Genre
Novel
Setting and Context
The book is set in a small town called Endora in Iowa in a dysfunctional family.
Narrator and Point of View
Third-person narrative
Tone and Mood
Gloomy, hopeless, pessimistic,
Protagonist and Antagonist
Gilbert is the protagonist of the story.
Major Conflict
The major conflict is that Gilbert and his family fear Arnie's survival, who doctors said wouldn't survive the past ten years. Consequently, besides taking care of the family, Gilbert is forced to take special care of his brother, who is mentally challenged.
Climax
The family celebrates Arnie’s 18th birthday. Despite the initial assumption that he could not attain ten, he surprises doctors when he attains 18 years.
Foreshadowing
Gilbert’s father hanging foreshadowed a difficult future for Gilbert and his siblings.
Understatement
The nature of the cremation of Gilbert’s mother in the house is understated. Remember, building a new house is cheaper than using machines to lift the mother’s body into the ambulance.
Allusions
The story alludes to the eldest children's responsibility in the family. For instance, Gilbert takes the mantle after his father dies, and he struggles throughout his life to providing for the family.
Imagery
The description of Gilbert’s mother’s obese situation paints a vivid picture for readers to see how fat she is. Similarly, the author describes the basement where Gilbert’s father killed himself to enhance sight imagery.
Paradox
The reader finds it satirical that the children are happy that their mother was able to climb up the stairs before she died. They decide to criminate her inside the house!
Parallelism
Gilbert’s struggle story parallels the challenges elder siblings go through while providing for their families.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
The replacement of Arnie’s birthday cake reflects the number of times that Gilbert had to put up with his mentally challenged brother.
Personification
N/A
