Chapter 6

1. 
   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?
   It shows that Bruno is becoming empathetic, and this radical shift is that he realizes that Maria is just like him, she is no different to him but she is the same.
   
2. Compare how Bruno and Gretel treat Maria.
   Bruno is very kind to Maria, and Gretel is being extremely rude and snappy ordering her around like she is a slave and not a person who has feelings.
   
3. (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?
    'Just keep quite about it, Bruno. Don't you know how much trouble you could cause' is the advice she gives Bruno. She is trying to keep Bruno advice but what is ironic is that she is the maid, and she is giving him advice instead of vice versa. She is practically telling Bruno that if he keeps quiet than he will be safe.
   
   
4. (65-6) What is Bruno's reaction to his new thoughts/feelings? Why do you think that he reacts this way?
   
   He is suprised at the feeling. He felt as if he was going to cry, he caught Marias eye and got the impression that she was going to cry too. He reacted in this way as he didn't feel like he needed to cry but his emotions were taking over. 

Chapter 10: The Dot That Became a...

1. (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?
   It shows the progression of how Bruno see's these people, he first saw them as nothing but 'dots' from his window wondering who these people were and what they were doing, and then now after he's been talking and building a friendship with a Jew, he has relised that they're people, and now seeing Shmeul as a boy and not just a dot, among all the other dots. It is also a microcosm, using Bruno as a representation of the whole German empire, and Shmuel representing the Jews, showing that Germany at first only saw these people as 'dots', insignificant and not needed, but then they started to relise that the jews were people too. 
   
2. (109) What effect does the boys both having the same birthday have?
   The effect that came with the information that shmuel and bruno both had the same birthday was shock. It also allowed Bruno to relise that these people weren't so different, infact this person in particular even shared the same birthday.
   
   
3. (113-4) What do Bruno and Shmuel 'argue' about? Why does Bruno decide to stop the argument?
   Bruno and Shmuel were arguing about which of their home countries was greater. Bruno stated that Germany was the superior country as he over heard his father and grand father discussing it. and Shmuel quickly defended poland. Bruno relises that he doesn't actually believe what he was saying about Germany being the superior race, and has a sudden desire to change the topic.
   
4. (115) What does Bruno's last question reveal to Shmuel? What do you think Shmuel thinks of Bruno because of asking this question?
   "why are there so many people over the fence, and what are you doing there?" It reveals to shmuel that Bruno really also doesn't have a clue to whats happening, he's just a boy with a sense of adventure and exploration

Holocaust Poetry

1. What is your initial reaction to this poem?
   
   My initial reaction to this poem is empathy and a sense of reverence towards the children in that are being described in this poem.
   
2. How does the author use 'we' in this poem?
   
   The author of this poem uses we to signify that it wasn't just one person it was alot of people involved. It also adds to the emotion  that as it puts her in the picture, not just talking about other people.
   
3. What are the verbs used in the first sentence?
   
   Played, laughed, loved
   
4. What are the verbs used in the second sentence? How do they contrast with those used in the first sentence?
   
   It's the complete opposite. In the first sentence they were talking about happy emotions, where as the second sentence lets  you see the worse side of it.
5. What effect does the listing of 'lawyers, rabbis, wives, teachers, mothers'? What is it meant to signify?
   
   It signifies their dreams, and puts  a face onto what these people were like, they all had dreams too. 
   
6. 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, no air to breathe smothering, crying, starving, dying." It makes you realise how inhuman it all actually was.
   
7. How has the poet represented herself in the last sentence?
   
   She places herself as a victim and she leaves us off with a statement making us remember her.

Chapter 5

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 makes the father seem a bit mysterious, because he had done so much in the book so far, moving house, bringing the fury in, though we haven't really had a good description of him yet. As well as a mysterious feel, if it wasn't for him then Bruno wouldn't have had to move and none of the complications for Bruno wouldn't have happened
   
   
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?
   
   It shows that the mother thinks that the father is becoming to wrapped up in the whole Nazi regime, and she wants to go home.
   
   
3. How does Bruno's father speak to him? Give an example to support your answer.
   
   He speaks to him very basically trying to make sure that he doesn't lead Bruno's mind to wander down a path that he doesn't want him to.
   
   
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 is much more direct and to the point, he says exactly what he sees. Whereas his father speaks like a politician, he doesn't get to the point quickly and he likes to beat around the bush. He rationalizes what is going on and speaks around the truth and almost convinces himself that he is doing the right thing for the good of Germany. His ambition has clouded his judgement.
   
   
5. How does the father rationalize every concern that Bruno has?
   
   He rationalizes it to make sure that Bruno can understand it and not go asking questions
   
   
6. What is ironic about what the father says when he comes around the desk and talks to Bruno about his childhood?
   
   He says tho make the best out of a bad situation, like when his father said to him to do so. It is ironic because he is saying to do the right thing when he is working for the Nazi's and killing Jews
   
   
7. Do you think that the father really cares about Bruno? Why/why not?
   
   I think that Bruno's father does care about Bruno, I think that the only reason that he is Staying in Auschwitz is for Bruno and Bruno's future.
   
8. Do you think that Bruno understands what he is saying when he says 'Heil Hitler!'?
   
   No I don't think he does because he doesn't even know who Hitler is. And yet he is saying Heil Hitler.
   
   
9. How is juxtaposition used in Bruno's description of their boarding the train to Auschwitz?
   
   It is used because of the fact that there are two trains going the same way, Bruno's train has plenty of room whereas the other train is crowded.
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?
    Because he does not want to make his mother and Gretel angry. It is a good representation, of the greater German population because of the fact that none of the Germans want to enrage Hitler.

