Genre
Literary Fiction
Setting and Context
The setting changes various times throughout the novel. Syria in 2015, and England in 2019.
Narrator and Point of View
Narrator: Nuri Ibrahim
Point Of View: First Person
Tone and Mood
Tragic, compassionate, fearful, hopeful
Protagonist and Antagonist
Protagonist: Nuri Ibrahim, Afra; Antagonist: The Civil War of Syria.
Major Conflict
Afra doesn't want to leave Syria, but after losing her son in a bomb blast she and Nuri realize they have lost everything in the War. Nuri has one choice to stay alive, to reach England.
Climax
Nuri and Afra face many dangerous situations while staying in several refugee camps. In the end, they reunite with Mustafa and hope for a good life. Even after struggling with traumatic experiences, they are hopeful that they will be able to go back to their home someday.
Foreshadowing
Firas's death foreshadows the death of Sami. After his son's death, Nuri follows the same path as Mustafa and leaves the country.
Understatement
Nuri understates his mental health when Afra says he is not behaving normally and continues to believe that Mohammad is a real boy.
Allusions
The story alludes to the Syrian Civil War.
Imagery
Nuri reminisces the memories of Aleppo when he used to watch the sunset and smell the soil of the desert sitting on his veranda.
Paradox
Nuri observes the bee he saved a few days ago. He thinks it won't survive, but the bee learns to live even without its wings.
Parallelism
N/A
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
The bee is personified as hope.
