Genre
A short story
Setting and Context
The action takes place in North America in the 20th century in the house of Mr. and Mrs. Gumbeiner.
Narrator and Point of View
The narrator of the story is a third person. Moreover, there are many dialogues between the characters, which develop the plot of this story.
Tone and Mood
The mood of the story is humorous because of the funny situations between the characters.
Protagonist and Antagonist
The main protagonists are Mr. and Mrs. Gumbeiner. The main antagonist is a golem.
Major Conflict
The main conflict happens between Mr. and Mrs. Gumbeiner and the golem. The golem’s main goal is to destroy a married couple. The golem promises the flesh will melt from Mr. and Mrs. Gumbeiner’s bones in terror.
Climax
The climax happens, when Mr. Gumbeiner accidentally reprograms the golem and the android does not threaten them. The golem becomes their friend.
Foreshadowing
The word “android” foreshadows the emergence of many new technologies including the android operating system in the modern world.
Understatement
N/A
Allusions
The story alludes to such famous places as California and Chicago. It also alludes to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and the play R.U.R by Karel Čapek.
Imagery
See the imagery section
Paradox
N/A
Parallelism
The story has a parallel of good and evil. The golem is evil, who tries to kill Mr. and Mrs. Gumbeiner. However, Mr. and Mrs. Gumbeiner perceive the golem’s threat as a joke. Mr. and Mrs. Gumbeiner are just kind people, who love each other.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
Initially, the golem personifies an evil being, who does not feel such human emotions as pain, happiness, sorrow, and gladness. The golem is an android, who only yearns for death.
