Johnny Got His Gun Discussion Questions

1. What are Trumbo’s major and minor purposes in writing Johnny Got His Gun?

2. Summarize Trumbo’s arguments against war in Chapter 10. Refute them.

3. Make a list of Joe’s major memories over the course of the novel. What does this list reveal about Trumbo’s values? How does Trumbo use these values to support one or more of his larger purposes?

4. Consider Trumbo’s definition of Joe’s father as a failure (last line of 103 to the middle of 107). What does this definition reveal about Trumbo’s values? How does this episode help Trumbo achieve one of his larger purposes?

5. What is the role of religion in the novel? What is Trumbo’s attitude towards religion? How does it help us understand his purposes?

6. Dalton Trumbo chooses to use punctuation inconsistently throughout the novel. Pick a moment when his use of unconventional (or conventional) punctuation is particularly conspicuous. What is the effect of his punctuation and how does this effect fit into one of Trumbo’s larger purposes? [Note: you will notice that areas that are least conventionally punctuated are richest in rhetorical devices.]

7. The novel is divided into two parts. How are they similar? How are they different? Why did he divide the novel the way he did?

8. Gather as many images of little guys and big guys, slaves, and the rat as you can. How do these images illuminate your understanding of Trumbo’s purpose?

9. Dalton Trumbo offers a number of scenes of both sex and romantic love. What is the relationship between the two? How do these scenes relate to one of the larger purposes of the novel?

10. What does the title mean? Consider the musical allusions throughout the book as well as the closing pages of the novel.