Genre
Autobiography
Setting and Context
The events of the story take place in the United States and Iraq after 9/11. Chris Kyle completes four tours in Iraq from 1999 – 2009.
Narrator and Point of View
The novel is written from the first point of view. Chris Kyle is the narrator.
Tone and Mood
Chris’s tone is thoughtful and calm while the mood is worrying.
Protagonist and Antagonist
Chris Kyle is the protagonist. Terrorist and religious fanatics are the antagonists.
Major Conflict
Major conflicts are person vs. person and person vs. self. In the beginning, Chris goes to the war to fight against enemies of his country. In the end he has to fight with himself.
Climax
Chris’ decision to leave the Navy is the climax of the story.
Foreshadowing
“It was the first time I’d killed anyone while I was on the sniper rifle.”
This is how Chris Kyle starts his novel, so it is as clear as a day that this work is going to describe his experience in Iraq.
Understatement
“The number is not important to me. I only wish I had killed more.”
Allusions
The novel alludes to 9/11.
Imagery
See the imagery section
Paradox
“It’s a hard life, featuring plenty of hard work, and yet at the same time it’s an easy life.”
Parallelism
N/A
Metonymy and Synecdoche
“He’s looking for a hired hand.” (A hired hand is metonymy that means a helper.)
Personification
“But my legs were screaming the opposite. They hurt like a son of a b*tch.”
