Twilight in Delhi Literary Elements

Postcolonial novel

The setting of the novel is Delhi 1857-1919 and it has been written in the context of British rule in the sub-continent.

The novel has been narrated from the first person point of view but the narration often switches to second person's point of view and the aspects of colonization have been highlighted.

Pessimistic, Mournful, Lamenting

Mir Nehal has been portrayed as both the protagonist and the antagonist of the novel.

The major conflict in the novel is between the colonizer and the colonized and between younger and older generations, e.g. Mir Nehal and Asghar.

The deterioration of Mir Nehal's health is the climax of the novel.

The death of Baban jan and the pigeons foreshadows the ruin of Mir Nehal and Mir Nehal's illness foreshadows the downfall of Muslims.

The understatement in the novel is the lost glory of Muslims and the ambivalent attitude of the Muslims towards the British.

The Allusions of Mughal Emperors have been used in the novel.

There are images of death, illness, animals and burning of candle.

The paradox is that Asghar shows his hatred for the British but at the same time wears English boots.

There is parallelism between Mir Nehal's condition and the condition of the Muslims of the sub-continent.

Mir Nehal represents the Muslims of the subcontinent which is an example of synecdoche and British boots are the example of metonymy in the novel.

Peace has been personified by the pigeons.