Genre
Non-fiction
Setting and Context
Much of the text is set in West Africa during the Ebola virus outbreak which began in 2013.
Narrator and Point of View
The narrator of this text is Richard Preston, who has thoroughly researched the origins and consequences of the Ebola virus.
Tone and Mood
The tone of this text is informative and also dispirited.
Protagonist and Antagonist
The protagonist is arguably Humarr Khan, along with other heroes like him. The antagonist is the Ebola virus, which is personified in this text.
Major Conflict
The major conflict in this text is the fight against the Ebola virus.
Climax
One climax of the text is the death of Humarr Khan.
Foreshadowing
Preston's haunting predictions at the end of the book arguably foreshadow the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
Understatement
Preston argues that we understate the threat of viruses, and governments don't do enough to prevent them from happening.
Allusions
This text alludes to the Ebola virus outbreak in 2013.
Imagery
Imagery is used to describe difficult scientific terms and ideas in this text, which makes them more engaging and easier to understand.
Paradox
It is almost paradoxical that more attention is not given to potential future pandemics, as they have previously devastated many countries.
Parallelism
N/A
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
The Ebola virus itself is personified many times in this text. In particular, Preston gives the virus malicious motivations, as if It were something that could think and feel like a human.
