Key Facts
full title · The Da Vinci Code
author · Dan Brown
type of work · Novel
genre · Thriller
language · English
time and place written · Early twenty-first century; the United States
date of first publication · March 2003
publisher · Doubleday
narrator · Third-person, anonymous, omniscient narrator
point of view · The narrator speaks from the point of view of several
characters, describing what they see and hear. The narrator also
provides background information and pieces of knowledge unknown
to other characters.
tone · Objective, earnest
tense · Past
setting · The present day
place · Paris, France; Versailles, France; London, England;
outskirts of Edinburgh, Scotland
protagonists · Robert Langdon; Sophie Neveu
major conflict · The protagonists attempt to interpret the message left
behind by Jacques Saunière and find the hidden secret of the Priory
of Sion.
rising action · The search for the secret, which is aided by the clues
left behind by Jacques Saunière
climax · Leigh Teabing reveals himself as the man behind the
murders of the Priory of Sion, and Langdon and Sophie discover who
killed Jacques Saunière.
falling action · The protagonists go to Rosslyn Chapel, where they discover Sophie's
family. Langdon goes to the Louvre, where he discovers what he thinks
is the resting place of the Grail.
themes · The false conflict between faith and knowledge; the
subjectivity of history; the intelligence of women
motifs · Ancient and foreign languages; art; sexism
symbols · Red hair; blood; cell phones
foreshadowing · Teabing's questions to Sophie about whether she would
reveal the secret to the world if she had the choice foreshadows
the later revelation of Teabing's obsession with the necessity of
revelation. Rémy's slowness in helping Teabing when Silas is assaulting
him foreshadows his involvement with Silas and his desire to steal
the keystone.
