Genre
Novel
Setting and Context
20th century experimental and modernist literature
Narrator and Point of View
Third-person narrative
Tone and Mood
The sad, cheerless and hopeless
Protagonist and Antagonist
The title character is Finnegan.
Major Conflict
The major conflict is when the body of Finnegan vanishes after his wife prepares it for burial.
Climax
The climax is when a rumor erupts that HCE is accused of sexually molesting young girls at the park.
Foreshadowing
The talking donkey foreshadows the spirit of Shaun's dead father.
Understatement
The claims that HCE is a child molester is understated. However, the rumour intends to taint the reputation of his family.
Allusions
The story alludes to imaginative fantasies.
Imagery
The imagery of death and rebirth paints a picture of the mystery of life.
Paradox
The paradox is when someone spills whiskey on the casket, and Finnegan wakes up from death to drink for the last time.
Parallelism
N/A
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
A talking donkey is personified.
