Genre
Thriller/Suspense
Setting and Context
In a remote cabin in Long Island, New York during a pandemic
Narrator and Point of View
Third person reminiscent
Tone and Mood
The tone of the novel is dark, gloomy, and pessimistic. The mood of the novel is post-apocalyptic, dystopian, and angry.
Protagonist and Antagonist
Alam doesn't utilize a traditional protagonist-antagonist structure in the novel. However, readers could comfortably say that racism is the antagonist of the novel if they read into the novel's subtext.
Major Conflict
The major conflict of the novel is between the two couples, as they determine if they can trust each other and what each of their intentions are.
Climax
When Rose finally finds Thorne's house and finds quite a bit of food.
Foreshadowing
The mention of money foreshadows Rose finally letting the black family stay in the home.
Understatement
Rose's racism is understated for much of the novel.
Allusions
There are countless allusions in the novel, including allusions to the Bible and religion, to the geography of the United States (particularly the Eastern U.S. and New York), to the history of the U.S., and to other popular culture, technology, and mythology.
Imagery
The novel frequently uses imagery to illustrate how confusing the world is and how solemn the world has become.
Paradox
The black couple that comes to the cabin claims to own the cabin but has no evidence supporting their assertion.
Parallelism
Alam draws parallels between each of the two main couples: their confusion in the situation, their inability to trust people, and their paranoia.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
The blackout is personified and given human characteristics.
