Genre
A novel
Setting and Context
England, a period of twenty years between the World War I and World War II is depicted
Narrator and Point of View
It is first-person narration, the narrator is the main protagonist Charles Ryder
Tone and Mood
Both the tone and mood are positive, but somehow saddened when the narration addresses Sebastian
Protagonist and Antagonist
Charles Ryder and Sebastian Flyte are the main protagonists; the main antagonist is religion on the behalf of Sebastian’s mother
Major Conflict
The main conflict stands in the pressures of prejudices, control ,and opinions of others
Climax
The climax comes when Julia’s father died and she left Charles
Foreshadowing
Sebastian’s passion to drinks foreshadows his future problems with alcoholic addiction
Understatement
N/A
Allusions
The story alludes to Napoleon, Greek mythology, Renaissance art
Imagery
Descriptions of nature are widely employed, and descriptions of buildings are vividly given, as the main protagonist is an artist and paints mostly architecture
Paradox
‘Oh, my darling, why is it that love makes me hate the world? It’s supposed to have quite the opposite effect. I feel as though all mankind, and God, too, were in a con- spiracy against us.’ – Charles said these words to Julia, and the paradox is that love stands as a thing that brings people pain, but it supposes to bring happiness
Parallelism
The most vivid parallel is drawn between the Brideshead house and Sebastian’s elder brother, who had the same name as the house, but they all called him Bridey. Both the house and his supposed future owner (at his deathbed old Lord Flyte left the house to Julia) were “a mystery, a creature from underground”, in this way Bridey’s character resembled the house.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
“The Death’s Head seemed destined for me” (metonymy for a girl, whose head resembles a skull);
‘You’re very sweet really,’ said the Sickly Child.(metonymy for another girl, whose appearance did not look well)
Personification
The fountain in the garden of Brideshead personifies decline of the family; at the beginning of the story it is beautiful and looked after, and in the very end it is closed, and soldiers throw their their cigarettes at it.
