Genre
Essays
Setting and Context
The essays were written in the early 19th century in the context of theories of development and technology.
Narrator and Point of View
First-person narrative
Tone and Mood
Educative, sanguine, elevating
Protagonist and Antagonist
The protagonist is Benjamin.
Major Conflict
The main conflict in the essay 'Unpacking My Library' is that Benjamin is faced with the calamity of relocating over two thousand books to his new location. Benjamin is struggling with a divorce case with his wife, which puts him in an awkward situation because he considers books his main assets.
Climax
The climax is when Benjamin tragically ends in suicide in the year 1940.
Foreshadowing
The scattering of books all over the room foreshadowed a disorderly future for Benjamin.
Understatement
The love for books and writing is understated. Benjamin is determined to relocate his library because his entire life is about writing and reading.
Allusions
The book alludes to a philosophical point of view about reading and writing.
Imagery
The description of Benjamin's library shows his love for reading and writing and depicts sight imagery to aid readers to see the setting of the essays written by him.
Paradox
The main paradox is that the politicians are using art for manipulative purposes instead of empowering the artists. For instance, politicians use art to instil certain desired ideologies in societies that benefit them.
Parallelism
N/A
Metonymy and Synecdoche
Art is a metonymy for expression and development.
Personification
N/A
