Genre
American literary novel
Setting and Context
The novel is set in Roaring Camp in the mid 18th century.
Narrator and Point of View
Third-person narrative
Tone and Mood
Hopeful, ambitious, heartening
Protagonist and Antagonist
Tommy Luck is the protagonist of the story.
Major Conflict
The major conflict is that Tommy Luck is left parentless at birth because his month dies immediately after birth.
Climax
The climax is when Tommy Luck becomes the pride of her society, and he is regarded as a sign of fortune.
Foreshadowing
The birth of Tommy Luck foreshadowed a positive change in society.
Understatement
The assumption of Cherokee as a sinful woman is an understatement. Cherokee might have been an evil woman, but she gave birth to a son that brought a positive change in society.
Allusions
The story alludes to societal beliefs and customs that shape the community.
Imagery
The imagery of death is prevalent in the story. The author describes how Cherokee Sal died during childbirth to aid readers to see the events that unfolded. Similarly, the imagery of death shows readers how Tommy Luck’s life came to an unfortunate end.
Paradox
The main paradox is that the baby of a prostitute in the Roaring Camp is celebrated because he brings good fortune. The reader finds it satirical that the same people in the mining camp who celebrate the arrival of baby Tommy Luck are the very people who condemn her mother for being a prostitute.
Parallelism
The idea of constructing a hotel to attract tourists in honour of Tommy Luck parallels the flooding the, unfortunately, ends his life.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
Prostitution in the mining camp is understated. Regardless of the status of Cherokee Sal, her newborn baby is celebrated and adored.
Personification
N/A
