Genre
Non-fiction
Setting and Context
Set in Copiapó, Chile, in August 2010
Narrator and Point of View
It is narrated in the third person from the perspective of the author.
Tone and Mood
The tone is serious and urgent. The mood is tense and anxious.
Protagonist and Antagonist
The concept of a traditional protagonist and antagonist may not apply in the same way as it does in fictional narratives. The focus is often on real-life individuals and the collapse of the mine.
Major Conflict
The major conflict revolves around the central event of the mine collapse and the subsequent efforts to rescue the 33 trapped miners. The conflict arises from the dire situation faced by the miners who are trapped deep underground with limited resources, deteriorating conditions, and the constant threat of further collapses.
Climax
The climax occurs during the successful extraction of the trapped miners.
Foreshadowing
The statement by Urzúa, "You just have to speak the truth and believe in democracy," foreshadows the importance of unity that will play a crucial role in the miners' survival.
Understatement
N/A
Allusions
The author alludes to the concept of the "Great Wall," which is a well-known structure in China that stretches across the country's northern borders. This allusion highlights the impact and significance of the mountains in shaping weather patterns and the distribution of life in the region.
Imagery
"Dark so deep that every miner knows he must work with a buddy because if your hard-hat light goes out all you have is the feel of the rock." This imagery conveys the profound darkness of the mine highlighting the reliance of miners and the importance of working in pairs for safety.
Paradox
"Their physical confinement in the dark depths of the mine became a catalyst for their inner strength and resilience to flourish."
In this paradoxical statement, the physical limitation of the miners seems contradictory to the idea of inner strength and resilience flourishing.
Parallelism
The book presents parallel stories of survival efforts by different individuals or groups. For instance, it parallels the experiences of the trapped miners with the survival story of the Uruguayan rugby team that crashed in the Andes in 1972.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
The description of the darkness of a cave allows one to "look fearlessly into an inner mirror." The author personifies darkness by giving it human-like qualities.
