The End of the Affair Literary Elements

The End of the Affair Literary Elements

Genre

A novel

Setting and Context

The action of the book takes place in London during and after the Second World War, when in many houses it is possible, suddenly, to hear a prayer or vice versa, curses and screams of hatred

Narrator and Point of View

The narrator of the novel is a first person Maurice Bendrix. Moreover, the novel contains some stories from the diary of Sarah Miles. The narrator of this diary is a first person Sarah.

Tone and Mood

The tone and mood of this novel are dramatic, because the theme of war, death and unrequited love are discussed here.

Protagonist and Antagonist

All main personages of the novel are antagonists of their lives. They do not try to do something good for people or for themselves. Maurice constantly tortures Sarah with his jealousy. Sarah is cheating on her husband Henry. Henry cannot decide what he wants at all. Each character defiles his life. Only God is the protagonist of the book.

Major Conflict

The main conflict is a betrayal of Sarah Miles with a friend of her husband.

Climax

The climax occurs when the detective brings Sarah’s diary to Maurice. In this diary, Maurice learns the answers to questions that interest him.

Foreshadowing

Actually, if the reader is attentive, he or she can notice the main foreshadowing in the title of the book. “The End of the Affair” predicts that the main characters of this book will lose or destroy their love.

Understatement

N/A

Allusions

The novel alludes to such historical events as World War II and to the general layout of London.

Imagery

The images of London and of the dreadfulness of the World War II are used in the novel.

Paradox

Paradoxically, Sarah Miles, who cannot figure out her faith in God, makes other characters believe. Being an atheist, she turns to God.

Parallelism

There is a parallel of love and betrayal. Sarah loves her lover Maurice, but cheats on her husband Henry.

Metonymy and Synecdoche

N/A

Personification

The war personifies the main enemy of Sarah and Maurice and the whole of humanity, too. The main characters lose their love and happiness.

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