Genre
A satirical novel
Setting and Context
The events of the story take place in Los Angeles, the British expatriate community in Hollywood after World War II.
Narrator and Point of View
The novel is told from the third-person point of view by an omniscient narrator
Tone and Mood
The tone is humorous whilst the mood is gloomy and dark.
Protagonist and Antagonist
Dennis Barlow is the protagonist of the story.
Major Conflict
The major conflicts are idealism vs. reality, person vs. person, person vs. society.
The idealism vs. reality could be illustrated by the conflict between Whispering Glades and The Happier Hunting Ground.
The person vs. person is a conflict between Dennis and Aimee, for she expects him to be a Prince Charming.
The person vs. society is represented by the conflicts within the British expatriate community.
Climax
Aimee’s suicide is the climax of the novel.
Foreshadowing
“Then where do I work?”
Owing to Sir Francis reaction to his dismissal, it becomes clear that he will do something reckless, for instance commit suicide.
Understatement
“Luckily the war came”.
Sir Amrose has rather twisted values. He values his reputation more than lives of millions.
Allusions
The novel alludes to the story of Francesca and Paolo.
Imagery
Images of nature and everyday life can be traced in the novel.
Paradox
"Old boy" - the paradox is created with the help of oxymoron
Parallelism
N/A
Metonymy and Synecdoche
“Perhaps you wouldn't mind taking a hand?” (A hand is metonymy that means help).
Personification
“It shook the rusty fingers of palm-leaf and swelled the dry sounds of summer, then frog-voices, the grating cicadas, and the ever present pulse of music from the neighbouring native huts.
