Stormbreaker Theme of Violence

In a book featuring twisted German fräulein, silent but deadly butlers, and flamethrower-wielding henchmen, you can be sure there's no shortage of violence. We experience these things through the eyes of Alex Rider, a fourteen-year-old boy who wakes up one day and becomes a spy. As you might imagine, he isn't quite prepared for the things he'll soon witness, and that tension defines Stormbreaker's take on violence. Despite these struggles, however, Alex never gives in to his worst impulses and refuses to give in to violent tendencies.

Questions About Violence

  1. Why does Wolf get violent with Alex at boot camp? How does Alex respond?
  2. What makes Mr. Grin's relationship with violence different than that of other characters? Is there anyone remotely similar to him in this way?
  3. Does Sayle consider his biological attack to be a violent act? Why or why not?
  4. Does Alex embrace violence? Explain your answer.