Genre
Novel
Setting and Context
Set in Spain in the context of Spanish social mobility
Narrator and Point of View
Third-person narrative
Tone and Mood
Sad, pessimistic, disheartening
Protagonist and Antagonist
The central character is don Pablos (Paul)
Major Conflict
The main conflict is that the protagonist’s parents are directionless in life. For instance, Pablos' mother is a witch, and his father is a thief! These two parents believe that their respective professions are the best, and they expect to be role models to their son.
Climax
The climax is when Pablo steals a cabbage in school and swallows it, proving that he is perfect at stealing. Consequently, Pablos’ father cannot blame him for stealing since that is what he does best.
Foreshadowing
Don Diego’s departure to the University of Alcala is foreshadowed by Cabra’s greediness that leads to the starving of students.
Understatement
Publos’s cunningness is understated. Despite being a thief like his father, he is intelligent and tricky. For instance, there is an event in which he plots with Don Diego to steal swords from the guns, which is a highly sophisticated operation.
Allusions
The story alludes to parenthood and the things children learn from their parents.
Imagery
The imagery of stealing is evident in most sections of the book. For instance, the description of the incident when Pablo is beaten and left for dead depicts sight imagery which helps readers see the unfolding events.
Paradox
Don Poblos' parents are satirical characters because they praise their professions which are ironic. The mother is a witch, and the father is a thief! The reader finds it paradoxical that these parents do not see anything wrong with their professions.
Parallelism
N/A
Metonymy and Synecdoche
Cunning resourcefulness is a metonymy for destructive intelligence.
Personification
N/A
