Genre
A campus novel
Setting and Context
There are three main stages the actions take place: the University, Welches’ house and the house Dixon rents a room in. The actions described take place right after the end of the World War II.
Narrator and Point of View
A third-person narration
Tone and Mood
The mood overall is ironic, even satiric in some cases
Protagonist and Antagonist
The protagonist is James Dixon, and the antagonist is professor Welch and his son
Major Conflict
The main conflict may seem Dixon’s inappropriate behavior and ability to get into troubles, but if to look deeper the problem is much wider – it concerns people’s right place in society. Only if a person is in the right place, and does what he likes, only then it would be beneficial to both the persen and society
Climax
The climax happens when Dixon reads the lecture on “Old good England” in the state of alcoholic intoxication
Foreshadowing
From the very beginning it is not clear whether Dixon will stay teaching at the University the next year or not, but from all the accidents that happen with him, his careless attitude and finally his lecture tells that this is not going to happen.
Understatement
The author really likes his character, but sometimes it seems that some of Dixon’s actions are worthy of being judged, and there happens a lot he is to blame of. But nevertheless all his deeds just help to like him even more.
Allusions
Such things as myth of Prometheus, Buddha and his teaching, the Queen of Sheba can be seen alluded to in the story.
Imagery
Imagery is mostly used when describing appearances of the characters and their surroundings
Paradox
The main paradox stands in Dixon unreliability, his careless attitude towards his work, but in the very end he comes as a winner, he gets a woman he loves and a job that most of people just dream of
Parallelism
N/A
Metonymy and Synecdoche
When the Welches organize the music evening, everyone present is given a list of notes to perform a part of a music piece, then the author refers to everyone not by name, but by singing voices: Margaret is referred to as soprano, a small bullied-looking woman is contralto, Dixon himself is tenor; during this evening Mr. Welch calls all his singers by these names.
Personification
N/A
