Over the course of The Book of the Lion, Edmund goes from a self-effacing servant to a squire fighting among fancy knights. Unlike so many other coming-of-age tales, though, we leave Edmund just at the moment when we're about to see what he's made of. Will he go on to fight with King Richard? Will he head home to his beloved Elvira? As this first book in the trilogy ends, we have no idea. The only thing we're sure of is that Edmund is finally willing and able to think for himself and wield a little power over his own destiny.
Questions About Coming of Age
- Which character most influences Edmund's coming-of-age process? Why did you choose this person, and how do they influence him?
- In what ways has Edmund not yet come of age? Be specific and back your answer up with evidence from the text.
- Insofar as heading into battle is a key part of Edmund's coming-of-age process, how does war mold him? How does this compare to Hubert?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Edmund becoming a squire and Edmund becoming an adult are pretty much identical processes.
Edmund is only able to succeed as a squire because he becomes an adult first.