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Why past perfect is used in this paragraph

English Language & Usage Asked by SIddharth Singh on February 22, 2021

“He remembered the red priest Thoros of Myr, and the flaming sword he had wielded in the melee.The man had made for a colorful spectacle, his red robes flapping while his blade writhed with pale green flames, but everyone knew there was no true magic to it, and in the end his fire had guttered out and Bronze Yohn Royce had brained him with a common mace.”

Why it isn’t written like the following.

He remembered the red priest Thoros of Myr, and the flaming sword he wielded in the melee. The man made for a colorful spectacle, his red robes flapping while his blade writhed with pale green flames, but everyone knew there was no true magic to it, and in the end his fire guttered out and Bronze Yohn Toyce brained him with a common mace.

2 Answers

Because the events described occurred before “He remembered”.

The passage could be written as you suggest, but I see no reason to prefer it.

Answered by Anton Sherwood on February 22, 2021

Well, he remembered something.

For instance, if I say "I remember what happened yesterday." The word "remember" is in the present, whereas the word "happened" is in the past tense. Similarly, you would say "Yesterday, I remembered what had happened two days ago."

Answered by QuIcKmAtHs on February 22, 2021

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