The White Boy Shuffle Literary Elements

Bildungsroman (coming of an age), A Novel, Biography, Memoir.

The setting of the novel is America at the end of 20th century and it has been written in the context of African American culture in America.

The narrator of the book is Gunnar, who has narrated the story of his life from his own point of view I.e. from first person's point of view.

Solemn, Revealing, Didactic, Optimistic.

The protagonist of the book is Gunnar who was an African American man and a prolific writer.

The major conflict in the story is between Gunnar and the Americans who treat the African Americans with much prejudice. Gunnar was bullied at school and at various stages of his life owing to his African American identity. There is another conflict between Gunnar and his ideals. He was afraid of changing his school but his mother moved him. He got indulged in criminal activities like robery because of getting acquainted with a murderer and there was a conflict in his personality.

The climax in the story comes when Gunnar's mother changes his school. His life lead him on a journey towards his transformation.

Gunnar's love for basketball foreshadows his successful career in the field.

The understatement in the novel is that it is possible to come out of a dark period of your life. Gunnar became a criminal because of his bad company but later on he became a successful basketball player and then a prolific writer who narrated the problems of African Americans. Another understatement is that one should not get influenced by the people around him because they may deteriorate our lives. The author has also understated that a few black criminals have tainted the image of African Americans. They are responsible for the ruthlessness against blacks in America.

There are allusions to African Americans, racist attitude towards blacks, school, basketball, change, puberty, childhood, teenage, criminals, robery, Tenesse Williams, Faulkner, slaves, law, meaningless rules, bullying, oppression, Gunnar's mother and writing.

The author has portrayed the life of an African American in America from his childhood days to his successful life as a writer. During his journey, he faced many troubles as the writer has depicted that he was harassed by his school boys. He became a criminal during his teenage owing to the racism in America. There are images of snatching things from people and robbery in stores. There are also images of ironical poetic inspiration. The protagonist has also been demonstrated as playing basketball and then becoming a champion. The book is replete with images of black men sitting and discussing various things regarding their discrimination.

The paradox in the story is that Gunnar became a poet at the start of his career but he didn't known anything about poetic inspiration or poetry itself. Another paradox in the story is that an African American became a successful writer in America where racist attitudes do not allow African Americans to exel in their lives. Gunnar's friends also demonstrate paradoxical attitudes. At one point they complain about racism while at others they become the reason for the prejudice against blacks by getting involve in criminal activities.

There is a parallelism between Gunnar's awareness about life and the success in his career. As he became aware of the vicissitudes of life and the racist attitude in America he put his focus on his writing career. Through his writings Gunnar made African Americans aware of their duties and the possibility of transformation. He became an inspiration for his community.

An example of metonymy is Gunner who represents all African Americans who make successful careers through their writings like Toni Morrison etc. An example of synecdoche is psycho Loco, through his character the writer has demonstrated that a few people has become the reason of the prejudice against blacks in America.

Race, poetry, and life have been personified in the book.