Chapter 7: How Mother Took Credit for Something She Hadn't Done

• How is the mother's defence of Herr Roller entirely ironic?

Its ironic that Bruno's mother defends Herr Roller by saying that he was a lovely human being before he was inflicted with his current condition. It's ironic because she can defend a war veteran who suffered a lot in the war but she can't show this passion to the Jew's who are suffering even more then Herr Roller.

• What role does Kotler represent historically in the novel? (think beyond being a soldier)

Kotler represents the perfect German race. He has blue eyes and blonde hair like Hitler believes makes one perfect. He shows their lack of respect for Jews and that they blindly followed Hitler.

• What character is Kotler juxtaposed with in this chapter? What effect does it have on understanding each of these characters?

Kolter is juxtaposed with Pavel, and this highlights how the Jews were treated by the Germans - with no respect no matter their age. 

• How would you compare the interaction Bruno has with Pavel to all the other interactions Bruno has had with adults?

Pavel listens to Bruno while other adults don't. They can talk to each other while others would just stop him in the first place.

• Why is juxtaposition a key technique employed in Holocaust texts? How has it been used in The Boy in the Striped PJ's?

Because it's useful. It shows the difference between peoples lifestyles, their state of mind. Without it you would only know one side of the story. They compare Kolter to Pavel, Mother to Father, or even Bruno to Gretel. It is the most commonly used technique in the boy in striped pyjamas

Chapter 6 - The Overpaid Maid

• On pg 60 Bruno reveals a radical shift in his perspective and understanding of Maria. What is this radical shift? What does this show is developing in Bruno?

He realises that Maria had a life before she became his fathers maid, and that it wasn't that good. It show's how Bruno can now start to realise that people aren't the way they are for life and not everyone was as well off as him.

• Compare how Bruno and Gretel treat Maria.

Bruno and Gretel usually treat Maria the same way even though Bruno is a little bit more respectful. Now though, after hearing about Maria's past Bruno gets angry at Gretel even though she speaks the same way to Maria that she always had because he had gained true respect for her. Gretel treats her like a servant, Bruno treats her like a person

• (pg 65) What is Maria's advice to Bruno about 'keeping safe'? Why do you think that she gives this advice? Do you think that it is good or bad advice?

She tells Bruno not to say how he feels about the house out loud to keep them safe. She says this because if the "Fury" hears about it he might get angry with the family and Bruno could also be told what's really going on and lose his innocence. It is good advice.

• (65-6) What is Bruno's reaction to his new thoughts/feelings? Why do you think that he reacts this way?

Bruno's reaction to his new feelings is to cry, even though he doesn't know why. I believe that he reacts this way because he can't do what he wants.

Holocaust Poetry #2

Homeland
Lois E. Olena
It was Christmas eve
and there was no room in the inn,
the Oswiecim inn,
so the Arrow Cross
took the children,
barefooted
and in their nighties,
out to the Danube
and filled their little bellies
not with bread
but bullets
flipping them
like tiddlywinks
into the congealing, icy river below.

It was the Red Danube
that night,
choking on the blood
of orphan Jews
whose little Blue faces
floated downstream
touring even all of Europe
until they washed up
on the shores of Eretz Yisrael (Jewish homeland)
and came back to life,
their little blue and white
bodies
raised high,
flapping in the wind.
How is imagery used in this poem?
It's a nice Christmas day, there are children going to an inn and when they get there they are taken away, shot and thrown into the river. Then they are brought to life once they reach their homeland. The author turns a nice peaceful image into one of horror. It's showed the extremes that the Germans would go to to kill innocent Jews.
Discuss the effect of the simile in this poem.
The simile is "like tiddlywinks". It compares the Germans killing to a child's game. It also makes the Germans seem strong and the Jew look weak
How is alliteration used in the poem? What is the effect?
"Not bullets but bread". This uses juxtaposition by putting bread next to bullets
How does the author juxtapose the innocence of the children to the cruelty they experienced?
Because they are innocent it makes the fact that they where cruelly treated even worse.
What is meant by 'touring all of Europe'?
It means that they went down the river throughout all of Europe after they had been thrown in. It also gives the effect that they are drawn to the motherland. 

