Chapters 11+12

What are the main themes of the novel so far?

Innocence. Inhumane treatment. Friendships. Fear. Ignorance. 

What are the main techniques?

Allusion, juxtaposition, imagery, alliteration, simile, irony.

Think of 5 important questions for each of these two chapters about how important motifs and themes play a role in each chapter.
Chapter 11
1. Who is the Fury?
2. How is the Fury portrayed?
3. How is juxtaposition used form the Fury to Eva?
4. On page 124 what are mother and father talking about?
5. Why did they repeat the last paragraph from when it was used in the first chapter?
Chapter 12
1. Juxtaposition is strong in this chapter, why?
2. How is Bruno's innocence used in this chapter?
3. Why is it important that Bruno and Shmuel are kids?
4. Why doesn't Bruno want to tell his parents about his adventure?
5. Why doesn't Bruno believe Shmuel about the room with 11 people

Chapter 10: The Dot That Became a...

(105) What does the progression of 'dot' to 'boy' tell us about the role of exploring and meeting the people in the camp? What does this represent about how other Germans view the Jews?
The progression of the dot to boy tells us that Bruno's sense of exploration is important and allows him to meet new people and find answers he's been searching for. This represents the other Germans views of Jews as just an object to explore. The development of becoming more important.
(109) What effect does the boys both having the same birthday have?
The boys having the same birthday represents the similarity of people put into the camp and people outside of the camp. It shows us that Shmuel and Bruno are actually quite alike. They have a connection with each other, due to Bruno's innocence. 
(113-4) What do Bruno and Shmuel 'argue' about? What does Bruno decide to stop the argument?
Bruno and Shmuel argue about German being the greatest country. Bruno decides to stop the argument because he doesn't want to sound rude in front of his new friend and he wants to make the most out of talking to someone on the other side of the fence. The comment of "let agree to disagree" is a microcosm of the war and why its happening. 
(115) What does Bruno's last question reveal to Shmuel? What do you think Shmuel thinks of Bruno because of asking this question?
Bruno's last question reveals to Shmuel that Bruno doesn't know whats happening and who he is. I think Shmuel thinks of Bruno as an ignorant German and also innocent.

Chapter 9: Bruno Remembers That He Used to Enjoy Exploration

(pg95-96) How is Lt Kotler portrayed? Why is he portrayed this way? (remember that 'how' is asking about literary techniques)
Lt Kotler is portrayed as the typical soldier from the Holocaust. They use alliteration to emphasize it. He is also portrayed as arrogant. He is also kind of portrayed as a suck up. 
What is Herr Liszt going to 'change' for Bruno? (98)
Herr Liszt is going to change Bruno's knowledge of the Holocaust and the German history.
(100) What connection does Bruno make between the people in the camp and the people that come and visit his house all the time?
Bruno thinks that the people in the camp are working for the men that come and visit him all the time. He thinks is a game. 
What some of the things that Bruno begins to take notice of regarding the relationship between the soldiers and the people in 'pyjamas'?
Bruno starts to notice that the soldiers tell the people in pyjamas what to do and they're their bosses. "master and slave" he notices that there is a dominant side but he is unsure why and doesn't know who chooses who side people are on.

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

How is the mother's defence of Herr Roller entirely ironic?
Mother's defense of Herr Roller is ironic because she deeply cares about him because he is less able and is defenseless against Bruno yet the camp is right next to them and her husband is running it. 

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

Kotler represents the ignorant and bad Germans. and the "perfect" German

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

Kotler juxtaposes Maria because Kotler is a bad evil German that orders around the Jews and thinks nothing of them and uses bad words which Bruno doesn't even know towards them whilst Maria is a kind German that thinks well of everyone and is trying to keep Bruno out of trouble and is doing what she thinks is right.

How would you compare the interaction Bruno has with Pavel to all the other interactions Bruno has had with adults?
 Bruno is interested and wants to know more about Pavel and has a feeling that Pavel is an interesting man. He also gets confused with Pavel for why he isn't in a hospital because he doesn't understand why Pavel is there. He also talks to Pavel as sort of a friend and can understand him a bit more.

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

Juxtaposition is a key technique in the Holocaust text because it helps us see both sides of what it was like for the Germans and for the Jews.  It has been used in The Boy is stripped PJ's by describing everything to do  with the Jews or the camp by describing one side then the other to highlight all the key differences.

