Farley employs a variety of techniques that keep the reader's attention focused upon the black stallion and Alec's relationship to him. Among these are repetition, the use of superlatives in narrative and dialogue, the incorporation of symbolic and mythic elements, and recurring motifs of color and contrast. The narrative is structured so that exotic features are balanced by settings and details that are commonplace.

The novel features dramatic adventures.

Alec experiences a shipwreck, a swim for dear life, an inhospitable island, a series of rides astride an unruly stallion.

The stallion enters the novel in the midst of action made more effective by thirdperson description from Alec's point of view.

Alec notices a throng of milling Arabs and hears a whistle—"shrill, loud, clear, unlike anything he had ever heard before." He sees a "mighty black horse" engaged in rearing, with forelegs striking out at...