Literary Devices in Splendors and Glooms
Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory
Setting
Foggy LondonThe beginning of the story takes place in Victorian London, which is not the friendliest place to be. It's dirty, foggy, and oftentimes full of grimy and nefarious characters. Even Clar...
Genre
AdventureIn many ways, Splendors and Glooms has all the makings of a rollicking adventure—one that would probably translate perfectly to the silver screen. After Grisini turns Clara Wintermute in...
Tone
Because all of the characters in Splendors and Glooms are pretty street-savvy and have learned some tough life lessons (even if they're just kids), the overall tone isn't too naive or trusting. For...
Writing Style
Even with the bleak subject material and setting (London sure does sound grim—more on this on the "Setting" page, though), Splendors and Glooms is still a fantasy story, and it's definitely writt...
What's Up With the Title?
The title—Splendors and Glooms—comes from the novel's epigraph (so check out "What's Up With the Epigraph"), but it's also mentioned in a scene where Clara is a puppet and watching Parsefall wo...
What's Up With the Epigraph?
And others came … Desires and Adorations, Winged Persuasions, and veiled Destinies, Splendours and Glooms, and glimmering Incarnations Of hopes and fears, and twilight Phantasies; And Sorrow, wit...
What's Up With the Ending?
The three main characters in Splendors and Glooms have struggled long and hard in their young lives, so luckily, the book ends on a decidedly hopeful note for all three of them. During Cassandra's...
Tough-o-Meter
Splendors and Glooms is the sort of engrossing, fantastical tale that appeals to all sorts of readers, both young and old. Because it's written for a young-adult audience, the language is pretty si...
Plot Analysis
A Very Unhappy Birthday to You When the book opens, we're presented with Clara Wintermute's birthday party—an exciting affair where the puppeteer Grisini will be performing. We learn about Clara...
Trivia
Apparently, Laura Amy Schlitz doesn't just write about puppets—she's also made some of her very own marionettes. (Source) Laura Amy Schlitz knows exactly what kind of books appeal to young reader...
Steaminess Rating
Because the main characters in Splendors and Glooms are children, there isn't a whole lot of steamy material to giggle over. The only references to romance are in the past—apparently, Grisini and...
Allusions
William Shakespeare Punch and Judy The Egyptian Hall The Royal Marionettes