setting: in the past, somewhere in the west
conflict: a boy against society, and a boy against himself
climax: when a mermaid appears again in the end
symbol: <mermaid> as a symbol of one's imagination
<ocean> as a symbol of freedom and forgiveness
irony: a boy finally cant remember how a mermaid looked like
theme: one's freedom of imagination should be protected and respected; however, immoderate persistence may lead to loss of consciousness in the reality world.
