Sophie's World

Jostein Gaarder

Get this SparkNote to go!

Key Facts

full title ·  Sophie's World: A Novel About the History of Philosophy

author · Jostein Gaarder

type of work · Novel

genre · Fantasy/philosophical history

language · Norwegian

date of first publication · 1991

publisher · H. Ashehoug & Co.

narrator · Omniscient narrator

climax · Sophie and Alberto disappear from the party.

protagonist · Sophie

antagonist · Albert Knag

setting (time) · The 1990s

setting (place) · Norway

point of view · Sophie is the primary narrator. Beginning with the chapter "Bjerkley," point of view switches between Sophie and Hilde. For a few pages the story is told from Albert Knag's point of view.

falling action · Hilde gives Albert Knag a dose of his own medicine while Alberto and Sophie explore their new lives as spirit.

tense · Immediate past

foreshadowing · Alberto hints several times about Hilde's father's power, the importance of Berkeley, and the possibility that they might escape. Dreams in the book often foreshadow events that will occur later.

tone · The tone is playfully inquisitive.

themes · Philosophy; free will

motifs · Books; dreams

symbols · Alberto as teacher; Hilde as reader; Sophie as student

a question we all ask

by pala909, August 08, 2012

For my whole life, I have questioned where God came from. I've always believed in a God and that He created us, but I could never wrap myself around the idea of where He Himself came from. One day, I asked my friend and his answer was quite helpful and it might also help you guys, he said, I think God was always there as the essence of "there". God doesn't exist like you and I exist. Based on the way we understand existence, God doesn't exist. That's why that question is so hard for us. When Moses asked God's name he said "I Am"
And t... Read more

89 out of 114 people found this helpful

2

More Help

Buy the ebook of this SparkNote on BN.com

Easy to view on your iPod, phone, or ereader.

EVEN MORE HELP! ↓

Take a Study Break

SparkLife

Star Trek gets SEXY

Chris Pine and Zoe Saldana heat up the red carpet!

SparkLife

Are you afraid of relationships?

Auntie SparkNotes can help!

SparkLife

Wanna get JLaw's gorgeous glow?

Click here for simple, sexy makeup tricks!

SparkLife

Sexy starlet style

See every single look from the Met Gala!

SparkLife

Who'd be on your zombie-apocalypse crew?

We already dib'sed Genghis Khan.

Geek out!

The MindHut

Geeky Actors: Then and Now

Travel back in time!

The MindHut

Villains We Want These Actresses to Play

From super cute to super bad!

The MindHut

10 Movies Better Than Their Books

What do you think?

The MindHut

How To Look Like J-Law...

When you don't look like J-Law.

The MindHut

12 Scientific Inaccuracies in Into Darkness

What did Star Trek get wrong?

The Book

Cover image

Order Sophie's World at BN.com

All the words, printed on paper. Classic!

Cover image

Read What You Love, Anywhere You Like

Get Our FREE NOOK Reading Apps