Sheppard Lee Literary Elements

Novel. Dark Comedy.

“Sheppard Lee” is set in the 1800s.

Sheppard Lee is the narrator; he employs the first-person voice.

Amusing, discontent, desolation, and chaotic.

Sheppard Lee is the protagonist. His children are the antagonists in “The Miser’s children.”

Sheppard Lee's endeavors to find pleasure.

Occurs each time Sheppard Lee’s soul moves from one body to another.

Sheppard Lee predicts the misery that awaits him in both "The Miser's Children" and "The Catastrophe of a Tragedy Often Performed on the Great Stage of Life.”

Sheppard Lee understates his flaws as her father in "The Miser's Children." He dwells no on depicting the children’s badness instead of acknowledging that his stinginess contributes to conflicts with them.

In "The Fate of the Firstborn," the argument that Ralph Skinner is being persecuted unfairly after forging notes is an understatement of the immensity of his crime.

Sheppard Lee appeals to religious allusions.

Sheppard Lee is compelled to emulate the personalities of his prototypes such as “John H. Higginson and I.D Dwakins" for him to 'fit into their shoes." As a result, he lives multiple lives throughout his quest.

Sheppard Lee faces various catastrophes which are inherent in the lives of the individuals whose bodies he 'inherits.'

In “The Miser’s Children,” Abram Skinner’s affection for his kids is paradoxical: “Abram Skinner, on the contrary, loved his children; which I suppose was owing to their being the worst children that ever tormented a parent.” The paradox underscores the unconditional nature of parental love.

In chapter seven, Sheppard Lee summarizes the paradox of his usefulness: "In Which It Is Shown That a Man May Be More Useful after Death than while living.” Ordinarily, humanity is more insignificant while alive. However, in the case of Sheppard lee, his usefulness is greater after his death because it gives his soul the chance of shifting from one body to the next.

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In “The Miser's Children,” “dollar, dime and cent” denote money.

The dead bodies that Sheppard Lee’s soul dwells in are personified.