full title Regeneration
author Pat Barker
type of work Novel
genre Historical fiction; war novel
language English
time and place written 1990–1991; Durham, United Kingdom
date of first publication 1991
publisher Viking
narrator An unknown, omniscient narrator
point of view Third person omniscient; the narrator is not present or obtrusive in the text, yet is able to know the thoughts and feelings of each of the characters
tone Matter-of-fact, realistic, and resigned; the narrator does not gloss over details or make them any more palatable for the reader
tense Immediate past
setting (time) 1917, near the end of the World War I
setting (place) Craiglockhart War Hospital, Scotland
protagonist Dr. Rivers
antagonist Madness; Rivers and his patients must fight against the war neuroses in an attempt to heal, but first they must determine what the madness is
climax Rivers witnesses Dr. Yealland's electro-shock therapy, reflects on his relationship with Sassoon, and is forced to come to terms with his own role as a doctor and the control he wields over his patients
falling action The Board finalizes Sassoon's decision to return to active military duty in France; Sassoon leaves and Rivers reflects on how he has been changed by his patient
themes Madness; love between men; parenthood; duty
motifs Regeneration; emasculation
symbols Mutism; trenches; the graveyard
foreshadowing Pointing out the flooded cave on their walk foreshadows that the cave is where Rivers will find Burns in the storm; the dreary, empty hallway at the National Hospital foreshadows the frightening treatment Rivers later witnesses there