Chapter 5: Out of Bounds at All Times No Exceptions

     1.   What does it say that we only actually meet the father in the book in Chapter 5 even though he is the one causing much of the action in the book?


It says that even though he causes much of the action he is not all that important to the story.


     2.   The mother says: ‘We should have never let the Fury come to dinner. Some people and their determination to get ahead.’ What theme does this introduce regarding the role of ambition and causing harm? 


This shows that she believes that if they hadn't invited the Fury for dinner they wouldn't have had to move to Auschwitz. Because the father was so ambition it made his family move from home and they dislike him. He's selfish. The German's through their ambition are blind to the horror they have created.


3. How does Bruno's father speak to him? Give an example to support your answer.


Treats him like a child, doesn't show much emotion as he also speaks to his men.

4. How would you compare the way Bruno speaks about the world to his father's? Do they both comment about what is going on around them the same?


Bruno always says the truth the way he see's it. His father doesn't as he has managed to convince himself that killing thousands of people is just. They don't have similar comments.


5. How does the father rationalise every concern that Bruno has?


Bruno's father pays no heed to his sons worries. He believes that what has happened is for the greater good of Germany and nothing else matters.


6. What is ironic about what the father says when he comes around the desk and talks to Bruno about his childhood?


His father said he had to do what Bruno was doing now, whatever his father wanted, and then he can't even remember what he had had to do. Also he believes he is successful because of it even though he is killing people for a living.

7. Do you think that the father really cares about Bruno? Why/why not?


Of course his father cares for Bruno. His job may get in the way at times but his love is still there.

8. Do you think that Bruno understands what he is saying when he says 'Heil Hitler!'?


Bruno doesn't understand. He just believes that it is a different way to say goodbye to someone.

9. How is juxtaposition used in Bruno's description of their boarding the train to Auschwitz?


They are in a carriage with few people in it with nice seats and the Jews are all crowded in and left standing. These two extremely different trains are side by side.


10. What is Bruno's reason for not saying anything to the Jews on the crowded train? How is this a representation of the greater German population?
 
Bruno didn't say anything to the Jews on the train because he thought his mother or sister would be angry with him. This represents the German population because many thought what the Nazi's where doing to the Jews was wrong but they where too scared of them to do anything about it.

Holocaust Imagery - Hitler at a Nazi Rally

This is an image of a political rally in 1934, a staple of the Nazi regime. In your own blog post answer the questions below and include the image.

     1.  How are vectors used in this image? What effect does it have?

The vectors are used to highlight Hitler, you can also see his army. It gives an awe inspiring affect. Even though you know that they killed thousands of innocent people you can't help being shocked at the magnitude of people following such an unjust cause

     2.  Describe the composition of the image and what is tells us about the Nazis and Hitler.

It shows pretty much all of the Nazi's with a narrow stretch down the middle for people of importance. It shows that the Nazi's themselves weren't as important but Hitler and his chosen leaders where.

     3.  How is symmetry used? What effect does it have?

Symmetry is used as on each side of the isle there are men neatly lined up with the ones closest to the centre are holding flags with the Nazi's symbol on them. Even in the background you can see some men in the isle being symmetrical. Everything is symmetrical except Hitler which makes you instantly look towards him.

     4.  What effect does this picture being in black and white have?

It takes out the emotion. With colour there is anger, joy and sorrow. Here there is none because it is harder to portray emotion without colours.

     5.  Discuss the use of line in this image. What effect does it have?

The one consistent line in this image is the carpet. It makes it appear that anyone walking upon it must be important. It's also very geometrical.

Boy in the Striped PJ's Chapter 4

• (pg 31) How does the author continue to use juxtaposition in regards to the two housing situations? (the Jews and Bruno's family)

Bruno' s family has a good house with a nice garden with flowers neatly arranged, and a bench and on the other side a nice forest, where on the other hand the Jews are surrounded by a high, wire fence with curls of barbed wire on the top. The fence itself was taller than Bruno's house and there was no grass. And these two complete opposites are side by side.

