When the World Shook · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for When the World Shook by H. Rider Haggard.
Chapter 1
Dedication
H. Rider Haggard dedicates the book to Earl Curzon of Kedleston, recalling Curzon's past kindness in defending him against a false accusation. Haggard offers the romance as a token of gratitude and invites Curzon to discern its deeper parable.
Chapter 2
When the World Shook
The chapter introduces the narrator, Humphrey Arbuthnot, and sets the stage for the great adventure involving Bastin, Bickley, and himself. It establishes the background and the impending journey that will lead them to the island of Orofena.
Chapter 3
I: Arbuthnot Describes Himself
Humphrey Arbuthnot introduces himself, his background, and his father, the Rev. Humphrey Arbuthnot, a learned but obscure vicar. He describes his own inheritance of abilities, his spiritual and mystical sense, and his eventual success in finance, which enabled him to buy Fulcombe Priory from the ruined Enfield family. He reflects on the nature of faith, the soul, and the pursuit of meaning.
Chapter 4
II: Bastin and Bickley
The narrator introduces his two closest friends, Bastin and Bickley, who are polar opposites in temperament and belief. Bastin is a simple, good-hearted clergyman with a literal faith, while Bickley is a skeptical surgeon who believes only in the material world. The narrator describes how he brought both to Fulcombe—Bastin as vicar and Bickley as a surgeon—and how their constant debates entertain him. He also touches on his own restlessness and search for purpose, rejecting their suggestions for his future.
Chapter 5
III: Natalie
The chapter details the death of Mrs. Bastin from heart disease after a jealous, frantic search for her husband, and Arbuthnot's first meeting with Natalie at a dinner in Rome, where he feels humiliated by his lack of modern languages but is struck by her beauty framed by lilies.
Chapter 6
IV: Death and Departure
Arbuthnot recounts the death of his beloved wife Natalie during childbirth, along with their infant daughter. Her dying words hint at a mysterious reunion beyond conventional heaven. Grief-stricken, he discusses her final words with Bastin, who interprets them as Christian hope, and Bickley, who dismisses all spiritual notions. Unable to bear the memories at Fulcombe, Arbuthnot considers leaving. The chapter ends with Bastin's indignation over a book about South Sea Island missionaries, sparking a debate with Bickley.
Chapter 7
V: The Cyclone
The chapter describes the voyage of the Star of the South from Egypt through the Red Sea, Ceylon, and Australia, with stops for sightseeing and religious debates between Bastin and Bickley. Onboard, Jacobsen holds séances and planchette sessions that produce unsettling predictions. After Jacobsen disappears in Apia, the ship encounters a severe gale that develops into a cyclone, leaving the crew lost and anxious as the barometer drops dangerously.
Chapter 8
Land
The survivors land on the island of Orofena, where they encounter the native chief Marama and his people. They establish communication, learn the island's name, and discover the natives worship a god named Oro. Bastin immediately attempts to convert them, while Bickley offers medical aid. The chapter also includes the reading of Jacobsen's prophetic letter about the shipwreck and the aftermath of the cyclone.
Chapter 9
VII: The Orofenans
The survivors establish relations with the native Orofenans, led by Chief Marama. Bickley successfully removes a tumor from Marama's neck, earning the title 'Great Priest' and securing the group's safety. They move into a house built for them, and Bastin begins missionary work, teaching and preaching, but faces theological clashes with the natives' worship of the god Oro. The chapter also describes the island's geography, resources, and customs, including cannibalism and infanticide.
Chapter 10
VIII: Bastin Attempts the Martyr's Crown
Bastin, frustrated by the idol of Oro blocking his missionary work, secretly plans to destroy it. He acquires paraffin under a pretext and, early in the morning, sets fire to the idol in the Grove. The act enrages the native priests and leads to a chase, but the survivors escape by canoe. Meanwhile, Arbuthnot discovers a mysterious carved stone and a marble hand in a pit, hinting at a lost civilization, and later explores the lake where he finds a boathouse and canoes, but is warned by Marama of danger.
Chapter 11
IX: The Island in the Lake
The three castaways explore the island in the lake, discovering a cave with ancient grooves suggesting a landing place for flying machines. They examine a colossal statue inside the cave and decide to wait until dawn for further exploration. Tommy the dog sniffs at the statue's base, hinting at something hidden. They also climb the peak and find ruins of an ancient city.
