Kidnapped: Pace
16 lenses on pace for Kidnapped by R.L. Stevenson. Count lenses are exact for our text. AI lenses are our reading and cite only quotes that passed a word for word check.
Jump to: D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10 D11 D12 D13 D14 D15 D16
D1. Chapter length in words, as a chart. Count
30 chapters, median 2,748 words. See the full lens on the book page.
D2. Mean sentence length per chapter. Count
Mean 21.3 words. See the full lens on the book page.
D3. Paragraph length per chapter. Count
Paragraphs average 53 words.
Mean paragraph words, chapter by chapter
D4. Scene against summary: how much is shown live? AI
Most of the book is shown live in scenes with dialogue and action. Chapters 1 to 30 contain extensive direct scenes of David's journey, confrontations, and flight. Summary is minimal, used mainly for travel transitions between major events.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 6, Ch 10, Ch 17, Ch 29
D5. Action against reflection, per chapter. AI
Action dominates early chapters (kidnapping, shipwreck, flight). Reflection increases in middle chapters as David processes his trials and friendship with Alan. Late chapters balance action with David's internal conflict about Alan's gambling and their separation.
Chapters: Ch 6, Ch 13, Ch 18, Ch 24, Ch 27
the thought of the two men I had shot sat upon me like a nightmare; and all upon a sudden, and before I had a guess of what was coming, I began to sob and cry like any child (Ch 10, para 45)
I, angry and proud, and drawing what strength I had from these two violent and sinful feelings (Ch 24, para 4)
D6. Tension score per chapter (1 to 5) as a curve. AI
Peak 5 of 5, mean 3.7. See the full lens on the book page.
D7. Emotional arc of the whole book, matched to the six shapes. Count
Man in a hole (fall then rise). See the full lens on the book page.
D8. Chapter endings: cliffhanger, question, reveal or quiet close. AI
20 of 30 chapters end on a hook. See the full lens on the book page.
D9. Chapter openings: in scene, in summary, or after a time jump. AI
Most chapters open in scene with David already present and acting. Some open after time jumps signalled by summary (chapters 14, 15, 26). Chapter 27 opens with David meeting Rankeillor after an implied journey.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 6, Ch 14, Ch 17, Ch 27
D10. Do chapters and sentences get shorter near the climax? Count
In the last fifth, chapters run at 0.99 times the length of earlier ones, and sentences at 0.92 times. So things speed up near the end.
D11. Dialogue density against pace. Count
Link between dialogue share and chapter length: -0.08 (1 is a perfect match, 0 none). Between dialogue share and tension: -0.4.
Dialogue % per chapter, chapter by chapter
D12. Time jumps and how they are signalled. Both
16 time jump phrases in the narration, such as 'next morning' or 'years later'.
| Where | Phrase |
|---|---|
| c5p1 | next morning |
| c8p21 | next day |
| c14p30 | next day |
| c15p15 | next day |
| c15p20 | next day |
| c15p21 | next morning |
| c15p23 | Next day |
| c16p14 | next day |
Time jump phrases, chapter by chapter
Ch 5, para 1: Much rain fell in the night; and the next morning there blew a bitter wintry wind out of the north-west, driving scattered clouds. For all that, and before …
Ch 8, para 21: That was the first night of my new duties; and in the course of the next day I had got well into the run of them. I had …
Ch 14, para 30: The next day (which was the fourth of this horrible life of mine) I found my bodily strength run very low. But the sun shone, the air was …
Ch 15, para 15: The punch threw me in a strong sweat and a deep slumber; the good people let me lie; and it was near noon of the next day before …
Ch 15, para 20: At last, about eight at night, and already very weary, I came to a lone house, where I asked admittance, and was refused, until I bethought me of …
Ch 15, para 21: I slept uneasily that night, fearing I should be robbed; but I might have spared myself the pain; for my host was no robber, only miserably poor and …
Time jumps are signalled by summary phrases like 'the days came and went' (chapter 8) and 'four days' (chapter 14). Chapter transitions often skip travel time between major scenes. The shipwreck in chapter 13 creates a major temporal break.
Chapters: Ch 8, Ch 13, Ch 14, Ch 15, Ch 26
as the days came and went, my heart sank lower and lower, till I was even glad of the work which kept me from thinking (Ch 8, para 29)
having travelled the greater part of that big and crooked Island of Mull, from Earraid to Torosay, fifty miles as the crow flies, and (with my wanderings) much nearer a hundred, in four days and with little fatigue (Ch 15, para 52)
D13. Info dump spots: long runs with no action or speech. Both
3 stretches of 900 words or more with no speech at all. These are where description, summary or backstory pile up.
| Starts at | Words | Paragraphs |
|---|---|---|
| c13p47 | 3241 | 37 |
| c20p43 | 1361 | 15 |
| c16p43 | 1092 | 13 |
Long info dumps appear in chapters 12 and 16 where Alan and Henderland explain Highland politics and the Red Fox's mission with minimal action. Chapter 28 contains exposition about David's father and uncle's rivalry over a woman.
Chapters: Ch 12, Ch 16, Ch 28
If ye were the Red Fox...” And at that name, his teeth shut together, and he ceased speaking. I have seen many a grim face, but never a grimmer than Alan’s (Ch 12, para 32)
There’s something fine about it; no perhaps Christian, but humanly fine. Even Alan Breck, by all that I hear, is a chield to be respected. (Ch 16, para 29)
D14. Reading time per chapter. Count
About 5.4 hours to read at 250 words a minute. The longest chapter takes 16.0 minutes.
Minutes per chapter, chapter by chapter
D15. Micro tension in quiet scenes. AI
Quiet scenes maintain tension through dialogue and emotional stakes. Chapter 3 creates tension as David confronts his uncle about family secrets. Chapter 18 builds tension through David's accusation of Alan and Alan's oath. Chapter 27 uses Rankeillor's careful questioning.
Chapters: Ch 3, Ch 18, Ch 21, Ch 27
Alan,” said I, “what is the sense of this? Ye ken very well yon Campbell-man lies in his blood upon the road. (Ch 18, para 8)
Alan,” said I, “I’ll not say it’s the good Christianity as I understand it, but it’s good enough. And here I offer ye my hand for the second time. (Ch 18, para 31)
D16. Section breaks per chapter. Count
0 section breaks marked in the text, in 0 of 30 chapters.
Ask Kidnapped a question about its craft (free beta)
Answers cite chapter and paragraph, and every quote is checked against the text. (3 free questions a day).
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