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?
  This radical shift is realising that Maria is a person and has a history and feelings and has a life of her own not just a maid. This shows that Bruno is starting to understand things and people better and he is maturing.  

• Compare how Bruno and Gretel treat Maria.
  Bruno and Gretel treat Maria very differently. Bruno gives Maria respect and tries to be polite with her, he treats her like a person and someone that deserves respect. Gretel treats Maria as nothing but a maid and a servant. She treats her disrespectfully and shows no sign of manners towards her.
• (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 to keep quiet and not saying anything he feels about the move to anyone or even out loud at all. I think she gives this advice because either she might get in trouble for it for talking to him or maybe because shes trying to look out for Bruno and doesn't want Bruno getting in trouble. I think this is good advice because Bruno might get in trouble if he was to express this in front of the wrong person.
• (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 all of this new understanding of Maria is him feeling like he wants to cry. I think he reacts this way because he is empathetic towards her and feels sad about her story with her mother and Bruno's father. I think its all just a bit too much for a child to take in all at once when hes going through his tough time of the move. 

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 is used by describing there death, without actually saying it. The author uses descriptive words to tell us they're dead, e.g. 
and filled their little bellies not with bread but bullets.
Discuss the effect of the simile in this poem.
The simile " flipping them like tiddlywinks" shows that the Nazi's "played" around with the Jews and just killed them like it was nothing.  
How is alliteration used in the poem? What is the effect?
Alliteration is used with " bellies not with bread but bullets" and the effect is that it makes it more noticeable and stronger.
How does the author juxtapose the innocence of the children to the cruelty they experienced?
not sure..  
What is meant by 'touring all of Europe'? It means that they floated in the rivers and not one picked them up or bothered and they went all around Germany, in a greater meaning i assume it means this happened everywhere in Germany and other places.

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?
It shows that he is a busy man and we wont have much interaction with him throughout the book because he's caught up in work.

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? dont understand the question

How does Bruno's father speak to him? Give an example to support your answer. Bruno's father speaks to Bruno like he's a soldier, eg "He opened the door and Father called him back in for a moment, standing up and raising an eyebrow as if he'd forgotten something... Heil Hitler he said"

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?
I would compare the way Bruno speaks about the world and his father's to be another use of juxtaposition. No they don't.

How does the father rationalise every concern that Bruno has? Father rationalises every concern Bruno has by saying it is what it is and has to be done. He's also bouncing around the truth to convince Bruno and himself that its right.

What is ironic about what the father says when he comes around the desk and talks to Bruno about his childhood? Whats ironic about what the father says to Bruno about his childhood is that it sounds like he's making the story up and uses and excuse as an example but the example is something every child does including Bruno, also the depth of what he had to do is no where near Bruno moving homes.

Do you think that the father really cares about Bruno? Why/why not? I think the father cares about Bruno and wants the best for him, i just think in this instance he is short tempered and doesn't care about what Bruno has to say because they're not moving back.

Do you think that Bruno understands what he is saying when he says 'Heil Hitler!'? No and it even says in the book that he doesn't understand it, he just assumes it means goodbye have a nice day.

How is juxtaposition used in Bruno's description of their boarding the train to Auschwitz? Juxtaposition is used by having the Jews in one train and the non Jews in the other. The non Jew train had seats, fresh air, room to move around and seemed like a pleasant place to be. The Jew train we assume was busy, no seats and just uncomfortable in general.

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's reason for not saying anything to the Jews on the crowded train is because it would make Gretel furious. This is representation of the greater German population because it resembles a lot of their attitudes towards the Jews.

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)
The author continues to use juxtaposition between the Jews and Bruno's family by describe the ground they're on. The lively garden of greenery and flowers and nice paths for Bruno's family and then a huge wire fence surrounding the Jews with huge walls and telegraph poles.

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?
What makes it hard to understand what they see is that they think its a farm and they don't really know what it is. They also don't have a full understanding of the whole Jew situation so they don't know how bad it is.

Summarise how Gretel describes what she sees.
Gretel describe it as a countryside farm.

What does Gretel attempt to do when she sees the Concentration Camp? How does she attempt to understand what she sees?
When Gretel sees the concentration camp she tries to make herself believe its the country side and not something bad. She does this by thinking back to geography class and trying to think of a possible solution.

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 attempted is unsuccessful, she does not convince Bruno that she understands and she eventually gives in to not fully knowing what it is either. What Gretel does not say is that she doesn't know what it is because she always wants to be right and smarter than Bruno.

