Analysis

Normal People is Sally Rooney’s second novel. The story centers around the relationship between the two main characters, Connell Waldron and Marianne Sheridan. The plot follows Connell and Marianne for several years.

The analysis of the novel shows the story follows a chronological plot structure. Many flashbacks help to fill in the gaps of the narrative and offer additional insight into the characters.

The main characters of the novel are Connell Waldron and Marianne Sheridan. The story explores their lives from their late teens until their early 20s, as they navigate relationships with each other and with other people. 

The physical setting of the story is Ireland from 2011 to 2014. The main locations the story takes place in are the fictional town of Carricklea and Dublin city. The social setting explores class and gender differences. 

The story is told from the point of view of a third-person narrator. The narrator alternates from chapter to chapter between Connell’s point of view and Marianne’s, which helps to provide a comprehensive view of the relationship between the two of them. 

The novel uses a modern and informal style of language, which makes the text sound natural. Similes and metaphors provide expressiveness to the descriptions, and symbols add additional layers of meaning to the story. 

You can read a more detailed analysis of the novel in the following pages.