A Lion to Guard Us

What obstacles do Amanda, Jemmy, and Meg encounter as they journey to Virginia? How do these experiences shape their characters?

How does the lion’s head door knocker function throughout the novel’s narrative? Why might Bulla have chosen this particular symbol—what significance do door knockers and lions hold? How does this symbol compare to other depictions of and ideas about lions in culture?

What is the effect of mixing historical and fictional characters in the narrative? Why does the author choose to do this?

Why does Amanda use stories to communicate her plans or ideas with her siblings? How do the stories shape the way her siblings interpret what happens to them on their journey? Is this a metatextual element? Is Bulla commenting on storytelling more broadly by including this motif?

How do the children cope with the loss of adults who care for them? What role does this have in their development from dependent children to independence?

What roles do poverty and wealth play in the novel? How do these categories relate to the amount of power someone has or doesn’t have? How do these elements contribute to Bulla’s patriotic ideas in the text?

What childlike traits do Meg and Jemmy display? Are these seen as good or bad? Does Amanda display any childlike traits? If so, which ones? If not, why doesn’t she?

How do the history of Jamestown and the shipwreck of the Sea Venture inform the novel? How are people in the 17th century, like the characters described in the novel, and people today alike? How are they different?