Book Anatomy · King Solomon's Mines
King Solomon's Mines: Viewpoint and narration
14 lenses on viewpoint and narration for King Solomon's Mines by H. Rider Haggard. 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: E1 E2 E3 E4 E5 E6 E7 E8 E9 E10 E11 E12 E13 E14
E1. Person and tense: first or third, past or present. Count
First person, past tense. In the narration, past forms come 2,370 times and present forms 418 times.
E2. Whose viewpoint is each chapter? Both
first person. See the full lens on the book page.
E3. Share of the book told by each viewpoint character. Both
The entire book is told by Allan Quatermain in first person. No other viewpoint character shares the narrative.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 2, Ch 3, Ch 4, Ch 5, Ch 6
I have done a good many things in my life, which seems a long one to me, owing to my having begun work so young (Ch 1, para 2)
E4. Narrative distance: close inside a head, or far off? AI
Narrative distance is close and intimate. Quatermain reports his own thoughts, fears, and reactions directly. He describes others' actions and speech but rarely enters their minds, keeping distance from their inner lives.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 10, Ch 14, Ch 17
Never before had I seen such an absolute devotion to the idea of duty, and such a complete indifference to its bitter fruits. (Ch 14, para 6)
We were buried in the bowels of a huge snow-clad peak. Thousands of feet above us the fresh air rushed over the white snow, but no sound of it reached us. (Ch 18, para 2)
E5. Strict viewpoint or head hopping? AI
Strict viewpoint. Quatermain never enters another character's mind. He infers motives and feelings from behaviour and speech only. No head hopping occurs.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 7, Ch 9, Ch 14
E6. Is the narrator reliable? Where are the cracks? AI
Quatermain is largely reliable but shows bias. He admires Sir Henry and Good, judges Twala harshly, and romanticises the Kukuana land. His age and experience lend credibility, but his perspective is colonial and male-centred.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 8, Ch 9, Ch 17
Indeed, this new land was little less than an earthly paradise; in beauty, in natural wealth, and in climate I have never seen its like. (Ch 8, para 27)
The poor creature was no ordinary native girl, but a person of great, I had almost said stately, beauty, and of considerable refinement of mind. (Ch 19, para 2)
E7. Frames and tales within tales. AI
Chapter 2 contains a tale within the tale: Quatermain recounts da Silvestra's journey and death as told to him by the dying Portuguese trader. This nested narrative provides the map and legend driving the plot.
Chapters: Ch 2
I heard that he was starting for Solomon’s Mines. (Ch 2, para 3)
Why, the old Dom, José da Silvestra, of course—who else? (Ch 7, para 13)
E8. Narrator asides and addresses to the reader. Both
13 paragraphs where the narrator seems to speak to the reader or about the telling. (rough estimate from word lists)
Ch 1, para 2: It is a curious thing that at my age—fifty-five last birthday—I should find myself taking up a pen to try to write a history. I wonder what sort …
Ch 3, para 34: This was our total armament, and doubtless the reader will observe that the weapons of each class were of the same make and calibre, so that the cartridges …
Ch 3, para 52: For the history of Umslopogaasi and his Axe, the reader is referred to the books called “Allan Quatermain” and “Nada the Lily.”—Editor.
Ch 5, para 81: We had then covered some fifty miles of wilderness. If the reader will refer to the rough copy and translation of old da Silvestra’s map, he will see …
Ch 6, para 59: We made the best of our way to the spot, and found sure enough that the hole was the mouth of a cavern, no doubt the same as …
Ch 7, para 119: The old man made a deep obeisance, and murmured the words, “Koom Koom,” which I afterwards discovered was their royal salute, corresponding to the Bayéte of the Zulus, …
Quatermain addresses the reader directly in chapter 1 and occasionally throughout, using phrases like 'I have done a good many things' and reflective asides. He comments on events with hindsight, especially in chapters 17 and 18.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 17, Ch 18
I have done a good many things in my life, which seems a long one to me, owing to my having begun work so young (Ch 1, para 2)
Truly wealth, which men spend their lives in acquiring, is a valueless thing at the last. (Ch 18, para 3)
E9. Documents used: letters, diaries, reports, by type and sender. Both
How often each kind of document is named in the narration. (rough estimate from word lists)
| Document | Mentions |
|---|---|
| will | 45 |
| note | 9 |
| journal | 1 |
| letter | 1 |
The book uses da Silvestra's ancient map and written document as key evidence. These are shown to Curtis and Good in chapter 2 to prove the legend's credibility. No letters, diaries, or reports from other characters appear.
Chapters: Ch 2
Why, the old Dom, José da Silvestra, of course—who else? (Ch 7, para 13)
E10. What the narrator hides, and where the reader knows more than the lead. AI
The reader knows Umbopa is the rightful king Ignosi before Quatermain fully grasps it. Gagool's intentions to trap them in the treasure chamber are hinted but not fully known until chapter 17. Foulata's depth of character is shown to the reader through her actions before Quatermain fully appreciates her.
Chapters: Ch 3, Ch 10, Ch 15, Ch 17
The poor creature was no ordinary native girl, but a person of great, I had almost said stately, beauty, and of considerable refinement of mind. (Ch 19, para 2)
E11. Free indirect style: where the narrator slips into a character's voice. AI
Free indirect style appears when Quatermain reports the chiefs' or soldiers' thoughts. Chapter 11 uses it when describing the crowd's terror at the eclipse. Chapter 13 uses it for the soldiers' despair and determination.
Chapters: Ch 11, Ch 13
Never shall I forget that supreme, that superb moment of relief. (Ch 11, para 93)
Oh, for a gatling!” groaned Good, as he contemplated the serried phalanxes beneath us. (Ch 13, para 3)
E12. How thought is shown: tagged, italic or blended. Count
Thought is mostly shown with tags like thought, reflected, wondered.
| Tag | Times |
|---|---|
| thought | 46 |
| reflected | 6 |
| wondered | 1 |
| said to himself | 0 |
| said to herself | 0 |
| asked himself | 0 |
| asked herself | 0 |
| told himself | 0 |
E13. What triggers each change of viewpoint? AI
No viewpoint changes occur. Quatermain is the sole narrator throughout all twenty chapters. The narrative remains in his perspective from start to finish.
E14. Hindsight: where an older narrator comments on events. AI
Hindsight commentary appears throughout. Quatermain reflects on the desert crossing in chapter 6, the battle in chapter 14, and the treasure chamber in chapter 18. He often notes what he did not understand at the time but knows now.
Chapters: Ch 6, Ch 14, Ch 17, Ch 18
Truly wealth, which men spend their lives in acquiring, is a valueless thing at the last. (Ch 18, para 3)
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