Chapter 12
X: The Dwellers in the Tomb
The survivors make camp on the shore after their escape. Marama and a priest come to beg them to return, but Arbuthnot refuses and instead threatens them with Oro's wrath if they do not bring offerings. The next morning, they explore the cave and discover a hidden sepulchre behind a pivoting stone step, containing two preserved bodies—a man and a woman—in a glittering recess. Bastin is more concerned with the return of their belongings and making tea, while Bickley prepares for further examination. Tommy the dog goes missing.
Chapter 13
XI: Resurrection
The survivors open the crystal coffins in the underground tomb, discovering that Oro and Yva are not dead but in a state of suspended animation. Bickley injects a stimulant into Oro, who begins to stir. Yva awakens and immediately shows affection toward Arbuthnot, while Oro debates whether to destroy the intruders. Tommy the spaniel inadvertently influences Oro's decision by laying a flower bough at his feet, interpreted as an omen. Oro spares their lives and admits them to his fellowship. The chapter ends with Oro and Yva returning to rest in the cave.
Chapter 14
XII: Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Years!
Yva reveals that she and Oro slept for 250,000 years. Bickley is skeptical, Bastin accepts it as possible, and Arbuthnot is caught between them. Oro studies ancient star charts with the help of Bickley's electric torch. The three men discuss the nature of the sleepers, with Bickley suggesting hallucinations and Bastin insisting they are evil spirits. They adapt to island life, with Bastin proving resourceful. Later, they are ambushed and captured by hostile priests while sleeping.
Chapter 15
XIII: Oro Speaks and Bastin Argues
Oro and Yva depart after demonstrating his stellar calculations, leaving the three men to prepare themselves for further discussion. When they return, Oro reveals that he once ruled the world and destroyed it with a deluge 250,000 years ago, then put himself and his daughter to sleep. Bastin engages in a theological argument, comparing Oro's account to the biblical story of Noah. Bickley remains skeptical, while Arbuthnot is captivated by Yva's beauty and youth.
Chapter 16
XIV: The Underworld
The survivors explore the underground city beneath Orofena, discovering the Water of Life and descending into a vast, dead metropolis illuminated by an eerie light. Yva reveals the properties of the Life-water, which grants longevity and clarity, and the group descends via a mysterious lift into the silent, empty city.
Chapter 17
XV: Oro in His House
The survivors are seated in Oro's subterranean hall, where Oro explains the history of the underground city Nyo and the fate of the Sons of Wisdom. He rebukes Bickley's skepticism, offers to learn from Bastin's faith, and shows a statue of Fate. Yva prepares to reveal a vision of her people's past.
Chapter 18
Visions of the Past
Yva uses her powers to show Arbuthnot, Bastin, and Bickley visions of the ancient conflict between the Sons of Wisdom and the Nations. The visions reveal a past war, a peace embassy led by a prince who loves Yva, Oro's wrath at the prince's demand for Yva's hand, the destruction of the Nations by a great deluge, and Oro's retreat into the tomb. The chapter ends with the group returning to the surface, Bastin comparing the experience to a magic show.
Chapter 19
Yva Explains
Yva reveals her and Oro's ancient origins, explaining that they are humans who have lived for millennia through suspended animation. She discusses Oro's powers, his fear of death, and her own belief in reincarnation and the soul. She also examines a photograph and miniature of Arbuthnot's deceased wife, expressing admiration for his faithfulness. The chapter ends with Bastin reluctantly departing to attempt converting Oro.
Chapter 20
XVIII: The Accident
Arbuthnot awakens after ten weeks of illness to find Yva at his bedside, speaking English. She recounts how Bickley operated on his head wound and how she pleaded with Oro to save his life when fever threatened it, striking a bargain that she would never leave Oro. The chapter also explores the social structure of the Sons of Wisdom, their disdain for flesh-eating, and Yva's rapid learning of the alphabet.
