Significance of David's Compass

Before he gets out of the camp, "the man" (eventually revealed to be the camp commandant - see "Characters") directs him to make his way to a certain tree, where he will find supplies to help him on his journey. The most important of these is a compass, which David has never used but which he quickly realizes will be invaluable in helping him find his way to Denmark. When he loses the compass (Chapter 3), he is forced to find other ways to navigate. For further consideration of the metaphoric value of the compass, see "Chapter 3, Analysis."