You don't have to read too many pages before it's clear that war is a major player in The Book of the Lion. After all, it takes place in the middle of the Third Crusade and Edmund joins up with the military as Nigel's squire. Because war is so central to the plot, we get everything from blood and guts to deep thoughts about the humanity of the enemy. We see that some thrive under the live-or-die reality of war while others succumb to fear, and as we take this all in, we take a peek at medieval war from a variety of angles.
Questions About Warfare
- How is the idea of war presented in The Book of the Lion? Does it sound realistic or glorified to you? Give examples from the text to support your claim.
- How are different characters affected by the Crusades? What does this tell you about them as characters, and what do their various responses reveal about war?
- What made the Crusades a religious war? Do any characters in the book suggest that there are other reasons for taking back the Holy Land? If so, what are they? If not, what does this tell you about religion in this time?
Chew on This
Edmund might ultimately rise to the occasion, but when it comes to war, this book doesn't glorify it at all.
Insofar as Hubert is presented as a wimp for not wanting to stick around and fight, war is glorified in this book.