Genre
Philosophy
Setting and Context
19th Century
Narrator and Point of View
Friedrich Nietzsche
Tone and Mood
Philosophical, contentious, scientific, anti-religion/anti-Christianity, sceptical, and nonconformist
Protagonist and Antagonist
The thinker is the protagonist. Religion is the antagonist.
Major Conflict
Religion versus Science versus Philosophy
Climax
Friedrich Nietzsche’s declaration about God being DEAD.
Foreshadowing
Friedrich Nietzsche predicts that humanity will still believe in religion for millenniums despite religious ideologies' evident and inherent flaws.
Understatement
Friedrich Nietzsche understates the implication of religion in a man’s life.
Allusions
Religious allusions relating to God’s being.
Allusion to Buddhism.
Imagery
Imageries of Buddhism provide gaps that inspire irreligious beliefs. For the sceptics, it is easier to prove the unreality of God than his reality.
Paradox
The madmen’s claim about humanity killing God is paradoxical.
Parallelism
The madman parallels the candle and the sun to make an argument about God's indisputable existence.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
Shadows denote illusions.
Caves denote the lack of enlightenment.
Personification
N/A
