Genre
A novel
Setting and Context
The actions in the novel take place within two different time periods: 1942 and 1992. The main place of action is Milderhurst Castle, but some of the events take place in London, England.
Narrator and Point of View
The novel is presented by two types of narration. The actions of 1992 are revealed by the first person, the narrator is Edith Burchill; and the actions of 1942 are revealed by the third person, an omniscient narrator.
Tone and Mood
Tone and mood is mystic and covert.
Protagonist and Antagonist
The protagonist is Edith Burchill.
Major Conflict
The novel is many-sided and many conflicts are presented in the novel, like family issues, crimes and escape from justice, time and its effect on people, and finally war.
Climax
The climax comes in the very end, when the secret is finally disclosed, and it becomes obvious who had committed the crime years ago.
Foreshadowing
The atmosphere of secrecy foreshadows that events are going to be developing around this secret with a purpose to disclose it.
Understatement
The theme of love is understated in the novel.
Allusions
The main allusion is of the World War II.
Imagery
The novel is filled with images of the castle, nature, weather. Along with these, images of the main characters are brightly presented.
Paradox
N/A
Parallelism
Events are given in parallel time periods: 1992 and 1942.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
“ALL HOUSES have hearts; hearts that have loved, hearts that have billowed with contentment, hearts that have been broken.”
Personification
“They were young; time hadn't yet rubbed at them, polishing their differences and sharpening their opinions.” (time is personified)
