65 pages • 2 hours read
Brandon SandersonThe Way of Kings
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2010A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Summary
Background
Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Character Analysis
Themes
Symbols & Motifs
Important Quotes
Essay Topics
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BetaInterludes 1-3Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Interlude 1 Summary: “Ishikk”
The Interludes present glimpses from various places in Roshar that are not central to the plot. The first one is from Purelake, an enormous shallow lake. Ishikk is a local fisherman hired by three mysterious foreigners to look for another stranger named Hoid with white hair, a clever tongue, and an arrow-like face. Through Ishikk’s eyes, the reader learns about the worldview and customs of the local people. Purelake is in a warm part of Roshar and the water is tepid. People walk through the water from one place to another as if on land, and subsist on the fish and plants found in the lake. An unusual custom is that their feet should always be submerged, meaning that their houses are also flooded.
Interlude 2 Summary: “Nan Balat”
Nan Balat, one of Shallan’s brothers, is the second oldest son and designated the heir, or Nan, after their oldest brother was killed. He suffers from a traumatic leg injury that has not healed well, as well as from mental health issues. In order to alleviate his anxiety and emotional suffering, he slowly kills and dismembers small animals and insects.
Interlude 3 Summary: “The Glory of Ignorance”
This interlude provides more information about Szeth. After Gavilar’s assassination, Szeth comes to be owned by a petty criminal. One evening, on the way back from a night of drinking, Szeth’s master is killed by a street gang. One of the criminals finds Szeth’s Oathstone and becomes his new master.
Interludes 1-3 Analysis
The Interludes are vignettes offering insight into the various peoples inhabiting Roshar. Most of the book deals with Alethkar, but the novel’s world is a much more diverse place, which is made more tangible through these glimpses into a number of unusual cultures and places. The different points of view also offer a better understanding of the main protagonists or foreshadow events to come.
In the first trio of Interludes, the people of the Purelake are the most unusual with their permanently flooded homes. This interlude also includes the first mention of Hoid, who is later introduced as Elhokar’s Wit.
The second Interlude is a brief glimpse into Shallan’s background. Her brother’s injury and strange behavior hint at a dark past, despite the young woman’s seemingly upbeat personality. Here, Sanderson adds context to Shallan’s character and motivations indirectly, rather than having Shallan reveal her own thoughts and feelings in interior narration. This stylistic choice emphasizes the role of secrecy in Shallan’s plan to steal the Soulcaster.
The final Interlude brings the readers’ attention back to Szeth and offers insight into his culture, his current predicament, and the behind-the-scenes intrigue that shapes Roshar’s political landscape. While not a major presence in most of the novel, Szeth is nevertheless a key figure that impacts Alethkar society in profound ways because of his assassination of Gavilar and the subsequent war with the Parshendi. By offering this coda to Szeth’s story, Sanderson maintains awareness of the role of the individual in epic struggles.
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By Brandon Sanderson
