Genre
Gothic novel
Setting and Context
This novel is set in a town called Dungatar in Australia.
Narrator and Point of View
The novel is told from a third-person perspective.
Tone and Mood
The tone of the novel is often dark but is also sometimes comedic.
Protagonist and Antagonist
The protagonist of the novel is Tilly Dunnage, and the antagonists are the townsfolk who are cruel towards Tilly.
Major Conflict
The major conflict of the novel is Tilly's return home.
Climax
The climax of the novel is when Tilly burns down the town.
Foreshadowing
The town is described as a "dark blot" foreshadowing the dark events that will take place there.
Understatement
Tilly is harshly understated by her hometown.
Allusions
Shakespeare's play Macbeth is alluded to in this novel.
Imagery
Imagery is used to describe Tilly's beautiful dresses, emphasizing her dressmaking skills: "Striking green gown."
Paradox
Tilly is not accepted by the townsfolk despite her incredible success as a dressmaker.
Parallelism
N/A
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
The beacon is described as "winking from the home of Mad Molly."
