Genre
Autobiography, bon-fiction
Setting and Context
Kabul and New York
Narrator and Point of View
Tamim Ansary narrates in the first-person voice.
Tone and Mood
Nostalgic and reconciliatory
Protagonist and Antagonist
Tamim Ansary is the protagonist. Haters of Afghan-Americans (xenophobics) are the antagonists.
Major Conflict
Reconciling Ansary’s dual and conflicting identities as an Afghan-American.
Climax
Wide reach and positive reception of Ansary’s email.
Foreshadowing
Ansary predominantly employs flashbacks to describe his extended family's history, which begins in Kabul and extends to New York.
The racism Ansary's grandfather endures during the epoch of World War II is a foreshadow of the racism that his descendants and compatriots face after the 9/11 attacks.
Understatement
N/A
Allusions
Allusion to pop culture, such as the mention of Elizabeth Taylor and Cinderella. Historical allusions such as Russia's attack on Afghanistan, 9/11 attacks, and World War II. Ansary alludes to "Islamic folklore," too. The description of painters, such as Monet, who are associated with impressionism, is an allusion to art history.
Imagery
Ansary’s lives in Afghan and America are a perfect contrast because the cultures and religions in the two countries are divergent.
Ansary's family tree is representative of the Afghan culture that is predominantly pluralist.
Paradox
Mahgul's higher score in the test that would qualify for American citizenship is paradoxical, considering her ability to speak English was limited. She performs well relative to the younger relations, such as children and nieces who are more educated than her.
The use of the title "teacher-sir" to refer to Ansary's mother, a teacher, is paradoxical. The title underscores the sacredness of the teaching job in Afghanistan.
Parallelism
N/A
Metonymy and Synecdoche
'Burqa' denotes a veil. The discriminatory term “Japs” denotes Japanese in the context of World War II: Ansary reports, “landlords slammed their doors on him (Ansary’s grandfather), snarling, and “We don’t rent to Japs!”. This was during World war II”.
Personification
Ansary’s grandfather’s bloodline (which is detested in America) is personified.
