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Fallacy
Flashbacks
Explanation and Analysis:
Brown makes use of flashbacks many times throughout The Boys in the Boat, which jumps between A and B plots, and back and forth in time, frequently. Chapter 2 and 4, for instance, are both entirely flashbacks, with Brown alternating between chapters on Joe Rantz as a collegiate student and chapters on Rantz's childhood. The use of flashbacks interweaves Rantz's past with his present, transforming the story of Rantz's life into a dynamic yet grounded narrative.
Flashbacks are also used by Brown to provide context on other characters as necessary: for example, Brown describes the formation of the University of Washington rowing team with a flashback, and he outlines Pocock’s career as a boat-builder in Chapter 3 with a flashback. This use of flashback allows Brown to provide a comprehensive history of different characters as relevant to the broader story of Joe Rantz becoming a 1936 Olympic gold medal-winning rower. While Brown keeps the chronological focus of the story on Joe Rantz and rowing, he is simultaneously able to provide a historically rich and detailed account of various other characters and moments by flashing back in time. This intertwining of stories and characters ensures the book, which emphasizes teamwork and trust above all else, can touch on the many people and events relevant to the story.
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