Genre
Novel
Setting and Context
The book is set in the early 1920s in the context of Berling’s life outside the church.
Narrator and Point of View
First-person point of view
Tone and Mood
Desperate, Hopeless, Pessimistic
Protagonist and Antagonist
Berling is the hero and protagonist of the story.
Major Conflict
The major conflict occurs when Berling almost freezes to death after his drinking habit. Berling resolves to alcohol and hopeless life after being deprived of his position in the church as a priest.
Climax
The climax occurs when Ekeby’s servants rebel against her because they do not have any power to determine their fate.
Foreshadowing
Defrocking of Berling from the priesthood foreshadows his hopeless life after that.
Understatement
Ekeby’s effort to rescue Berling is understated. Instead of being thankful, he later leads a rebellion against her.
Allusions
The story alludes to the consequences of misbehavior and defiance of responsibility.
Imagery
The sounds of the town depict the imagery of hearing.
Paradox
The main paradox is the rescue of the protagonist by Ekeby. Instead of remaining loyal to his life, he leads a rebellion against her.
Parallelism
N/A
Metonymy and Synecdoche
‘The man of the cloth’ is a phrase that shows the purity of the priests. Any man who misbehaves while serving as a priest is defrocked.
Personification
N/A
