The Lost World is unified by the themes of discovery and reward. It is a noteworthy adventure novel because these themes are worked out in depth. Discovery is not only a theme but a literary technique in the novel. Ostensibly, the expedition to the jungles of Brazil is undertaken for the purpose of discovering unknown locales and animal life.

However, the true motive of each of the explorers is more personal. Challenger's reward would be fame and the shaming of his detractors. Malone hopes to win the hand in marriage of Gladys Hungerton. Lord John Roxton is in quest of "masculine virility." And Professor Summerlee hopes to prove that "Professor Challenger is an absolute fraud."

Only Professor Challenger finds what he wants. He is so determined to have his way that he gives the impression that he would have built his own dinosaurs had...