Genre
Paranormal Fiction
Setting and Context
It is set in modern London, England.
Narrator and Point of View
It is told from a third-person narrator who follows the point of view of the main protagonist, Lockwood.
Tone and Mood
Tone: Suspenseful, mysterious
Mood: Eerie, foreboding
Protagonist and Antagonist
Protagonist: Lockwood Antagonist: Penelope Fittes
Major Conflict
The main conflict is that of the supernatural forces at work in London, which are threatening to break out and cause chaos. The protagonist, Lockwood, must find a way to contain the supernatural forces and prevent them from wreaking havoc on the city. They must also investigate the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of a prominent figure, which may be linked to supernatural forces.
Climax
The climax is the final confrontation between Lockwood & Co. and Penelope Fittes.
Foreshadowing
Throughout the book, there are several hints that Marrittes may still be alive. When they visit Marrittes' grave, they find it empty, suggesting that Marrittes is not dead.
Understatement
When the skull says "Who cares about that? It's superficial" it implies that outward appearance does not matter when it comes to essence, implying that it should not be the most important factor in relationships between people.
Allusions
The allusion in the novel is to a biblical story of the resurrection of Jesus and the empty grave, hence the title of the book.
Imagery
“Behind us, the dim grey cone of lantern light seeping through the trapdoor faded from view. To our right was a wall of neat stone blocks, shiny and gleaming with moisture. To the left was an open, unknown space, which our candlelight could not penetrate. Lockwood risked a brief flick of his torch, revealing a shocking well of black that made us all flinch towards the right-hand wall. Then, disconcertingly, this wall vanished too, and we were descending with an abyss of darkness on either side.”
Paradox
One paradox is that Mr. Tufnell is trying to keep Charley alive by keeping him chained up, but he also implies that the doctors wouldn't be able to help him and that eventually, he would die anyway.
Parallelism
Both Holly and George are described as having a particular quality that is the same no matter what they are facing. This is used to emphasize the fact that these characters handle whatever comes their way.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
Metonymy:
"Munro cool" refers to Holly's unflappable demeanor.
"Boatload of Lockwood's tousled charm" refers to Lockwood's charisma.
Personification
“…the skull in my rucksack insisted on doing a running commentary, constantly adding little reminders of the peril we were in.”
