Genre
Collection of short stories
Setting and Context
Set in the 1960s in Melbourne, Australia
Narrator and Point of View
Third-person narrative
Tone and Mood
Violent, disheartening, buoyant
Protagonist and Antagonist
The central character is Michael Byrne.
Major Conflict
There is a conflict between Michael and his alcoholic father, who does not own up to his parenting responsibilities.
Climax
The climax comes when the old things outrun the new things in the city.
Foreshadowing
Michael’s tribulations are foreshadowed by poor parenting throughout his childhood.
Understatement
The violence in the city streets is understated. Michael is brutally abused both at home and in the city's streets.
Allusions
The story alludes to the challenges of poor parenting and children's struggles while growing up.
Imagery
The chaotic description of the city streets creates images for the reader to understand and see the violent treatment Michael goes through while growing up.
Paradox
The main paradox is those older things overrun the newer things in the city.
Parallelism
N/A
Metonymy and Synecdoche
Shadowboxing is a metonymy for fighting an imaginary battle.
Personification
N/A
