Genre
Literature; Female sexuality
Setting and Context
Paris, Rome and Berlin in the 1920's.
Narrator and Point of View
An unnamed third-person, omniscient narrator.
Tone and Mood
The tone is of revolution and change; the mood is powerful and dynamic.
Protagonist and Antagonist
Nora Flood is the protagonist; society is the antagonist.
Major Conflict
The major conflict of the novel occurs when Nora Flood is invited to travel to Berlin with Felix Volkbein.
Climax
The climax of the story is reached when Nora meets Robin one night at a circus, and they start their relationship together.
Foreshadowing
Nora's freedom to express her love is foreshadowed by her liberal friends.
Understatement
The suppression of female sexuality is understated throughout the novel.
Allusions
The story alludes to the struggles of women to accept their sexuality, and then to celebrate it and achieve happiness.
Imagery
The imagery of Nora's exploration of her own sexuality is present in the novel.
Paradox
N/A
Parallelism
There is a parallel between Nora's love for Robin and the fierce passion that drives her to find Robin.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
The desperation experienced in the early 20th century by lesbian women is personified through Nora's journey.
