Clarissa Literary Elements

Clarissa Literary Elements

Genre

Epistolary novel

Setting and Context

England in the 18th century

Narrator and Point of View

The novel is narrated by each of the characters, in the form of their letters.

Tone and Mood

The tone is interesting; the mood is dramatic.

Protagonist and Antagonist

Clarissa Harlowe is the protagonist; Robert Lovelace is the antagonist.

Major Conflict

The major conflict of the novel occurs when Arabella rejects Robert Lovelace, despite his wealth and inherited land.

Climax

The climax of the story is reached when Lovelace rapes Clarissa, after he has drugged her.

Foreshadowing

Robert Lovelace's romantic interest in Clarissa is foreshadowed by the fact that Arabella rejects him.

Understatement

The role of parental control and struggle is understated throughout the novel.

Allusions

The story alludes to the tragedies of Clarissa even in letters that do not issue directly from her.

Imagery

The imagery of Clarissa's isolation is present in the novel.

Paradox

The fact that Clarissa is a young woman, yet is controlled by her parents is an example of paradox in the story.

Parallelism

N/A

Metonymy and Synecdoche

The iron door is a metonym for Clarissa's lack of freedom.

Personification

N/A

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