Genre
Young Adult, Coming of Age
Setting and Context
1986-1987, Omaha, Nebraska,
Narrator and Point of View
Eleanor and Park, omniscient narrator with alternating POV
Tone and Mood
Wary, Excited, Anxious, Happy
Protagonist and Antagonist
Eleanor and Park are protagonist, Ritchie is the antagonist
Major Conflict
Major conflict is around Eleanor and Park's relationship, and how they can keep it a secret from Ritchie
Climax
When Eleanor discovers that Ritchie knows about her and Park and he is the person who wrote lewd comments on her books
Foreshadowing
Eleanor wonders if her siblings would hide in one bedroom when it got cold, and how awkward and anxious that would be. The situation got so when Ritchie started to scream and the kids huddle together.
Understatement
Eleanor's family conditions are often understated by her as she doesn't want others' pity.
Allusions
Multiple allusions to comic book characters, songs and movies are made. Like Park is often compare to Mr. Fantastic, while Park thinks Eleanor looks like Jean Grey
Imagery
The description of Eleanor's house evokes the image of Ritchie's dominance over the family. The kids are forced to sleep in one bedroom with no privacy while using the bathroom as he has taken the door apart.
Paradox
Eleanor's mother asks her to invite her friends knowing fully well that they can't entertain them or that Ritchie won't like it
Parallelism
Mindy observes a parallelism with Eleanor as she too came from a family with limited means.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
Park's father insists on Park's driving a stick which is a synecdoche for a car. Since, Park is to get his mother's Impala that is an automatic, he doesn't care much for shifting gears. The gear stick is meant for the place where car is implied.
Personification
Comics are used as a way to express one's self by personifying fictional characters.
