The third-person narrator in this novel is usually associated with Lyra's experiences, so that the lens of the story is her eye. From time to time, the narrator includes background information that is important if the reader is to understand the story. Pullman tries, however, to stick to Lyra's unreliable viewpoint and thus uses her series of adventures to bring the reader to a knowledge of her very different world.

The novel is separated into three sections named after the physical location of the majority of the action, but each also representing a broadening of Lyra's knowledge.

Thus section one, Oxford, introduces us to this city and to Lyra's world as a child.

Section Two, Bolvangar, gives Lyra and the reader more extensive knowledge of her world, introducing bears, witches, tartars and wild animals. The Svalbard of section three is a place where Lyra must learn...