The Accidental Tourist

The Accidental Tourist Literary Elements

Genre

dramatic fiction, realistic fiction

Setting and Context

Baltimore, 1980s

Narrator and Point of View

Third person, Macon's point of view

Tone and Mood

Darkly realistic with moments of ironic humor

Protagonist and Antagonist

Macon is the protagonist; his grief and indecision are the conceptual antagonists

Major Conflict

Macon and Sarah's separation, as well as the death of their son, Ethan.

Climax

Macon finally decides which woman he wants to be with, leaving Sarah in Paris and opting to be with Muriel instead.

Foreshadowing

The relationship between Julian and Rose is foreshadowed through Julian's sudden interest in joining Leary family dinners .

Understatement

It is an understatement when Macon self-reflects on his difficulty communicating with loved ones: he does not fully realize the extent to which stumbles socially.

Allusions

There are several allusions to the novel "Miss Macintosh, My Darling" by Marguerite Young; it is Macon's favorite travel companion.

Imagery

See the separate "Imagery" section of this ClassicNote.

Paradox

Macon's profession is writing travel guides; yet throughout his life, he has disliked leaving his comfort zone and anything considered "foreign."

Parallelism

While Macon's siblings are suspicious of his new relationship with Muriel; Macon is also suspicious of Rose's new relationship with Julian.

Metonymy and Synecdoche

N/A.

Personification

N/A.