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 understand nor feel bad for the people in the Concentration Camp and the adults can. Younger groups can understand what they see, I think this is the case because older people would of been aware of the situation and would know whats going on and would find this ironic.

How does the author use understatement through the children's description of the Concentration Camp?
not sure..

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 used in this image is the crowd and their Nazi symbol signs pointing towards Hitler and his close men. The street opens up to Hitler and there is an endless crowd.
2. Describe the composition of the image and what is tells us about the Nazis and Hitler.
   The composition of this image tells us that Hitler and the Nazis like everything to be in order, symmetrical, they like to praise the one in charge and there are a lot of followers.
3. How is symmetry used? What effect does it have?
   Symmetry was used on the street, the Nazi men holding signs, the carpet down the middle, the square signs and Hitler is walking down the very middle. The effects of these are that it shows the Nazis like to be very precise, orderly, proper and emotionless.
4. What effect does this picture being in black and white have?
   The picture being black and white shows no emotion or feeling which is what the Nazis were like.
5. Discuss the use of line in this image. What effect does it have?
   In this image, the use of line is very important. Only straight lines are used except for the circle around the Nazi Symbol on the signs. Every other line is straight or had a straight vector intended. The straight lines show the precise and orderly nature of the Nazis and symbolises the serious nature of them.

Response to the Holocaust poem

You played, you cried
You were loved and now remembered.
You were ripped from the arms of your
loved ones and thrown into a living nightmare.
You were nothing more than children.
You were going to fit into society to be firemen, husbands, mothers, doctors. You had dreams, then had nothing. We remember those who were lost for they were the victims of an inhumane campaign,and for those that sustain we remain sorrow from today to tomorrow. This atrocity to mankind can not happen again. 

Chapter 3: The Hopeless Case

Describe how Bruno and Gretel's relationship is introduced in the chapter.
Bruno and Gretel's relationship is introduced as the typical older sibling likes to be in charge and is always right. Gretel likes to be in charge of Bruno and uses her age as the key argument for it. They can get along but they pretend to not like each other. 

List quotes that show how the new house is described.
"I heard father say that whoever lived here at Out-With before lost their job very quickly" - people move a lot
"knocked over by Maria storming out of it holding something that closely resembles a dead mouse" - old house
"You didn't bring all your dolls surely?" - big room to fit all the dolls, "all" suggests there's a lot

"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" - unstable, old house

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 the house is old, frail, easy to hear from different rooms and might be useful to Bruno later in the book. Depriving, cold, The relationship f the family is not too stable.
THE HOUSE IS A SYMBOL

What is Bruno's reaction to the new house?
Bruno doesn't like the new house and he wants to move back the next day.

How does it compare to their old house?
The comparison from this to his old house is that he likes his old house and it was full of adventure and he could do a lot more, he had 3 best friends and could see the whole of Berlin from his house.

How does Gretel relate to her father?
Gretel relates to her father by agreeing with everything he says and just passing on what he says to Bruno. She thinks very highly of her, orderly, she likes to have power. Father - Maria. Gretel - Bruno. 

Does Bruno understand where they are? What makes you believe this?
I don't think Bruno understands where he is because he doesn't know what the "children" are and he doesn't understand why his fathers job is so important.

Does Gretel understand where they are? Explain.
I also don't think Gretel knows where they are but I think she would have a better guess then Bruno because she is older and would understand the situation around Germany better. 

How is Bruno's description of 'Out-with' represent a motif? What is darkly ironic about this?
Whats ironic about Bruno's description of 'Out-with' is that his understanding of the word is right but he doesn't fully understand it.

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 seeing through the window is that he's interested in watching the people and he doesn't understand why they're there or if its good or bad. Gretel's reaction to looking through the window is different because she looks at how Bruno is looking at them and feel scared to look because she's getting a better idea of where they might be and she realises its not a happy place.

Holocaust Poetry

What is your initial reaction to this poem?
My initial reaction to this poem was empathy for all the innocent children that wouldn't of known what was going on and i also really thought about the holocaust like i hadn't before. I actually thought about all the children and adults that did have their futures in front of them that were lost because they were treated like animals and forced into areas that were isolated. 

Evokes emotion
Compassion
Powerful

How does the author use 'we' in this poem?
The author uses 'we' like she was there and she was one of the children that was taken away and put into a camp.

