58 pages • 1 hour read
Christopher MooreLamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2002A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
What is the effect of the author’s use of first-person narration? What is the significance of the switch from first-person narration in the numbered parts to third-person in the epilogue?
How does Maggie’s character arc contribute to Christopher Moore’s development of the theme of Friendship and Loyalty? What does her presence in the novel’s resolution signify?
In what ways are lambs an effective symbol for Joshua? Discuss the significance of Moore titling the novel Lamb.
In what ways does Moore shape Joshua’s character arc through the theme of Resistance to Injustice, including social, political, and religious oppression? How does this theme impact Lamb’s overall meaning?
How does Justus’s character development contribute to the theme of the Commingling of Religious Beliefs? In what ways is his character consistent throughout the novel, and in what ways does he change?
How does the theme of Friendship and Loyalty contribute to Moore’s characterization of Biff?
How does Moore build suspense in a story that is millennia old and well-known, particularly regarding the ending? What literary techniques does he use?
With the exception of Mary and Joseph’s flight into Egypt with the infant Jesus, the four Gospels of the Bible depict Christ spending his entire life in the nation of Israel. Discuss Moore's decision to expand the novel’s settings beyond Israel.
How does the significance of the motif of crosses evolve over the course of the novel?
How does Lamb demonstrate the traits of a Menippean satire, and what specific human tendencies and attitudes does Moore satirize? What literary devices does the author use to create satire throughout the novel?
