Point of View

Some novels maintain a consistent point of view, that is, they tell their story from the perspective of one character. In A Death in the Family, however, Agee has chosen to alternate points of view. The novel is told at different times from the perspectives of each of the members of the main family discussed (Rufus, Jay, Mary and Catherine), as well as from the viewpoints of such secondary characters as Aunt Hannah, Ralph, Andrew, and Mary's mother and father. With this approach to the material, Agee is able to make this the story of a whole family, and not just the story of any one particular character.

Symbolism

In literature, a symbol is something that has both specific and general meaning: it fits into the story, but also indicates a meaning beyond its own place. Agee uses symbols in A Death in the Family that...