Genre
sci-fi, fantasy
Setting and Context
America, past during the first contacts with Native Americans, New England, South America
Narrator and Point of View
Narrator: omniscient;
Point of view: third person
Tone and Mood
Adventurous, suspenseful
Protagonist and Antagonist
Protagonist: Charles Wallace, Antagonist: the president of Vespugia, Mad Dog Branzillo
Major Conflict
Charles Wallace and his family receive news during a Thanksgiving dinner that the world is under a threat of a nuclear war by a leader of Vespugia called Branzillo. Mrs. O'Keefe arrives, and she chants an ancient Irish prayer and urges Charles Wallace to set off on the time-travelling journey to prevent the disaster from happening.
Climax
Charles Wallace manages to change the course of history while "within" the writer Matthew Maddox. He prevents Gwydyr's bloodline from ruling the Vespugia, and Branzillo changes to being a descendant of Madoc instead. Back at the present, the family receives news that Branzillo is a peace and earth-loving president.
Foreshadowing
Branzillo's name foreshadows his connection to the past. His name contains the main clue, a combination of the names Bran and Zillah.
Understatement
N/A
Allusions
Allusions to the colonization of America, allusions to Christianity, Salem Witch Trials, etc.
Imagery
The old Irish prayer:
"Lords of melody and song,
Lords of roses burning bright,
Blue will right the ancient wrong,
Though the way is dark and long,
Blue will shine with loving light."
Paradox
"Strength can always be used to destroy as well as create."
Parallelism
"There's something wrong with the weather. There's something wrong."
Metonymy and Synecdoche
"El Rabioso. That's his nickname. Mad Dog Branzillo."
Personification
"Sometimes in the spring, Meg thought she could hear the grass grow. In the autumn, the tree toads sang back and forth as thought they couldn't bear to let the joys of summer pass."
