Outlander Book Club: A Breath of Snow and Ashes Chapter 2 breakdown

Foreshadowing in the Outlander chapter

This chapter certainly has some foreshadowing. The main part is in the story to come. It’s clear that this cabin didn’t burn down accidentally. The people inside were killed, but why? Who wanted them dead? Why would anyone burn down the cabin and just leave?

We’ll get this story throughout the chapters. It links back to the first chapter, which saw Young Ian attacked by a group of strangers.

The other bit of foreshadowing is in Roger being the one to say words over the grave. Jamie encourages Roger to do this, and he agrees to it. It’s clear that Roger is looking for a place in the 18th century, and this is it. We get that glimpse of the journey he’ll go on to become a minister.

Adapting A Breath of Snow and Ashes chapter

The chapter was used in Outlander Season 5. At least, some of it was. It was slightly changed as a way to show the man that Roger is becoming in the 18th century.

The Frasers and MacKenzies find the cabin. There is still one person alive, but she’s burned to a point that she can’t be saved. Roger does the merciful thing and ends her life for her while Jamie says a prayer over her body for her soul. I did wish that it was Roger saying the prayer considering the journey we know he’s about to go on in Outlander Season 6, but seeing Roger mercifully killing someone was also important. We see that he’s getting used to the harsher world of the 1770s.

We didn’t get as much detail about the cabin or what happened here in the series. There wasn’t the inclusion of the two strangers. It is a shame because it was never all that clear that this was connected to Hodgepile and his group. However, it was inferred, which worked for the series.

I do wish there was a slightly clearer connection between the cabin and Hodgepile in the show. Those who hadn’t read the books could have been a little confused by all this. However, for the sake of time, the important parts were included in the story.

What did you spot while reading A Breath of Snow and Ashes Chapter 2? Let us know in the comments below.

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