Learn English – The difference between Past Perfect and Simple Past tense in a sentence not having clear timeline

past-perfect

I am learning Past Perfect and Simple Past tense on a paragraph below

Leyton stared at the expanse of the Atlantic Ocean in front of him. He
had finally come to the end of his journey.
Several months ago he did not know whether the journey would really be possible. After all , he had recovered from
his illness only weeks before he made the decision well, it was because of the illnese that he had decide to do this, to
prove it was possible. Then, after a few weeks of planning and worrying, he…(set out)…, starting from the northernmost
point. And here he was, at the end of his journey – he …(achieve)… his aim. And he realised now that it was the most
exciting thing he had never done – and probably ever would do – in his life.

As the answer from my book, both of the blank space are past perfect tense. But from what I understand that the past perfect tense need at least 2 sentences to compare timeline in the past to determine which ones happened first. But in 2 sentences:

  • Then, after a few weeks of planning and worrying, he…(set out)…, starting from the northernmost point.

the "set out" means "begin his journey" and just following the timeline "after a few week" not comparing the time. So I think this is a simple past tense NOT past perfect.

And the same as for the rest confusing sentence "And here he was, at the end of his journey – he …(achieve)… his aim".

Could you please share your ideas that my understand is correct or not in this reading.

Thanks,
Learn.

Best Answer

The first sentence of your paragraph establishes a past point in time:

Leyton stared at the expanse of the Atlantic Ocean in front of him.

Everything that happened before that point should be related in Past Perfect - otherwise the reader might interpret it as a new event rather than a part of the character's reminiscence.

So Leyton stared at the sea, thinking about how he had set out for his journey, had traveled a lot and ultimately had achieved his goal, and he realized how exciting the journey had been. The realization came after he began staring at the sea, but everything else came before that - hence Past Perfect.

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