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

How is the mother's defence of Herr Roller entirely ironic? The mothers irony in the mothers defence is that Herr roller has been treated badly and the sighs of that are sill there and she is being sympathetic where as the Jews are bieng treaded even worse and she has no sympathy for them.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

What role does Kotler represent historically in the novel? (think beyond being a soldier) Kolter is represented as a typical Nazi supporter at the time, as he thinks that all Jews should be treated as criminals, treated as slaves, are beneath everyone else and should all be executed.                     

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. Kolter is juxtaposed with Pavel as he is a Jew who is treated horribly by the Nazi's where as Kolter is a Nazi living in Luxury.

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

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

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? Bruno has realized that maria's life is not just being there maid like he originally thought and now he has realized that maria does have a life outside of there life and that she is human.

• Compare how Bruno and Gretel treat Maria. Bruno treats Maria like his mother told him to with respect where as Gretel treats her like her father treats her as a person that is beneath her and should obey every command that Gretel gives Maria. This also shows us more how Bruno's traits represent his mother and Gretel's traits represent her father.
• (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? Maria's advice to Bruno is that 'he should keep quiet about all this until it is over.' i think she gave this advice to Bruno as she doesn't want anything to happen to Bruno. I think this is good advice as if it wasn't for this advice he may run away from home.
• (65-6) What is Bruno's reaction to his new thoughts/feelings? Why do you think that he reacts this way? His new reaction to there feels are that he like crying. i think he feels like crying because of the thought of what would happen to his family if he ran away from home and how worried and stressed they would be.

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? Imagery plays a big part in this poem for example when the Author writes " and filled their little bellies not with bread but bullets" this creates an image of the Jewish children Being shot by the Nazi soldiers which tells us just how cruelly the Nazi's treated the Jews. 
 
Discuss the effect of the simile in this poem. The simile in this poem 'flipping them like tiddlywinks into the congealing, icy river below.' the effect this has on the poem is telling us in a graphic way how the Jewish children were treated by the Nazi Soldiers.
 
How is alliteration used in the poem? What is the effect? The alliteration in this poem is "filled their little bellies not with bread but bullets." The effect is that it creates the image and the emotions that you would see and hear. and the image you get from this poem is innocent children being shot by the Nazi soldiers, and the emotions you would feel are sadness, and sympathy for the family of the children.
 
How does the author juxtapose the innocence of the children to the cruelty they experienced?
 
What is meant by 'touring all of Europe'? This means that the Jewish Prisoners were taken all around Europe to get to the concentration camps.

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) Juxtaposition is used as Bruno is complaining about his house in Auschwitz with maids, and chefs where as the Jews live in a large shed with concrete and hay/thin mattress beds, getting hardly no food, and having to work themselfs to death, and bieng killded  for no reason
• 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? The children don't think that people would or could do this sort of thing to one and other so they come to the conclusion that they must be farmers.
• Summarise how Gretel describes what she sees. Gretel thinks that she sees a community of farmers who are actually the Jewish prisoners and she thinks that they live in the huts that she sees though Bruno window. 
• What does Gretel attempt to do when she sees the Concentration Camp? How does she attempt to understand what she sees?  Gretel attempts to think as hard as she can by narrowing her eyes and think of every possible solution to the question at hand as she thinks she is smart enough to solve this problem 
• 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) She is succesful in convincing Bruno that it must be a farm as Bruno thinks she is right as she is the older sibling. 
• 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? There is a large difference between what children think and what adults think. Gretel thinks that  she should stay clear of them because of where they live and there apperence, where as the adults are fully aware of the situation at hand, so stay away from them because that is what they have been brainwashed to believe.
• How does the author use understatement through the children's description of the Concentration Camp? The authour focus less on the facts and more on what the children think and see.

Chapter 5: Out of Bounds at All Times No Exceptions

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? In the first few chapters the characters refert to father but it is not until chapter five until father is introduced. The story makes you believe that father is an important person and character that sits behind many of the events in the book.

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 introduces that some people will do anything to further their careers and importance. The home to Mother is an important place for the family away from fathers work yet the people who work with father have intruded into this area where Mother would not have allowed these people to come.

How does Bruno's father speak to him? Give an example to support your answer. Bruno's father talked to him gently e.g. "well we are home, Bruno" he said finally in a gentle voice

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?No they don't Bruno thinks that the world is treating him badly where as Father thinks that it his duty to do what he does.

