Genre
Play
Language
English
Setting and Context
Camdeboo, South Africa in 1985
Narrator and Point of View
N/A
Tone and Mood
Realistic, somber
Protagonist and Antagonist
N/A
Major Conflict
Thami feels constrained by the education system under apartheid, causing him to clash with his teacher Mr. M who has more traditional views about life in South Africa.
Climax
Thami tries to warn Mr. M about the mob, but Mr. M refuses to listen and is killed by the mob at the end of Act II, Scene 3
Foreshadowing
Mr. M asks Isabel if Thami is having any problems; as early as Act I, Scene 1 we see that Thami does not want Mr. M to control him, which foreshadows the active resistance that comes only later.
Understatement
N/A
Allusions
Many allusions are made to famous poets and novelists while Isabel and Thami are studying for the literature competition.
Imagery
Thami and Mr. M both describe moments from their childhoods in great detail
Paradox
N/A
Parallelism
N/A
Personification
N/A
Use of Dramatic Devices
The play switches between scenes of dialogue between characters in specific settings and monologues by each character directly to the audience. Costumes and props are of great symbolic importance.
