Genre
Non-fiction novel
Setting and Context
The book was set between the 1960s and 1970s in Illinois.
Narrator and Point of View
First-person narrative
Tone and Mood
The tone is motivational, and the mood is intriguing.
Protagonist and Antagonist
Lynn Sweet is the protagonist of the story.
Major Conflict
The main conflict is that Lynn Sweet is a Democrat but works in a school where the majority is Republicans. Consequently, Sweet holds different political views from the people he interacts with daily.
Climax
The climax is when the school administration realizes that Lynn punishes students based on his political views. Despite this realization, Lynn is allowed to continue teaching because he is a good person.
Foreshadowing
Lynn’s teaching career foreshadowed his openness to new ideas and circumstances that come across his life.
Understatement
Political views are understated. The reader finds it satirical that Lynn expresses his political frustrations by punishing students.
Allusions
The story alludes to the significance of being ready to take opportunities as they come in life.
Imagery
The novel opens with sight imagery which helps readers to see the setting of the story. The author writes, "Macon appears no different…marked only by an exit and a sign that reads A CITY OF PROGRESS BUILT ON PRIDE, EST. 1869…the town marker that reads POPULATION 1,200, suggests progress has slowed of late."
Paradox
The main paradox is that Lynn Sweet expresses his political frustrations by punishing innocent students because their parents are Republicans.
Parallelism
Lynn’s love for sports parallels the school administration’s interest in retaining him despite expressing contrary political opinions.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
‘Baseball’ is a term used by the author to refer to Lynn’s flexibility.
Personification
N/A
