The Emperor of Portugallia

Style and Technique

Selma Lagerlöf's novel «The Emperor of Portugallia» is characterized by deep emotionality and psychological insight. The author uses a realistic style to convey the inner experiences and transformations of the main character, Jan Andersson. Lagerlöf masterfully combines elements of symbolism and realism, creating multi-layered images and metaphors. The language of the work is rich and expressive, with an emphasis on dialogues and inner monologues that reveal the characters' personalities and inner worlds. The structure of the novel is linear but enriched with flashbacks and memories, allowing a deeper understanding of the characters' motivations. Literary devices such as symbolism and allegory are used to convey themes of love, sacrifice, and madness. Lagerlöf also pays attention to descriptions of nature, which emphasize the characters' emotional states and create the atmosphere of the work.