A. To reveal a character’s inner thoughts

B. To build anticipation by hinting at what is to come

C. To reveal a conflict or emotional event from the past

D. To give examples of universal ideas or characters that represent universal patterns of human nature

Ishmael and his friends spend the first half of the novel fleeing for their lives. Ishmael points out that whenever they run from a rebel raid, they do not have a destination in mind. Instead, they simply run in any direction that isn’t towards the rebel attackers. However, we (the readers) can see their path on the map in the front of the book. So we know that the boys are gradually traveling south and east… ever deeper into the rebel-controlled territory.