Literature Study GuidesGravitys Rainbow

Gravity's Rainbow | Study Guide

Thomas Pynchon

Download a PDF to print or study offline.

Study Guide
Contents
Cite This Study Guide

How to Cite This Study Guide

quotation mark graphic
MLA

Bibliography

Course Hero. "Gravity's Rainbow Study Guide." Course Hero. 16 Mar. 2018. Web. 1 July 2022. <https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Gravitys-Rainbow/>.

In text

(Course Hero)

APA

Bibliography

Course Hero. (2018, March 16). Gravity's Rainbow Study Guide. In Course Hero. Retrieved July 1, 2022, from https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Gravitys-Rainbow/

In text

(Course Hero, 2018)

Chicago

Bibliography

Course Hero. "Gravity's Rainbow Study Guide." March 16, 2018. Accessed July 1, 2022. https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Gravitys-Rainbow/.

Footnote

Course Hero, "Gravity's Rainbow Study Guide," March 16, 2018, accessed July 1, 2022, https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Gravitys-Rainbow/.

Overview

Gravity's Rainbow infographic thumbnail

Author

Thomas Pynchon

Year Published

1973

Type

Novel

Genre

Comedy, Fiction

Perspective and Narrator

An omniscient narrator relates the events in Gravity's Rainbow. This narrative choice allows the author to provide a sprawling view of World War II (1939–45).

Tense

Gravity's Rainbow is told in the present and past tense.

About the Title

The title Gravity's Rainbow refers to the arc of the German V-2 rocket in flight. The Germans used the V-2 weapon during World War II. Fuel propels the V-2 rocket up and then gravity pulls it down, creating a curved path. The title compares the V-2 rocket's path made by the force of gravity to a rainbow.

Diagrams

Tyrone Slothrop Goofy, genial, antiauthoritarian U.S. soldier Katje Borgesius Dutch double agent Tchitcherine Soviet intelligence officer Enzian Charismatic Herero rocket engineer Pointsman British behavioral psychologist Captain Blicero Sadistic Nazi officer Tantivy Mucker- Maffick Kind, truehearted British soldier Lovers Enemies Enemies and half- brothers Enemies Betrays Lovers Friends Experimental subject Major Marvy Racist American officer
Character Map
timeline
Timeline
plot-diagram
Plot Diagram

Summary

This study guide and infographic for Thomas Pynchon's Gravity's Rainbow offer summary and analysis on themes, symbols, and other literary devices found in the text. Explore Course Hero's library of literature materials, including documents and Q&A pairs.

Characters

Tyrone Slothrop Captain Blicero Katje Borgesius Enzian Pointsman Tchitcherine

Symbols

V-2 Rocket Rocketman's Helmet The Letter S

Themes

Sexuality Paranoia Angels Childhood Entropy
Buy this book from Amazon.com
Infographic
Cite This Study Guide

information icon Have study documents to share about Gravity's Rainbow? Upload them to earn free Course Hero access!

Copyright © 2016. Course Hero, Inc. As a reminder, you may only use Course Hero content for your own personal use and may not copy, distribute, or otherwise exploit it for any other purpose.