Genre
magical realism
Setting and Context
Alabama, Ashland, second half of the 20th century
Narrator and Point of View
Narrator: William Bloom
Point of view: first and third person
Tone and Mood
adventurous
Protagonist and Antagonist
Protagonist: Edward Bloom; Antagonist: various antagonists throughout the stories: Karl the Giant, Don Price
Major Conflict
While his father, Edward Bloom, is on the deathbed, William Bloom decides to retell the stories his father told him about his adventures throughout his life.
Climax
Sensing that his death is near, Edward urges his son to take him out of the hospital and get him close to water, where he transforms into a big fish.
Foreshadowing
"And he remembered the face of the leader in the barn that day, just as the leader would remember Edward's. It was the face of the man my mom almost married."
-Edward meeting Don Price in college while rescuing the old lady's glass eye.
Understatement
n/a
Allusions
The novel alludes to the Odyssey in various ways.
Imagery
Imagery of the place with no name, a place similar to Ashland, but with a different, threatening and dark atmosphere to represent the symbolic nature of that place.
Paradox
"Over the past months, she had dwindled in size and spirit, alive but distanced from life."
-referring to William's mother in the present time as his father is on his deathbed
Parallelism
"He wasn't the medic, he wasn't the poet, he wasn't the cynic, he wasn't the lover, and he wasn't the radio operator. He was, of course, a sailor."
Metonymy and Synecdoche
"...reclaiming his chair and his titular position as father of the house."-referring to Edward's scare presence in his family's life
Personification
"The eye has called you here, has it not?"
