full title Dandelion Wine
author Ray Bradbury
type of work Novel
genre Science fiction/fantasy/autobiographical narrative
language English
time and place written Written over a twelve-year period from 1944 to 1956
date of first publication Parts were published as short stories as early as 1951 but the entire novel was first published in 1957.
publisher Doubleday
narrator Omniscient narrator
climax Douglas's sickness is the climax of the novel.
protagonist Douglas Spaulding
antagonist The Lonely One, not as the man whom Lavinia Nebbs kills, but as the force who represents evil and death.
setting (time) Summer of 1928
setting (place) Green Town, Illinois (the name Bradbury gives to Waukegan, his hometown)
point of view Mostly presented from Douglas's point of view, although several chapters are presented from the point of view of one of the other characters.
falling action Douglas passes on the gift—the magic of life—that Mr. Jonas gave him to Grandma Spaulding.
tense Immediate past
tone The tone is one of playful and blissful reminiscence.
themes Life; happiness; change
motifs Memory; magic
symbols Dandelions; machines
