The Pillowman

The Pillowman Literary Elements

Genre

Drama, Dark Comedy, Horror

Language

English

Setting and Context

Interrogation room in an unnamed city in a totalitarian state.

Narrator and Point of View

POV mostly that of Katurian, who on occasion acts as a narrator.

Tone and Mood

Dark, Serious, Dramatic, Violent, Morbid, Funny.

Protagonist and Antagonist

Protagonist is Katurian. Antagonists are Tupolski and Ariel.

Major Conflict

Katurian is being charged with murders that he did not commit, but that his brother did. He wants to figure out a way to ensure that the detectives who are questioning him do not destroy his stories, even if he must take the fall for crimes he did not commit.

Climax

The climax occurs when Tupolski shoots Katurian in the head.

Foreshadowing

Katurian's stories foreshadow many dark twists in the plot.

Understatement

Katurian understates his tragic past.

Allusions

Allusions to the Bible, to fairy tales.

Imagery

The images presented by Katurian's stories are haunting and disturbing.

Paradox

Ariel tells Katurian he is going to burn his stories, but ends up saving them. Katurian tries to take the blame for his brother's crimes, but gets found out as having lied.

Parallelism

Katurian and Michal are parallels of one another. Ariel and Tupolski are also parallels of one another.

Personification

The pillowman is a personification of childhood suicide.

Use of Dramatic Devices

Katurian tells stories throughout the play and actors act them out.