Genre
Romance
Setting and Context
San Francisco in the 1890s
Narrator and Point of View
An unnamed, third-person omniscient narrator.
Tone and Mood
The tone is amorous; the mood is dramatic.
Protagonist and Antagonist
McTeague is the protagonist; Mrs Sieppe is the antagonist.
Major Conflict
The major conflict of the novel occurs when McTeague first meets Trina while working on her teeth as a dentist.
Climax
The climax of the story is reached when Trina finds out that she has won the lottery and announces that she will marry McTeague.
Foreshadowing
The jealousy of Marcus is foreshadowed by the fact that he loves Trina.
Understatement
The role of family in happiness is understated throughout the novel.
Allusions
The story alludes to the consequences of romance.
Imagery
The imagery of passionate sexual activity is present in the novel.
Paradox
The fact that Marcus willingly steps out of the dentist office while McTeague flirts with Trina is an example of paradox in the story.
Parallelism
There is a parallel between the happiness that Marcus longs for and the joy that McTeague experiences.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
N/A
