays her regained composure and intellect, reminiscent of her former self. The use of the phrase "omnipotence back" accentuates the power and authority she exudes while under the influence of her medication. These visual and metaphorical images together portray the fluctuating state of the grandma's mental and physical condition.

The paradox of seeking stability in an unstable world. Throughout the story, the unnamed narrator faces a series of chaotic and unpredictable events including the Y2K Scare, the deadly flu outbreak, environmental disasters, and oppressive government policies. In this harsh and ever-changing dystopian reality, the protagonist longs for stability and security yet his surroundings and circumstances continuously challenge this desire. The quest for stability becomes a paradox as the protagonist navigates through an unpredictable and volatile world where finding a sense of permanence and security seems nearly impossible.

The parallelism in the sentence "I'm thirsty and they're half-deaf, so no one minds if I go in there" serves to create a clear and concise contrast between the narrator's needs and the grandparents' limitations. The use of parallelism emphasizes that while the narrator is experiencing a basic, urgent desire for water, the grandparents are hindered by their challenges. This simple yet effective parallel structure not only establishes a balanced rhythm in the sentence but also provides insight into the dynamics of the household where the narrator's ability to navigate freely is influenced by the grandparents' situation.

N/A

"The forest needs the fire." The forest is given the human-like quality of needing something which is the fire in this context. It adds a sense of vividness and emotion to the description of the forest and its relationship with the fire.