Genre
Graphic novel
Setting and Context
Set in 2018 at Samwell University
Narrator and Point of View
First-person point of view
Tone and Mood
The tone is tolerant, and the mood is idyllic.
Protagonist and Antagonist
The central character is Bittle, and the antagonist is the judgmental society.
Major Conflict
The major conflict is between Bittle and the society. The society ridicules and stigmatizes people of same-sex orientation and labels them evil.
Climax
The climax comes when Bittle and Jack kiss during his graduation, which marks the epitome of affection and love for each other.
Foreshadowing
Bittle's sacrifice to keep his love affair secret foreshadows Jack's excellence in his hockey team.
Understatement
Bittle downplays his love for Jack in the public. For instance, in public, Bittle treats Jack as a regular friend and teammate, but they are secretly a couple.
Allusions
The story alludes to Gerald Mallon's book on LGBTQ Youth Issues.
Imagery
The novel is graphical with pictures that depict a sense of sight, which helps readers see what is unfolding.
Paradox
The main paradox is that Bittle and Jack have a long-distance sexual relationship despite studying at the same university.
Parallelism
N/A
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
The Samwell hockey team is personified when the author says it is toxic masculine.
