Genre
Novel
Setting and Context
The novel is set in Washington in 2001. The novel is written in the context of racial discrimination.
Narrator and Point of View
The narrator is Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison.
Tone and Mood
The tone is tense, and the mood is buoyant.
Protagonist and Antagonist
The central character is Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison.
Major Conflict
The main conflict is that the Monk and his sister, Lisa, are tense. Later, Lisa is murdered at her place of work by an anti-abortionist.
Climax
The climax comes when Monk's writings are approved, and he becomes successful as one of the most renowned Black authors in American history.
Foreshadowing
The initial failure of the Monk to succeed in his writing career was foreshadowed by racism and the negative attitude towards Black people.
Understatement
The ability of Black people is understated. The reader realizes that Black people can be successful as their white counterparts given equal opportunities.
Allusions
n/a
Imagery
The imagery of racial bigotry is dominant throughout the novel. For instance, the narrator paints how Black people are viewed as inferior because they live in "ghettos." Similarly, Black authors are discouraged from writing about Greek mythology because they are supposed to only concentrate on the stories concerning Black people.
Paradox
The main paradox is that Black literature receives negative perceptions for no good reason. Monk's novels that cover the entire humankind are rejected by the white society simply because they are not concentrated on Black people's issues.
Parallelism
There is parallelism between Black and white pieces of literature.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
The mirror looks at Monk and reminds him of his childhood. The mirror is incarnated as having the ability to look and influence an individual's imagination.