• What is it about the children that makes it difficult to understand exactly what they see through the window and just how bad it is?

Everywhere else looks reasonably nice such as the garden and the forest while this scene is horrific. It is obviously meant to keep people in or out and there wasn't even any grass there. It's all like a barren land covered in nothing but dirt and a few small huts. I don't think any child would be able to take that in. Especially after the life they have lived.

• Summarise how Gretel describes what she sees.

Gretel describes it as nasty looking and modern. She compares it to the countryside or a farm.

• What does Gretel attempt to do when she sees the Concentration Camp? How does she attempt to understand what she sees?

She attempts to understand by starring at it and trying to force herself to understand.

• Is her attempt successful? Does she convince Bruno that she understands? What does she eventually give in to? What does she say/or not say? (pg 32)

Her attempt is unsuccessful, and she is unable to convince Bruno that she understands. Gretel eventually gives into the fact that it's not actually their holiday house

• What can't the children do when they see the Concentration Camp that the adults seem to be able to do? Which group can understand what they see? Why do you think that this is the case?

The children can't seem to understand what they have seen while all of the adults understand perfectly well. The reason for this is that all of the adults have bee informed about the concentration camps while the children have been told nothing. The adults try to say it's good for Germany to make themselves feel better but the children can't comprehend what is happening.

• How does the author use understatement through the children's description of the Concentration Camp?

Because it is from a child's perspective they understate it because they can't know what it actually is.

Chapter 3: The Hopeless Case

     1.  Describe how Bruno and Gretel's relationship is introduced in the chapter.


Bruno and Gretel don't really like each other much. Bruno thinks playing with dolls is girlie and Gretel loves it. But they can agree on their dislike of the new house. There is a quote "Gretel was three years older than Bruno and she had made it clear to him from as far back as he could remember that when it came to the ways of the world, particularly any events within that world that concerned the two of them, she was in charge" that showed that Gretel was the alpha of the two children and didn't think much for Bruno


     2.  List quotes that show how the new house is described.


"I hate it here", "it's not very nice is it" and "it was very hollow" where some quotes describing the house


     3.  It was very hollow and he decided that he better not go jumping around this house too often or it might collapse around their ears. What is the significance of this quote?


It shows that the house was old and fragile. It's hasn't been built well and the floorboards creak which is what makes him believe that the house could fall apart at any second.


     4.  What is Bruno's reaction to the new house?


Bruno has a bad reaction to his new home. He absolutely hates it. Some reasons are it's smaller, more isolated and he is no longer with his friends.


     5.  How does it compare to their old house?


The house is still extremely good compared to many that of many people. This house is 2 stories smaller than his old house. It doesn't have as much class as the old house did but I reckon if he wasn't so spoilt he would actually love the house.


     6.  How does Gretel relate to her father?


She admires her father. She believes he isn't doing anything wrong, but in fact through his job is doing good.


     7.  Does Bruno understand where they are? What makes you believe this?


Bruno doesn't really understand where they are. He does realises it's bad but he does not realise that the reason behind this is thousands of people dying next door. He doesn't maintain the true horror of where they are.


     8.  Does Gretel understand where they are? Explain.


Gretel understands more than Bruno as she understands that the name 'out-with' symbolises that the are kicking people out of the country but she doesn't realise that it's wrong.


     9.  How is Bruno's description of 'Out-with' represent a motif? What is darkly ironic about this?


It's actually Auschwitz. Them misinterpreting is closer to what the Germans are doing to the Jews in the concentration camp next to their house.


     10. Read pgs 27-29. How are Bruno's and Gretel's reaction to 'the children' Bruno sees through the window different? What does this tell us about these two characters and their perception/understanding of where they are?


They are both shocked. Bruno is joyous and curious that there are children around and Gretel is fearful because the camp is close. You know Gretel is fearful because she prays.