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Genre 

Science fiction

Narrator 

3rd person omniscient

Climax 

The climax occurs when the children of the last generation of humanity are assimilated into the Overmind, destroying the Earth in the process.

Protagonist(s) 

Karellen; Stormgren; George Greggson; Jan Rodricks

Antagonist 

There is not really any true "protagonists" in Childhood's End, although it can be argued that both the Overlords and the Overmind fulfill a kind of antagonic role.

Setting (time) 

Late twentieth century; 2050s; 2130s

Setting (place) 

Earth

Point of view 

The narrator maintains a fairly straightforward manner of third-person narration.

Falling action 

The Overlords watch as the Earth is destroyed, then continue on their way to serve the Overmind.

Tense 

Immediate past; that is, real-time narration

Foreshadowing 

There is much foreshadowing in Childhood's End. One good example is that since the Overlords resemble a medieval conception of "the Devil," they can be read as foreshadowing the Overlords' role in the ultimate destruction of humanity.

Tone 

The tone of the novel is fairly neutral.

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