OTHER ELEMENTS

FORESHADOWING

There are several other literary devices that pop up at various times in the story. One of the most prevalent ones is foreshadowing which frequently presents clues of something that will happen later in the novel. Some examples of foreshadowing include:

1.) The story of the plane being hijacked from Baskul and never returning prepares us for Conway's story of Shangri-La.


2.) Rutherford's comment that he has seen strange things in his travels foreshadows the strange story of Shangri-La.


3.) Conway's playing of the Chopin piece prepares us for the lama who was once Chopin's student.


4.) Tertullian's phrase, It is certain if it is impossible, foreshadows the impossibility but the real existence of Shangri-La.


5.) When it becomes clear that the hijacked flight is not taken for the purpose of ransom, it prepares the reader for a place of mystery and unknown purpose.

6.) When Chang asks if the travelers are really that far away from civilization in the valley, it prepares the reader for the truth that the outside world is less civilized.

7.) Conway preferring not to be a leader, but accepting the role anyway; Chang, a Chinese, who speaks perfect English; Chang's comments that they may not be away from civilization at all and that they will ultimately have no regrets about coming to Shangri-La; seeing a new mountain, Karakal; Conway's feeling that he has at last found a place which is an end, a finality; and Chang's explanation for his nap that he has to take care of himself: all of these events indicate that Shangri-La is a mysterious, unknown place that will allow all four of these captives to discover a world that may or may not bring them peace and happiness.

8.) Barnard not being concerned whether his name is posted as being missing foreshadows the truth that he is a criminal traveling under an assumed name.

9.) The fact that the lamas devote themselves to contemplation and to the pursuit of wisdom according to Chang foreshadows the purpose of life at the lamasery for Conway.

10.) When Barnard observes that No hurry must be the slogan of the lamas, it foreshadows the High Lama's explanation that the extension of life allows the lamas to prepare for the future.

11.) When the High Lama wishes to see Conway immediately, Chang tells Conway that this is extraordinary and unprecedented. It foreshadows Conway's importance to the High Lama and Shangri-La.

12.) Chang insists that Lo-Tsen has come to accept life without love. This foreshadows the irony that she will later leave the valley for the love of Mallinson.

13.) Conway's wisdom, gained as a result of his war experiences, foreshadows how the High Lama will name him the new High Lama.

IRONY

Another element that is important to note is irony - when something happens, or is seen, or is heard that we may know, but the characters do not, or that appears opposite of what is expected. Some examples of irony include:


1.) Just as the travelers finally all agree to the plan to save themselves after the plane crashes, they see coming down a faraway slope the figures of men.

2.) It's ironic that Chang says that he has to take care of himself, because he's 98 years old.


3.) It's ironic that Karacal means Blue Moon, because the ability to leave it behind happens once in a blue moon and the name itself implies it's a rarity.


4.) It's ironic that the library at the lamasery has hundreds of maps of that area of the world, because Shangri-La doesn't appear on any of them.

5.) Chang says that Lao-Tsen soon came to accept her inability to return to the outside world, and that she hadn't given up love, because she had not yet met her husband. Instead, she had given up the idea of ever being in love. This is ironic, because she falls in love with Mallinson and willingly leaves with him.

6.) Ironically, less than a month after he has arrived at Shangri-La, the High Lama calls for Conway again, whereas he had in the past waited five years before speaking a second time to an initiate.

7.) Are we in prison or are they? is a question Conway makes to Mallinson who looks upon Shangri-La as a prison. Conway points out that others would give up everything to be there while Mallinson will do anything to leave it.

8.) It's ironic that Chang feels that the porters - who will come - won't be willing to take Mallinson with them. In the end, they accept the money given to them by Lo-Tsen and lead Mallinson, Lo-Tsen, and Conway away from the valley.

9.) The fact that Lo-Tsen has not loved other men in return, but has only offered friendship, is ironic in the end when she chooses to leave with Mallinson, knowing that she will lose her youth the minute she steps outside the valley.

10.) The High Lama's predictions for the future are also ironic in that we, who are reading this in 2006, know how the world fell into the worst war in history. Yet James Hilton, the author, is writing this from the year 1933, before the horrors of WWII occurred. He has the same premonition as the character he has created.