Study Questions and Essay Topics
According to Number the Stars, why would growing up in a time of war make the normal process of maturing more complicated?
Discuss how a war might be compared to a fairy tale or fictional story.
Discuss Lowry's idea that fear does not make bravery impossible.
Suggested Essay Topics
Why would seeing a war from a child's perspective provide insights that the reader might not have otherwise? How does the nature of Annemarie's observations elucidate human relations to war?
How does the story of Little Red Riding-Hood create a parallel to Annemarie's own story?
Interactions between children and adults in Number the Stars are often based on the transmission of information or stories. How does the role of information, or lack of information, impact the way that Annemarie views adults?
What role does patriotism play in the story? How is devotion to one's country privileged above all other things? Does this affect the way Jews are treated by non-Jewish Danes?
How does the past impact the way the characters of Number the Stars view the present and the future? What role do Mrs. Johansen's stories play in forming Annemarie's attitude towards the present and her ambitions for the future?
