Genre
A novel
Setting and Context
The events of the story describe James Boylan’s transition from male to female. The main events take place in the USA. The time period is from 1968 to 2001.
Narrator and Point of View
The story is told from the first point of view by Jennifer Boylan.
Tone and Mood
The author’s tone varies between humorous and thoughtful, while the mood is contemplative.
Protagonist and Antagonist
Jennifer Boylan is the protagonist of the story. Fears and prejudices are the antagonist.
Major Conflict
A major conflict is person vs. self. James decides to undergo a sex reassignment surgery in his forties. He puts everything he has at stake.
Climax
A sex reassignment surgery is the climax of the story.
Foreshadowing
It was possible, although not certain, that Green Hair was named Ashley LaPierre, who’d been a student of mine back when I was a man.
Understatement
When I imagine a person with a lifestyle, I see a millionaire playboy named Chip who likes to race yachts to Bimini, or an accountant, perhaps, who dresses up in a suit of armor on the weekends.
Jennifer doesn’t understand why some people consider transsexuality as a lifestyle.
Allusions
The story alludes to the Vietnam War.
Imagery
See imagery section
Paradox
This legacy of cheerful wit became the thing that sustained me and also, at times, burdened me.
Parallelism
N/A
Metonymy and Synecdoche
The brains behind the band were a couple named Nick and Shell. (The brains are metonymy that means leaders.)
I used to stand at the lectern in my coat and tie, waving my glasses around. (Glasses are synecdoche that means spectacles.)
Personification
The wind was screaming outside.
