Genre
Short story, Erotic fiction
Setting and Context
19th century, Louisiana countryside
Narrator and Point of View
Third-person omniscient narrator
Tone and Mood
The story has a dream-like mood with a tone that modulates between purely expository and sensuous
Protagonist and Antagonist
Calixta is the protagonist of the story, and the antagonist could perhaps be described as the social conventions that would restrain her from acting on her desires
Major Conflict
The major conflict in the story is the characters versus the raging storm, with all of the tension in the story provided by whether the characters are protected from it.
Climax
The climax of the story comes during the culmination of the affair between Calixta and Alcée, and in turn, Calixta's own climax.
Foreshadowing
There are several moments when Alcée's point of view acknowledges a former flame between her and Calixta, and a suggestion that they will indulge in that attraction
Understatement
Calixta says "My! but I was uneasy" when Bibi and Bobinôt return, but in fact she was very concerned.
Allusions
The town name "Assumption" alludes to Alcée's "assumption" that Calixta will want to have sex with him.
Imagery
The color white appears many times as an image representing both Calixta's domestic duties and female sexuality.
Paradox
Alcée recalls how Calixta was defenseless against his advances in Assumption—which in fact led to him restraining himself from indulging in his true desires.
Parallelism
The narrative arc of the storm perfectly parallels the narrative arc of Calixta's and Alcée's sexual encounter.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
Alcée's horse is a metonym for his apparent wealth.
Personification
"Sombre clouds that were rolling with sinister intention."
