Genre
A novel
Setting and Context
The action takes place on the Amish farm in Lancaster County, which is located in the state of Pennsylvania, USA.
Narrator and Point of View
The novel has two narrators – the first person Ellie Hathaway and the third person Jodi Picoult (the author of the novel). The author and the character Ellie narrate the chapters in turns.
Tone and Mood
The mood is tragic because of the baby’s death. Moreover, the book has a mysterious mood because of death investigation.
Protagonist and Antagonist
The main protagonist is Katie Fisher. The main antagonist is Sarah Fisher.
Major Conflict
The main conflict happens on the Amish farm. The dead baby is found there and nobody knows who commits such terrible deed. The main suspect is Katie Fisher.
Climax
The climax happens, when Sarah Fisher confesses to Ellie that she cuts the baby’s umbilical cord and probably she is a killer of her grandson. At this moment, all the secrets and riddles about the death of the baby are revealed to the reader.
Foreshadowing
At the beginning of the book, the reader notices that Sarah Fisher cuts the umbilical cord to the baby. This moment foreshadows the ending of the novel, the baby’s killer and the innocence of Katie Fisher who is accused of her baby’s death.
Understatement
N/A
Allusions
The novel alludes to such geographical places as the state of Pennsylvania, New York City and Africa.
Imagery
See the Imagery section
Paradox
The main paradox is when Katie Fisher sees the ghost of her dead sister Hannah.
Parallelism
There is a parallelism of honesty and deception. Being a fair lawyer, Ellie does not tells the whole truth about the baby’s death. Moreover, there is a parallelism of beneficence and sinfulness. Being religious people, Katie has sex before marriage and her mother Sarah cruelly treats Katie’s baby.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
Milk and scissors personify death and pain. The Amish religion personifies prison and dependence, because the Amish live against their desires.
