At the Earth’s Core · Chapter
Prologue explained
The narrator introduces the incredulous tale of a man he met in the Sahara, who claims to have spent ten years in a hidden inner world.
What happens
The narrator introduces the incredulous tale of a man he met in the Sahara, who claims to have spent ten years in a hidden inner world. The man's sincerity and a strange creature he brought back convince the narrator of the story's truth.
Themes in this chapter
Exploration and Discovery
The prologue sets up the discovery of a hidden inner world and the narrator's journey to hear the story.
Characters to notice
- David Innes
The man encountered in the Sahara who tells his story of the inner world.
Key passages
“In the first place please bear in mind that I do not expect you to believe this story.”
The narrator warns the reader that the tale may seem unbelievable.
Establishes the frame narrative and the story's fantastical nature.
“Had you seen, as I did, the fire of truth in those gray eyes; had you felt the ring of sincerity in that quiet voice; had you realized the pathos of it all—you, too, would believe.”
The narrator insists that the storyteller's demeanor and passion make the story credible.
Emphasizes the narrator's conviction and the emotional impact of the tale.
“Ten years! he murmured, at last. Ten years, and I thought that at the most it could be scarce more than one!”
The man is shocked to learn that ten years have passed, not just one.
Highlights the time distortion experienced in the inner world.