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
