Roughing It · Chapter
XVI explained
The narrator critiques the Book of Mormon, describing it as a tedious and pretentious work that plagiarizes the Bible, and recounts its absurd historical claims, including the epic battles of Coriantumr and Shiz.
What happens
The narrator critiques the Book of Mormon, describing it as a tedious and pretentious work that plagiarizes the Bible, and recounts its absurd historical claims, including the epic battles of Coriantumr and Shiz.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the story's dramatic climax because it presents the ultimate psychological peak of fear and vulnerabil…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Humor and Exaggeration
The narrator mocks the Book of Mormon's style and content, calling it 'chloroform in print' and ridiculing its repetitive phrases and implausible battle statistics.
- The Absurdity of Pretension
The narrator highlights the pretentiousness of the Book of Mormon's language and claims, such as its imitation of biblical phrasing and its grandiose but dull narrative.
Characters to notice
- The Narrator
Provides a critical and humorous analysis of the Book of Mormon.
- Joseph Smith
Mentioned as the purported author/translator of the Book of Mormon.
- Coriantumr
King in the Book of Ether who engages in a series of devastating battles.
- Shiz
Opponent of Coriantumr in the final battles described in the Book of Mormon.
Key passages
“The book is a curiosity to me, it is such a pretentious affair, and yet so 'slow,' so sleepy; such an insipid mess of inspiration. It is chloroform in print.”
The narrator finds the Book of Mormon both pompous and boring, comparing it to a sedative.
Expresses the narrator's disdain for the book's dullness and self-importance.
“And it came to pass was his pet. If he had left that out, his Bible would have been only a pamphlet.”
The narrator jokes that the phrase 'and it came to pass' is overused, and without it the book would be very short.
Highlights the repetitive style of the Book of Mormon.
