The Lincoln Highway Literary Elements

Historical Fiction

Set in 1950s America, primarily in Nebraska and New York City.

Primarily third-person point of view from Emmett and Woolly's perspectives, while Duchess and Sally have first-person points of view.

Witty, Suspenseful, Action-packed

Protagonist: Emmett, Billy; Antagonist: Duchess, and Woolly

With the responsibility of taking care of his younger brother, Emmett hopes to start afresh after leaving a juvenile detention center. However, their journey becomes disrupted once two escapees including Duchess and Woolley steal Emmett's car and turn it into a pursuit across the country.

The climax happens when Duchess holds Billy at gunpoint in order to obtain Woolly's sizable fortune.

“For some of the young men who come to Salina, he began, whatever series of events has brought them under our sphere of influence is just the beginning of a long journey through a life of trouble.”

This foreshadows the troubled life journey that the three former inmates take on once they leave Salina.

“When it comes to waiting, has-beens have had plenty of practice. Waiting for their big break, or the bars to open or the welfare check to arrive.”

“This is the Lincoln Highway, explained Billy, pointing to the long black line. It was invented in 1912 and was named for Abraham Lincoln and was the very first road to stretch from one end of America to the other.”

“In his room he dressed in a fresh pair of jeans and denim shirt along with his favorite belt and boots. Then he reached into his top bureau drawer and took out a pair of socks tucked into a ball. Unfolding the socks, he gave one of them a shake until out came the keys to his car. Then he crossed the hall and stuck his head into his brother’s room.”

The story juxtaposes Emmett and Duchess through their perspective on life, personalities, backgrounds, and moral standings.

“A good-looking blonde would wheel out a giant clock as the emcee reminded the audience”

“…and the great American prairie that was waiting right outside the door, trying its best to convince us that the world was flat”