How does the father rationalise every concern that Bruno has?

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

Do you think that the father really cares about Bruno? Why/why not? Yes I think he does care about Bruno but in his own way, as he has been taught to be a strict, and even boring German Nazi Soldier

Do you think that Bruno understands what he is saying when he says 'Heil Hitler!'? No i don't

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

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? Jews were the lower class citizens so they would not waste their time with them. They were argent, and they thought they were better than everyone.

Boy in the Striped PJ's Chapter 4

1. How are vectors used in this image? What effect does it have? ??????
2. Describe the composition of the image and what is tells us about the Nazis and Hitler. Hitler is the focal point of this image with all his soldiers and supporters surrounding him. This shows the power that Hitler has over everyone.
3. How is symmetry used? What effect does it have? The symmetry in this image is all very straight. The crowd in the background are all behind a perfect, straight line of soldier and in the foreground, the soldiers holding the Nazi flag are all in perfect perfect straight line.
4. What effect does this picture being in black and white have? The effect that using black and white has on the image is that it takes all the joy out of the image. This shows the bitterness, and seriousness of the Nazi German soldiers.
5. Discuss the use of line in this image. What effect does it have? ?????

Chapter 3 - Hopeless case

1. Describe how Bruno and Gretel's relationship is introduced in the chapter. The relationship between Bruno and Gretel is described as bad and the dont like each other. we gather this information when Bruno tells us that he thinks it would be a good idea if they had left Gretel in Berlin to look after the house.
2. List quotes that show how the new house is described. Quotes that describe the new house are: "I hate it here";  "Its not very nice here is it" "no it horrible"
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? The significance of this quote is that it shows the childish mind of Bruno and how he see's the house.
4. What is Bruno's reaction to the new house? Bruno's reaction is one that shows he has been brought up in a wealthy family who has a very lavish lifestyle. He thinks his new house is to small compared to his old mansion in Berlin, and has nowhere to explore, he constantly complains about there being no surrounding houses, and no one to play with. 
5. How does it compare to their old house? It is smaller than their old mansion in Berlin, there is nowhere to explore in his new house where as in his old house there are places which he didn't ever get to explore, there are no neighbors in the new house compared to his old house where he had many neighbors.
6. How does Gretel relate to her father? Gretel thinks that her father does nothing wrong and that he is always right. this is a trait that she also possesses 
7. Does Bruno understand where they are? What makes you believe this? No he does not know where he is as he thinks that the 'people in pajamas' or the Jewish prisoners are farmers.
8. Does Gretel understand where they are? Explain. No she doesn't know where they are as she believes the same thing as Bruno, that the Jewish Prisoners are all farmers.
9. How is Bruno's description of 'Out-with' represent a motif? What is darkly ironic about this? Bruno's description of outwith represents a motif as it shows the innocence of Bruno. what is darkly ironic about this is that out with is the house in Auschwitz and Bruno does not understand the mass killing that is going on there and that is father is causing it.
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? Bruno's reaction to the children is sympathetic because he says that they are looking sound. Gretel's view is different, when Bruno mentions them she is sacred to go over to the window and look. But they both want to investigate this more.

Respoding to a Poem

We had fun, we laughed
we were happy
we were torn away from our loved ones,
and thrown into the chambers
we were nothing more than children
We had a future, we were all going to be lawyers, rabbis, parents and Grandparents.
then suddenly our future was taken from us like livestock
crying, starving, dying. separated from the world, our parents, our friends.
 The atrocity to mankind, and over a way of life?
we we were the children who's dreams, futures, lives were stolen away.

Holocaust poetry

Holocaust
by Barbara Sonek

We played, we laughed
we were loved.
We were ripped from the arms of our
parents and thrown into the fire.
We were nothing more than children.
We had a future. We were going to be lawyers, rabbis, wives, teachers, mothers. We had dreams, then we had no hope. We were taken away in the dead of night like cattle in cars, no air to breathe smothering, crying, starving, dying. Separated from the world to be no more. From the ashes, hear our plea. This atrocity to mankind can not happen again. Remember us, for we were the children whose dreams and lives were stolen away.