More powerful
Personal
Repetition of we to signify the WHOLE group of people 

What are the verbs used in the first sentence?
Played and Laughed

Loved

What are the verbs used in the second sentence? How do they contrast with those used in the first sentence?
Ripped and Thrown, they contrast with played and laughed because they are total differences and it shows the turn in their lives. Use of juxtaposition

What effect does the listing of 'lawyers, rabbis, wives, teachers, mothers'? What is it meant to signify?
By listening that variety of different jobs and occupations, it shows that all types of people were thrown in there, every day people that we wouldn't interact with were put in there.

They wanted to contribute to society.
Common jobs

What simile is used in the poem and what effect does it have?

"We were taken away in the dead of night like cattle in cars" The effect this has on the poem is that they were treated like animals and just taken away without feeling, its just inhumane.

How has the poet represented herself in the last sentence?
In the last sentence, the poet has represented herself as a victim because her life was taken away for no reason.

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 met someone that was a victim of the Holocaust i would ask them what it was like, a deeper response than bad and inhumane. What they had to do, work wise, how much they got fed, and all those technical questions. I would also like to know if their views on life were changed, which i assume they would be. From reading this poem i don't take in a message for what i have to do in life, other than enjoy it while you can because it might change and you won't know why.

The Boy in the Striped PJ's - Chapter 2

• Using quotes, how is the new house described?

The new house is described as the exact opposite of their old home. It is describe as being alone and cold "the new house however stood all on its own in an empty desolate place and there were no other houses anywhere to be seen"

• How does it compare to the house in Berlin? How is this an example of juxtaposition?

This house compares to the house in Berlin by being the complete opposite. The house in Berlin was happy and big and had lots of people around it, but the new house Bruno says is cold and has a weird feeling about it. This is an example of juxtaposition because it shows the difference between Berlin being a happy place and the new house being next to a concentration camp to be cold and weary. 

• How is Bruno's reaction and discussion of the new house taken by the other characters? What is ironic about the way people treat Bruno's comments regarding the new house?

Bruno's reaction and discussions of the new house are taken lightly upon by other characters. He talks to Maria about how he feels and asks how she feels but she tells Bruno it is what it is and they have to do it for his Fathers job. Whats ironic about Bruno's comments towards the house is that everyone agrees with him, but they don't express that because they're not allowed to. Everyone has the same mind frame as Bruno but go along with the move because they know it will keep them safe.

• Do you feel empathetic towards Bruno's new home? Why/why not?
  Yes, i feel empathetic towards his new home because he doesn't have any neighbors or friends to pay with and hes in the middle of no where. As a kid all he would care about is playing with friends, but he can;t even do that.

Auschwitz 65 Years Later

This is an image of Auschwitz taken 65 years after the closing of the camp. Take a moment to look at this photo and consider that approximately 1 million people were killed at this camp (that would be 1 out of every four people living in Sydney).

There are some powerful visual techniques being used in this photo. Take 5 minutes to point out at least 5 aspects of the photo which stand out to you and how they relate to the great anguish that was experienced at this site (create a post on your blog with the photo - don't try to copy and paste photo it won't work).

• Consider the use of vectors, line, contrast, composition, colour, and perspective (there are more techniques) The wire is on the same angle and the same way as the house in the background. The colour is dull and quite unhappy. The contrast between the building and the snow, the building is dark and the snow is bright and that's the only contrast, there are no lively colours. Composition has taken place with the barbed wire in the front signifying the power of the Nazis. The wire points towards the guard tower and also there is barbed wire in all aspects of the photo. From the positioning of where the photos taken mean we are on the German side of the picture.
• How can the visual elements in the photo evoke empathy and reverence from a viewer?
  It can evoke empathy because there is no life or vibrant colours, it would be extremely boring and inhumane.
• How is Auschwitz represented in this photo?
  Auschwitz is represented as a dull, boring, harsh place to be with no interaction to anything fun.
• Find another photo of Auschwitz that you feel has an important representation of this place that caused so much pain and destruction. Analyse the use of visual techniques which make it particularly engaging. How does it represent this location?
  
  This photos is engaging because the low level shot and the wide view make us get the whole idea of the camp. the train tracks going into the camp are a use of vectors to get us to look straight at the camp. The symmetry of the building signifies the power/straight forward nature of the Germans. 

Boy in Striped PJ's - Chapter 1 Questions

• Describe Bruno's voice. Give examples to support.

