Genre
Novel
Setting and Context
Set in 2001 and written in the aftermath of the 9/11/01 terrible incident.
Narrator and Point of View
Third-person narrative
Tone and Mood
Traumatizing, sad, horrifying, disheartening
Protagonist and Antagonist
The main character is Keith Neudecker.
Major Conflict
The main conflict is that Keith Neudecker was unfortunately caught in the terrorist attack of the World Trade Center on 9/11/2001, which claimed the lives of thousands of people. Neudecker is among the survivors who live to tell the terrible incident.
Climax
The climax comes when Keith fails to go back to his normal life and becomes a poker player because he feels more secure to push on with life.
Foreshadowing
The sexual relationship between Keith and Florence is foreshadowed by their shared experience in the 9/11 incident in which they were both victims.
Understatement
The impact of the 9/11 attack is understated. Despite killing many people and leaving many injured red, the survivors are still traumatized.
Allusions
The story alludes to the events that unfolded during and after the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center.
Imagery
The images of the 9/11 terrorist attack paint a picture of what exactly happened. Readers can see how innocent people were killed and others injured through sight imagery. Similarly, survivors like Keith have been traumatized till now.
Paradox
The main paradox is that Keith lives in a dead man's daze despite getting a golden opportunity to live again. For instance, Keith hangs on his past, which has traumatized him, hindering him from living a normal life.
Parallelism
Lianne’s focusing on rebuilding he relationship with Keith after the 9/11 attack parallels Keith’s emotions.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
The 9/11 terrorist attack is embodied as evil and unprecedented.