1. What is your initial reaction to this poem? My reaction to this poem is that i feel upset hearing about the victums of the holocaust and how they felt and how they were treated.
2. How does the author use 'we' in this poem? The author uses 'we' in this poem to talk about all the children who were tortured or killed in the concentration camps, and to talk about the potential all the children who were killed would have had.
3. What are the verbs used in the first sentence? the verbs in the first sentence are 'played' and 'laughed' which tell us about the children s life before the concentration camp
4. What are the verbs used in the second sentence? How do they contrast with those used in the first sentence? The verbs in the second sentence were 'ripped' and 'fire' which tells us about all the children who were killed in these camps apposed to played and laughed which tells us about the children happy life's before the concentration camp.
5. What effect does the listing of 'lawyers, rabbis, wives, teachers, mothers'? What is it meant to signify? The potential that all these children who were killed would have had in the future.
6. What simile is used in the poem and what effect does it have?
7. How has the poet represented herself in the last sentence? she has represented herself as one of the children who were tormented in these camps.
8. If you could communicate to this person, a victim of the Holocaust, what would you want to say? What do you feel that you must do in your life as a response to this poem? if i could communicate to this victum of the holcaust, i would want to ask them what they would have gone through in the camps and just how torturous it really was in these camps, i feel that i should do my best to make sure something like this would never happen again, that millions of people would not be killed just because of a backround/religion. 

Boy in Striped PJ's - Chapter 1

Describe Bruno's voice. Give examples to support. 
Bruno has a small, very demanding, and innocent voice in this book, but he does have some say with in the book an example of this is that he has to leave his three best friends and his mother says "you will make new friends"


What characters are introduced? Describe each and give examples to support.
The characters that have been introduced are:
Bruno: a small boy who is brought up to brought up to be polite and kind

Maria: the families maid who is very quite and takes care of all the house cleaning, and various other chores around the house 

Mother: Bruno's mother who brought Bruno up to be polite and is strict. She is tall and has red hair.

Father: Not much is known about him other than he has a "cool uniform"

Gretel: She is Bruno's sister and is a "disaster story" as Bruno quotes

Who are presented as victims in this chapter and what are the victims of? Do you think that it is fair to consider them victims?
 
The victim in chapter 1 is Bruno and his Mother, as Bruno is being forced to leave his 3 ffriends and we can tell that his mother doesn't want to leave as the narrator tells us that she is close to crying many times in this book. 

Irony is an important element of the story. How is it used here in the first chapter? Give examples to support your answer.

Irony used in the first chapter by Bruno beginning because Bruno is upset that his family has to move, and he got no say in this decision because of his fathers job even though that Bruno doesn't know what his dad's job is.

How is the setting presented in this chapter?

The setting is portrayed as a happy, large house in Berlin which is home to a rich family who has a house keeper, a butler, and a chef. You can look out a window and see the whole of Berlin. However, the family is getting ready to pack and move from this house to a new house for his fathers work.

Finding Visual Techniques - Life is Beautiful

key words/focus:
camera angle (low, high, eye-level), vectors, lighting, composition

(4:20) How are camera angles used when Joshua says 'Thank you' (not in German)? Which angles are used to view each of the characters? What does each of these angle signify?


When the camera focuses on Giosue, they use a low angel shot, and when the camera is focused on the German Waiter, a high angle shot is being used. this is because when a high angle shot is used a it shows the innocence of Giosue and the irony of how he gets in trouble for big polite. A low angle shot is used on the waiter as it shows his power over Giosue.

(4:45) What shot distance and angle is used to show Guido's concern for Joshua when the German waiter leaves the room? Describe the composition)


An eye level shot is being used to show the concern on Guido's face fo rGiosue

(4:46) How is shot of Guido contrasted to the shot of the German waiter walking away to tell someone what has just happened? Describe the composition and compare it to the previous shot of a concerned Guido.


When the Nazi walks down the hallway we see very straight geometry, the strait door frame, the lights are in perfect order, and even the line separating the light green from the dark green is perfectly straight, and when he walks down the hall way he walks right in the center of the hall way. Where as when we see Guido his surroundings are less symmetrical to the hallway, he his much more emotive than the German soldier who stands strait up with no emotion.

(5:02-05) How is the shot of the German's contrasted to that of Guido teaching the children to say 'Thank You'?


The Germans are stiff and rigid with their hands behind their back and no emotion on their faces, where as guido is moving about, moving his hands, with emotion on his face looking more enthusiastic than the soldiers.
\
HW: How are visual techniques utilised to evoke empathy from the audience and clearly delineate (indicate) who are the heros, villains, and victims in this scene?