Genre
Children's Literature
Setting and Context
On a school day along Mulberry Street
Narrator and Point of View
The narrator is Marco, the little boy. The story is told in the first-person point of view.
Tone and Mood
The tone of the story is playful and amused. On the other hand, the mood of the story is joyful and light-hearted.
Protagonist and Antagonist
The protagonist of the story is Marco while the antagonist of the story is Marco's father.
Major Conflict
The major conflict arises when Marco is asked by his father to share about what he saw on Mulberry Street on his way home. He could either tell his father about the amazing made-up story he created on the way home or tell his father the truth.
Climax
The peak of the story took place when Marco arrived at his house after school. He went upstairs to greet his father. When it was time for him to decide whether or not to tell his father the truth, Marco
Foreshadowing
The absurdity of Marco's made-up story foreshadows that Marco will tell his father the truth rather than the made-up story because it's too implausible.
Understatement
N/A
Allusions
N/A
Imagery
The author uses illustrations to emphasize the creativity and complexity of the fictional story Marco had created in his mind.
Paradox
The father's statement about Marco's eyesight being too keen is a paradox. Instead of focusing on what he sees in reality, Marco actually creates a very different scenario in his mind.
Parallelism
"But when I tell him where I've been and what I think I've seen,"
"I've looked and I've looked and I've kept careful tack,"
"... a horse and a wagon on Mulberry Street."
"He's fast and he's fleet and he'd look mighty smart..."
"I swung 'round the corner and dashed through the gate,"
"I ran up the steps and I felt simply great!"
"Dad looked at me sharply and pulled up his chin."
Metonymy and Synecdoche
eyesight - referring to Marco ten-foot beard - referring to the man with a ten-foot beard
Personification
An important example of personification in the story is the following: "A reindeer hates the way it feels to pull a thing that runs on wheels. He'd be much happier..." The author personified the animal by giving him emotions only humans can feel.
