Passing
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Part 1, Chapter 1 Part 1, Chapter 2 Part 1, Chapter 3 Part 1, Chapter 4 Part 2, Chapter 1 Part 2, Chapter 2 Part 2, Chapter 3 Part 2, Chapter 4 Part 3, Chapter 1 Part 3, Chapter 2 Part 3, Chapter 3 Part 3, Chapter 4
Themes
All Themes Passing, Black Identity, and Race Motherhood, Security, and Freedom Beauty and Race Sex, Sexuality, and Jealousy Humor
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Clare Kendry / Bellew Irene Redfield Brian Redfield John/Jack Bellew Bob Kendry Hugh Wentworth Gertrude Martin Margery Claude Jones Felise Freeland
Symbols
All Symbols Masks Doorways, Windows, Thresholds
Literary Devices
All Literary Devices Dialect Dramatic Irony Flashbacks Foreshadowing Genre Hyperbole Idioms Imagery Irony Metaphors Mood Motifs Pathos Personification Setting Similes Situational Irony Style Tone
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Passing

by

Nella Larsen

Upgrade to A+
Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis
  • Part 1, Chapter 1
  • Part 1, Chapter 2
  • Part 1, Chapter 3
  • Part 1, Chapter 4
  • Part 2, Chapter 1
  • Part 2, Chapter 2
  • Part 2, Chapter 3
  • Part 2, Chapter 4
  • Part 3, Chapter 1
  • Part 3, Chapter 2
  • Part 3, Chapter 3
  • Part 3, Chapter 4
Themes
  • All Themes
  • Passing, Black Identity, and Race Theme Icon
    Passing, Black Identity, and Race
  • Motherhood, Security, and Freedom Theme Icon
    Motherhood, Security, and Freedom
  • Beauty and Race Theme Icon
    Beauty and Race
  • Sex, Sexuality, and Jealousy Theme Icon
    Sex, Sexuality, and Jealousy
  • Humor Theme Icon
    Humor
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • Clare Kendry / Bellew
  • Irene Redfield
  • Brian Redfield
  • John/Jack Bellew
  • Bob Kendry
  • Hugh Wentworth
  • Gertrude Martin
  • Margery
  • Claude Jones
  • Felise Freeland
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • Masks Symbol Icon
    Masks
  • Doorways, Windows, Thresholds Symbol Icon
    Doorways, Windows, Thresholds
Lit Devices
  • All Literary Devices
  • Dialect
  • Dramatic Irony
  • Flashbacks
  • Foreshadowing
  • Genre
  • Hyperbole
  • Idioms
  • Imagery
  • Irony
  • Metaphors
  • Mood
  • Motifs
  • Pathos
  • Personification
  • Setting
  • Similes
  • Situational Irony
  • Style
  • Tone
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
Download this Chart (PDF)
Download the Teacher Edition
Download this Chart (PDF)

Passing Study Guide

It's easy to cite LitCharts for use in academic papers and reports.


MLA

Churchill, Katherine. "Passing." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 12 Apr 2017. Web. 8 Dec 2025.


Chicago

Churchill, Katherine. "Passing." LitCharts LLC, April 12, 2017. Retrieved December 8, 2025. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/passing.

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