Key Facts
full title · Johnny Tremain
author · Esther Forbes
type of work · Novel
genre · Coming-of-age story; historical fiction; war fiction
language · English
time and place written · Esther Forbes began to write Johnny Tremain on
December 8, 1941,
the day after Pearl Harbor was bombed. She worked on the novel at
her home in Massachusetts, completing it in 1943.
date of first publication · 1943
publisher · Houghton Mifflin
narrator · The novel is narrated by an anonymous voice.
point of view · The narrator speaks in the third person, focusing
on Johnny's actions and experiences. The narrator primarily describes
events subjectively, as Johnny experiences them, but occasionally reveals
pieces of information that Johnny does not know.
tone · The narrator does not participate in the story, but
shows sympathy and hope for nearly all the characters in the novel.
tense · Present
setting (time) · The book takes place during the years immediately
preceding the Revolutionary War. The story begins in the summer
of 1773 and ends during April of 1775.
setting (place) · Colonial Boston
protagonist · Johnny Tremain
major conflict · Johnny struggles to overcome his arrogance and selfishness
and to develop into an independent, humble, generous, and patient young
man. Similarly, the colonists struggle to gain independence from
the oppressive British government.
rising action · Johnny's hand is disfigured and disabled because of
Dove's careless prank; Johnny must find a new trade; Johnny meets
Rab, moves into the Lorne house, and delivers newspapers; Johnny befriends
Whig leaders and becomes a spy for the rebellion; Johnny participates
in the Boston Tea Party; the British soldiers descend on Lexington.
climax · The war begins between the colonists and the British;
Johnny learns of Rab's death during the battle of Lexington and completes
his break from his past arrogant self.
falling action · Doctor Warren tells Johnny that he can fix his disfigured
hand; Johnny is proud of his country.
themes · War's transformation of boys into men; revolution
as a coming-of-age; the influence of personal relationships on character
motifs · Pride; forgiveness; class
symbols · Johnny's crippled hand; the silver Lyte cup; Johnny's
infatuation with Lavinia Lyte
foreshadowing · Mr. Lapham's repeated warnings that “pride goeth before
a fall,” which foreshadows Johnny's accident; Johnny's struggles
with Lyte and Stranger foreshadows the unequal struggle between
the colonies and Britain; Johnny's obsession with the eyes of muskets foreshadows
Rab's death