Chapter 21
XIX: The Proposals of Bastin and Bickley
Arbuthnot recovers physically but experiences a detached, heightened mental state. Oro visits him at night, revealing ancient history and offering Yva in exchange for dominion. Bastin and Bickley separately confess to Arbuthnot that they have proposed to Yva and been gently refused. Bickley warns Arbuthnot that any union with Yva would be doomed by Fate.
Chapter 22
XX: Oro and Arbuthnot Travel by Night
Oro takes Arbuthnot on an astral journey through London and the battlefields of World War I, showing him the contrasts of worship, war, and human cruelty. They observe a nearly empty church, a raucous music hall, a Salvation Army meeting, and the horrors of aerial bombardment, trench warfare, and massacres in Armenia. Oro expresses disgust at Christian hypocrisy and reaffirms his worship of Fate, while Arbuthnot is left horrified by the brutality.
Chapter 23
XXI: Love's Eternal Altar
Arbuthnot recounts his strange experiences and conversations with Yva, who hints at Oro's vast powers and a looming catastrophe. Yva speaks of love transcending death and time, suggesting that sacrifice may avert the doom Oro plans. She implies that their love must endure beyond the mortal realm, and that Oro's offer of marriage comes at an unacceptable price.
Chapter 24
The Command
Arbuthnot reveals to Bastin and Bickley that he and Yva are affianced. Bickley warns that Yva can never be the wife of a mortal man, and Arbuthnot feels the truth of this. The three men, accompanied by Tommy, descend into the sepulchre for a final meeting with Yva, reflecting on the pain of parting with the known world.
Chapter 25
XXIII: In the Temple of Fate
In the Temple of Fate, Yva leads Arbuthnot, Bastin, and Bickley through the underground caves to meet Oro. Yva reveals her love for Arbuthnot and hints that she is the reincarnation of his deceased wife, Natalie. She speaks of transcending Fate through love and immortality, while Oro prepares for a momentous event that could end the world.
Chapter 26
XXIV: The Chariot of the Pit
Arbuthnot and Yva secretly observe Oro praying to the statue of Fate, where he receives a sword as a sign to destroy the modern world. Yva renounces her father's god and pledges to save humanity, possibly through sacrifice. She leads Arbuthnot, Bastin, Bickley, and Tommy into a deep subterranean cavern filled with eerie blue flashes, hinting at immense natural forces.
Chapter 27
XXV: Sacrifice
Oro reveals his plan to use a cosmic alignment to sink half the world and raise a new one, with himself and his seed as gods. Despite pleas from Arbuthnot, Bastin, Bickley, and Yva, Oro remains resolute. Bastin's fearless defiance and Yva's warning of failure precede the arrival of a terrifying, whirling fire-being. The chapter ends with Oro leading them to witness the impending cataclysm.
Chapter 28
XXVI: Tommy
In the aftermath of Yva's sacrificial death, the three survivors—Arbuthnot, Bastin, and Bickley—confront Oro's grief and rage. Oro blames them for Yva's destruction, while Bastin and Bickley defend her act of love and sacrifice. Arbuthnot finds Yva's ring, a symbol of life and eternity, and the group escapes through a tunnel, guided by Tommy, emerging onto a beach under the moonlight.
Chapter 29
XXVII: Bastin Discovers a Resemblance
After returning to England, Bickley volunteers for service at the front with the R.A.M.C., while Bastin becomes a chaplain. They debate the meaning of their experiences on Orofena, with Bickley skeptical of Oro's age and powers, and Bastin defending the spiritual significance of Yva's conversion and sacrifice. Arbuthnot reflects on the loss of photographic evidence and the impossibility of fully comprehending the vast timescales they encountered.
Chapter 30
Epilogue
J.R. Bickley recounts the death of Humphrey Arbuthnot from his injury sustained on Orofena, his will dividing his estate, and the mysterious final words he wrote. Bickley notes the spaniel Tommy's death shortly after, and contemplates a return to the South Seas, while Bastin inherits wealth and talks of missionary work.
Chapter 31
List of Illustrations
This chapter presents a list of illustrations including Oro's ancient star charts and their modern keys, showing his astronomical calculations from 250,000 years ago and their correspondence to present-day star positions.
Chapter 32
Endnotes
The endnotes provide a brief editorial remark by Humphrey Arbuthnot, noting that accepting Yva's offer would have led to entrapment and death, foreshadowing a later event.
