full title The Remains of the Day
author Kazuo Ishiguro
type of work Novel
genre English aristocratic novel; tragedy; pre-World War II novel
language English
time and place written England, late 1980s
date of first publication 1989
publisher Faber & Faber Limited
narrator Stevens, a butler
point of view First person
tone Extremely proper and formal diction, with many English locutions, though hints of nostalgia and regret color most of the narrative
tense Present, when speaking about the present road trip; past, when speaking about memories
setting (time) Early 1920s–July 1956, with especial focus on the period leading up to World War II
setting (place) Darlington Hall; Stevens's road trip through the West Country to Little Compton, Cornwall
protagonist Stevens
major conflict Stevens's struggle with the knowledge that he has devoted his life to serving a man who may not in fact be a "great gentleman"; his regret that in doing so he has limited his worldview and been unable to accept or express his feelings for Miss Kenton
climax Stevens's brief meeting with Miss Kenton at the end of the novel
falling action Stevens's newfound resolve to perfect the art of bantering and to stop thinking about what might have been
themes Dignity and greatness; regret; loss
motifs Bantering; Stevens's rhetorical manner
symbols The English landscape; Stevens's father searching on the steps; Giffen and Co.
foreshadowing Stevens's occasional offhand allusions to events that turn out to be highly significant later in the narrative
