Genre
A novel in stories
Setting and Context
The events take place in 1930s-1940s in a little town not far away from Chicago, Illinois.
Narrator and Point of View
The story is told from the first point of view by Joey Dowdel.
Tone and Mood
The tone is warm, even loving; it is obvious that the narrator cherishes his childhood memories. The mood is quite humorous; however, there are moments which could only be characterized as disturbing.
Protagonist and Antagonist
Joey Dowdel is the protagonist. The Great Depression is the antagonist.
Major Conflict
The major conflict is person vs. society. Mrs. Dowdel is not going to succumb to the Great Depression.
Climax
Joey’s decision to join the army air corps is the climax of the story.
Foreshadowing
You wouldn’t think we’d have to leave Chicago to see a dead body.
Understatement
It looked like a slow place to us.
The kids were sure that nothing interesting could happen in that sleepy town. They were terribly wrong.
Allusions
The story alludes to the Prohibition in the United States.
Imagery
There is an imagery of the Great Depression.
Paradox
She said she never slept, but she had to wake herself up to go to bed.
Parallelism
Jump said Coolidge,
Jump said Hoover,
Jump said the driver of the furniture mover.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
There were Fords. (Fords are synecdoche that means cars.)
Personification
We too turns stirring this witches’ brew as darkness crawled across the yard.
