The Year of the Flood Literary Elements

A novel, dystopia

The events mostly take place in the future, somewhere in the USA. After an unknown epidemic, which gets a name the Waterless Flood, almost all mankind is wiped off the face of the Earth. Two survivals, Toby and Ren, who get stuck in the former spa center and the Sticky Zone, recollect their lives. Soon enough they are to learn that they are not alone and that this now world is devoid of dangers. Readers learn about the last years of mankind from their stories.

The story is mostly told from the third point of view by an omniscient narrator.

Tone changes from contemplative to uneasy, while mood is mostly disturbing and alarming.

Toby and Ren are the protagonistы of the story, while the corporation CorpSeCorps and the Painballers are the antagonist.

There are two main types of conflicts. The first one is person vs. society, in this case it is person vs. corporation, for Toby has to break the rules implemented by the CorpSeCorps to survive. The second is man vs. man, for the protagonists of the story have to stand against Painballers.

The moment, when Amanda is saved from the hands of the Painballers is the climax of the story.

“There is longer any sound of traffic to drown them out”. The description of an empty city, where no traffic sounds are heard anymore foreshadows the events of the story, for readers understand that something has happened to other people, who used to live in that city.

N/A

The Story of Creation

Imagery is largely used to describe the world after the Waterless Flood.

The Waterless Flood is an example of paradox by virtue of its very name.

An Ararat without a wall isn’t an Ararat at all.

They drank a six-pack between them. A six-pack is an example of synecdoche which refers to the contents by the name of container.
The CorpSeCorps always substituted rumor for action. The CorpSeCorps stands for people, who work for this corporation.

The trees look as innocent as ever.
A tree can’t look innocent or suspicious.