In building a cathedral, medieval society constructed a symbolic narrative of its religious history, telling the story of Christian salvation through its walls, portals, and stained glass windows. In writing Cathedral, Macaulay constructs his own historical narrative, objectively chronicling the architectural and artistic achievement of a fictitious medieval community. Through simple prose and detailed drawings he reveals the goals and motivations of this community. He shows, for example, that those who first undertake the project of building the cathedral realize they will not live to see its completion. But because they believe that their work is a sacrificial act— glorifying God and earning them access to heaven—they willingly participate.

For young adult readers, then, the value of the literary techniques used in Cathedral lies in the book's straightforward narration and fascinating illustrations, which provide a glimpse into the complex social structure and philosophy...