Genre
Fantasy novel
Setting and Context
Set in 1987 in a fictional society of Riverside
Narrator and Point of View
Third-person narrative
Tone and Mood
The tone is intense, and the mood is ominous.
Protagonist and Antagonist
The central character is Richard St Vier.
Major Conflict
There is a major conflict between Richard and Lord Horn. When Richard refuses to kill Michael as Lord Horn demands, he kidnaps his girlfriend. At last, Richard kills Horn to reclaim his girlfriend.
Climax
The climax comes when Richard is tried and not found guilty. He is set free to do whatever he pleases.
Foreshadowing
The kidnapping of Alec is foreshadowed by Richard's refusal to kill Michael as Lord Horn demands.
Understatement
Applethorpe underestimates Richard's skills in sword fighting when he takes Michael's place.
Allusions
N/A
Imagery
The scene in which the author describes the trial where Richard is brought before for justice depicts the sense of sight to readers. The imagery shows readers how the justice system is flawed.
Paradox
The main paradox is that Richard is a well-known killer for higher, but the court sets him free after killing Lord Horn. The court tells Richard to do whatever he pleases. Therefore, Richard will kill mercilessly, knowing nothing can be done to him.
Parallelism
There is a parallelism between Ferris's request for the murder of Basil and his ambition to be the new Chancellor.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
Swordsman is used as metonymy for a serial killer.
Personification
N/A