I imagine Bruno's voice to be quiet, polite, well spoken and to the point.

• What characters are introduced? Describe each and give examples to support.

Bruno - Bruno is a polite innocent child - "he asked in as polite a tone as he could muster"
Maria - Maria is the maid that just does the house work - "maria shook her head and pointed towards the staircase behind him"
Bruno's Mother - Bruno's Mother seems like a woman that tries to do whats best for her kids and doesn't want them knowing anything about what Bruno's Father does. - "said mother, for she was a great believer in not playing favorites"
Bruno's Father - We're not told much about Bruno's Father but from what we ARE told is that he seems a bit mysterious and is doing a job that shouldn't be told to kids.
Gretel - We're not told much about Gretel either but from Bruno's thoughts, she also seems like she gets into trouble. - "if gretel was being sent away because she was a hopeless case"

• Who are presented as victims in this chapter and what are they victims of? Do you think that it is fair to consider them victims?

I think Bruno is a victim in this chapter because he was surprised with moving house, isn't being told what his father does as a job and has to abandon his friends. I don't think its fair to consider him as a victim because he means well and should of been told about the move advance to find Maria packing his stuff.

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

• How is the setting presented in this chapter?
  The setting in this chapter is quiet, suspenseful, nervous and worrying. we get Bruno's thoughts about how he doesn't want to move, but he also does want to, and his mother's movements and how they describe her movements. 

Donald Duck in 'Der Fueherer's Face'

1. How are the Germans (and Japanese) portrayed in the opening sequence? How is irony created?
   The Germans and Japanese are portrayed and big and the best and the others or weak, irony is created because that wasn't always the case as they don't look like it.
2. How is propaganda and the effect of propaganda portrayed with the introduction of Donald Duck?
   Propaganda is portrayed with the introduction on Donald Duck by having all the Nazi stuff around him, and example of this is his clock with no numbers only Nazi symbols.
3. How is irony continued into the breakfast scene?
   Irony is created into the breakfast scene is that they're not allowed coffee in the master race.
4. How is Naxi Germany portrayed in the opening shot at 3:30?
   Nazi Germany is portrayed as the greatest race on earth.
5. What is ironic about the song lyrics regarding work and what is happening in the scene?
   ...
6. What does the conveyor belt portray regarding the lifestyle of Germans?
   That they need a lot of bombs and they get people to sit there and make them.
7. Why do you think that there aren't actually any people that force Donald to work? We only see the ends of bayonets and a speaker.
   I think they only use bayonets to symbolise that they only associate themselves with people by danger.
8. What is ironic about the vacation?
   The irony about the vacation is that its only for about 10 seconds then he had to work again.
9. In the dream sequence, how are the Germans portrayed? Why?
   The Germans are protrayed as bombs to show their danger. they do this because they evil.
10. What do the pajamas when we see Donald in his bed tell us?
    That he loves America and is proud to be american.
11. What is the Statue of Liberty used to convey?
    The Statue of Liberty is used to convey his American pride.
12. How is Hilter portrayed at the end of the film? What is it about his face that is important?
    He is portrayed as a little cowardice man that couldn't lead a race.
13. Why is this a representation of propaganda? Why is it actually ironic considering the way the Nazi's are portrayed?
    This is a representation of propaganda because they are proud to be a Nazi and wish to express it, its ironic because its almost like they need to prove it to themselves.
14. Who are the villains, victims, and heroes?
    Villains - Nazis
    Victims - Donald duck
    Heroes - America/statue of liberty
15. How are the portrayed?They are portrayed as being the 'bad' people pushing Donald Duck around which also makes him the victim, but then at the end of the clip is shows Donald Duck with his American pride saving him from the dream.

Angle shots - part 10

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?
High angle shot - looking down on him, The German waiter has low angle to show the significance of Joshua looking up at him - she shows power.  
(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)
Eye level, Medium - Guido. Long shot/Establishing shot, symmetrical, geometric shapes, balanced - German waiter
(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.
The Germans shot was "perfect" and made to be symmetrical to show the Germans power. Then Guido's show was conjoint, and didnt show any form of power, it was on an angle. 
(5:02-05) How is the shot of the German's contrasted to that of Guido teaching the children to say 'Thank You'?
Medium shot, High angle, physical stance. Guidos with the kids. Germans by themselves and then Guido with the children to symbolise the same level or respect.