Johnny Got His Gun Review packet

(chapter notes are also in my folder in the HS Outbox)

Intro Notes

  1. When was the book published?
  1. Who is the author?
  1. What is the source of the title?
  1. What is stream of consciousness? Why does Trumbo use stream of consciousness in the novel?
  1. When was this book most popular?

Part I

  1. In what state does Joe grow up?
  1. Why does Joe dream of Pompeii? (9)
  1. Who is Lincoln Beechey? (19-20)
  1. What does Mr. Hargraves say about airplanes? How is his statement ironic? (20)
  1. Where does Joe move to? (23)
  1. Joe enters the war after ______(24)
  1. Who is Kareen?
  1. Who is Mike Birkman? (30)
  1. What are examples of the romanticized version of the war on pages 35-37?
  1. “______was there muttering fools and glaring at everybody.” (36) Explain the significance of this quote.
  1. Who is Billy Harper? Why does Joe consider him a lucky guy? (52-54)
  1. Joe compares his situation to a ______in its ______. (80-81) How is Joe’s situation similar? How is it different?
  1. Reread the quotes from pages 109-119 (these are also on the public drive)
  1. What are the four points that Joe makes at the end of Book I? (Joe’s Belief System for the Little Guy)

Part II

  1. What is the title of Book II? Why do you think Trumbo selected this as a title?
  1. How does Joe keep track of the passing of days? (132, 137)
  1. What are routines that Joe develops as he organizes his “new universe”? (143-144)
  1. “He remembered looking around when he dived into that dugout and seeing only two Americans and all the rest Limeys.” (146) What is a Limey? Why is this memory significant to Joe?
  1. What is Joe’s reaction when he receives a medal? Explain. (159-160)
  1. “He was thinking about the vibrations of the footsteps.” (161) What does Joe realize?
  1. Give an example of naturalism from pages 176-177.
  1. “He had been taken away from his home and put into the service of another without his consent.” (183) To whom does Joe compare himself? What is this quote a reference to?
  1. What message does the nurse write on Joe’s chest? (198-199)
  1. How do the nurse and Joe finally communicate?
  1. Why does Trumbo use Christmas as the setting for Joe’s big breakthrough?
  1. What is the first question that they ask Joe? (217-218)
  1. Where does Joe want to be displayed?
  1. Reread the quotes that are associated with the 5 locations where Joe wants to be displayed.
  1. Why is Joe’s request denied?
  1. What is ironic about the refusal of Joe’s request?
  1. What warning does Joe offer to the big guys?
  1. From 1943 to 1948 Trumbo was ______(see “About the Author” in the beginning of the book.

Themes

  1. Why is Joe’s father a symbol of the failure of the American Dream?
  1. How does the theme of Change and Innovation relate to the novel?
  1. How does the theme of Power, Authority, and Leadership relate to the novel?
  1. How does the theme of Rebel in Society relate to the novel?