Anatomy of The Da Vinci Code
Dan Brown, 2003. In copyright. This page gives our own structural notes only. We do not quote the text. Figures marked estimate come from third party lists, not our own count.
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This book is in copyright, so answers use our notes only and never quote it. (3 free questions a day).
| Chapters | A prologue, 105 numbered chapters and an epilogue [source] |
|---|---|
| Word count | About 138,000 to 139,000 words (estimate: two third party counts give 138,978 and 138,098) [source] [source] |
| Average chapter | About 1,300 words (estimate: word count divided by 107 sections) |
Plot beats
- Opening: a murder in a famous museum, told from the victim's side, before we meet the hero.
- Call: the hero is pulled in by the police in the middle of the night and is soon a suspect.
- Midpoint: the pair escape the city with a key clue and seek help from an expert.
- Twist: the helpful expert turns out to be the hidden enemy.
- Ending: the last puzzle is solved and the heroine learns who she really is.
How it works
Chapter hooks
Most chapters end on a new question, a threat or a half answer. The next chapter often cuts to another thread, so the reader must read on to get back.
POV shifts
Close third person that rotates between the hero, the heroine, the killer, the churchman and the police chief. A change of scene almost always means a new chapter.
Cast size
A small core of about six named players, plus a few helpers. Each has a clear goal that clashes with the others.
Pacing
The main action runs over roughly a day. Very short chapters keep the sense of speed even when the text stops to explain history.
Style
Plain, quick sentences with lots of italic thought. Facts about art and codes are fed in as dialogue, so lectures feel like part of the chase.
Lessons to borrow
- Short chapters plus cuts between threads make a fast read, even with a lot of explaining.
- If you must give the reader facts, put them in a scene with stakes, such as a chase or an argument.
- A trusted helper who turns out to be the enemy pays off best when the clues were there all along.
Trails: The ticking clock · The puzzle as plot engine · The outsider sleuth · The hidden heir and chosen orphan · Many voices, one case
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