Genre
Historical fiction/epic
Setting and Context
Towards the end of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period (approximately 169 AD to 280 AD) in China.
Narrator and Point of View
The novel is told from a third-person omniscient point of view.
Tone and Mood
The tone is solemn, heroic, and tragic. The mood is awe-inspiring, heroic, somber, and reflective.
Protagonist and Antagonist
The novel doesn't have a clear protagonist-antagonist structure because of its epic scale.
Major Conflict
The rulers struggles to take control of China after the fall of the Han dynasty.
Climax
Although there isn't a single climax in the novel, the most significant is the Battle of Red Cliffs.
Foreshadowing
Through the use of prophecies and omens, the novel foreshadows future battle wins and alliances between the leaders.
Understatement
The ingenuity of some of the leaders is understated throughout the novel.
Allusions
There are allusions throughout the novel to Chinese history, literature, and Confucian ideals.
Imagery
Throughout the novel, battles are painted with rich, vivid imagery. The scale of the battles and the toll they take on the people fighting in them are explored in great detail.
Paradox
The Han dynasty appeared successful and enriched the lives of many, but it failed and resulted in China being destroyed.
Parallelism
N/A
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
China itself is personified throughout the novel and given human-like characteristics.
