Lord of The Nutcracker Men Reading Guide & Discussion Questions

1. What is the relevance of Johnny's father being a toy maker? How are youth and adulthood represented in the novel? How is Johnny's father described before the war? What is his attitude toward the war at that time? How does Johnny's father's attitude toward the war change once he has reached the front? How do the descriptions of him change at that time?
   


2. What role does nationality play throughout the book? How does Johnny's father feel about neighbors and friends such as Fatty Dienst when they leave England to fight in the war? Does his opinion of them change when he is fighting on the front lines?
   


3. How does Johnny's understanding of war change from the beginning of the novel to the end? How are his feelings and his interpretation of war reflected in his battles with the toy soldiers? How are they reflected in his image of his father? How does Johnny's experience with war parallel his father's?
   

Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Laurel-Leaf. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.