Summary: At the Temple Church, Teabing convinces the altar boy cleaning the place of worship that Sophie and Langdon are important benefactors of the church there for a tour and to scatter the ashes of their ancestor, Sir Christopher Wren, the renowned architect who refurbished the building after the Great Fire of London (1666). Reluctantly, the altar boy grants the group entrance. They proceed to the crypt, where they find carved, life-sized figures of knights. Langdon feels certain their quest is near its end.
Analysis: This chapter offers readers yet another example of Teabing the deceiver in action. As if to make sure the reader does not miss the potential signifance, Teabing brags about his mastery of the art of deception as an actor: “Oxford Theatre Club. They still talk of my Julius Caesar” (p. 374). And, as Langdon tells Teabing, “Leigh, you lie entirely too well” (p. 374). Brown seems to be clearly foreshadowing a reversal to come.
You can view a virtual reality tour of the Temple Church—including the stone effigies of the knights, as described in the novel—at http:www.spheriscope.com/templetour/. According to the Temple Church’s website, “The Temple Church is one of the most historic and beautiful churches in London… The Church was built by the Knights Templar, the order of crusading monks founded to protect pilgrims on their way to and from Jerusalem in the 12th century. The Church is in two parts: the Round and the Chancel. The Round Church was consecrated in 1185 by the patriarch of Jerusalem. It was designed to recall the holiest place in the Crusaders' world: the circular Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem” (http:www.templechurch.com/TC_History/
default.html).
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