Chapter 4

2. (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 old house was big, and fun to be in, and had heaps of space. But when Bruno looks out the window to the Jew's houses/huts, they were only one story tall, and they weren't close together and they didn't look very friendly. In Berlin, Bruno had freedom, but here it feels like he was trapped behind the tall fence.
   
3. 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 narrator doesn't describe them very well, you don't know what they look like, what there wearing, why there there and if there actually Jew's or not. There's no description.
   
4. Summarise how Gretel describes what she sees.
   
   She sort of focuses on the land more than the people. She see's a table where she can read in the sun and flowers and makes you feel like that its not so bad. But then, when she looks past the fence, there's no grass, no flowers, and makes the reader feel dark and cold. she see's huts in the distance, and buildings and that there is a 'sand like substance'.
   
5. What does Gretel attempt to do when she sees the Concentration Camp? How does she attempt to understand what she sees?
   She squeezes her lips and squints her eyes to make her brain work better.
   
6. 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 almost convinces Bruno that it is the country side, that there are farms out here and this could be there holiday house. But then Bruno starts to ask questions about if this was a farm, where were the animals, where were the plants, the food and that the land isn't good enough to be growing crops. She gives into Bruno's statements that she is wrong and she agree's with him.
   
7. 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?
   
   They can't shout at them or push them around, they don't have to wear those PJ's and they don't have to carry spades and shovels. It separates the groups like a hierarchy, the adults are at the top, Bruno and Gretel are in the middle, and at the bottom are the boys and men in the PJ's
   
8. How does the author use understatement through the children's description of the Concentration Camp?
   
   He shows that the children don't really know what's going on, it sort of lets the reader know that this could be a concentration camp, but your not really sure until Bruno see's the PJ's

Chapter 3

1. Describe how Bruno and Gretel's relationship is introduced in the chapter. 
   Bruno and Gretel's relationship is introduced by the narrator describing how Bruno feels about his sister and how he is secretly scared of her. Gretel's feelings is that Bruno is annoying and whiny.
   
2. List quotes that show how the new house is described. 
   It was very cold and lonesome and hollow and he decided that he better not go jumping around the house too often or it might collapse. 
3. What is Bruno's reaction to the new house? 
   Bruno's reaction to the old house is that he still doesn't like the house very much, and he would stay here for a few weeks and then leave without a fuss.
   
4. How does it compare to their old house? 
   It is very small and not very interesting whereas the old house had places to hide and explore with a lot of people outside and there was always something to do.
   
5. How does Gretel relate to her father?
   Gretel relates to her father by controlling her brother and talking to Bruno in the same way that her father does.
   
6. Does Bruno understand where they are? What makes you believe this? 
   He doesn't know where they is because he doesnt understand what his father does, why they had to move and what the children outside the house were wearing and why they were wearing it.
   
7. Does Gretel understand where they are? Explain. 
   Gretel does understand where they are but doesn't know what the children are doing there. She knows who her father works for but I don't think she understands the seriousness of it.
   
8. How is Bruno's description of 'Out-with' represent a motif? What is darkly ironic about this?
   Bruno's description of 'Out-with' represents a motif as he described and says what he thinks about the house which is written about throughout the book and is darkly ironic because he does not like the house compared to his old one and everything about him makes him nervous which is exactly like what Auschwitz would feel like when the concentration camp was there.
   
9. 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 completely different to Gretel's reaction to 'the children' as Bruno is curious and does not know much about the children whereas Gretel is frightened and worried at the though of children being out in the landscape. This tells us that Bruno's perception and understanding is one of innocence and has no real idea why they would be there whereas Gretel appears to have knowledge about the children which takes away her innocence on the matter.

Responding to a Poem

Holocaust
by Barbara Sonek

I read, I heard,
I felt your pain.
I see you for who you are, and what you've become,
your innocent life ruined by the worlds problems of your time you were nothing more than a child. 
History tells us of your misfortune, the price you payed for an innocent life disicion made for you by your generation before you. The dreams that were taken from you, the life you could of lived if it was so injustly ripped away from you. 
We will remeber you. You the children of the past, the children unjustly accused for a basic life decision of faith. 
We will remeber you.

The Boy in the Striped PJ's - Chapter 2

• Using quotes, how is the new house described?
  
  The house is described as being small, and boring, "the exact opposite of the other house". Bruno dislikes the house and feels less secure here as he did at his old house.
  

• How does it compare to the house in Berlin? How is this an example of juxtaposition?
  
  The house in Berlin was large and Bruno felt free there, a place were he could be himself, where as the new house is smaller and boring. It is an example of juxtaposition as Bruno compares the two houses differences and similarities in his mind, to pick out which one he likes better.
  

• 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 doesn't like the new house. He expresses this to the other characters in the book but is rejected. The irony in this is that the other characters feel the same way but they don't/can't speak up about their opinions.
  

• Do you feel empathetic towards Bruno's new home? Why/why not?
  
  In a way I do feel empathetic towards Bruno as he has been forced to move out of his home were he felt safe and comfortable to move to a place fall of death and despair 

• Consider the use of vectors, line, contrast, composition, colour, and perspective (there are more techniques)
  
  This picture uses a contrast of black and whit colours, the sky is full of white and blue to be seen to even let in a tiny bit of the sun. The snow all around the camp is showing that it would of been freezing cold. The lines of the fence that are straight and almost as if it blends in with the other shapes that are straight and give the impression of structure and prison like.
  
• How can the visual elements in the photo evoke empathy and reverence from a viewer?
  
  In this photo you can almost visualize all the Jewish men and woman who were there. The vector of the fence that you can see traveling on, almost forever, as you never see the end of the fence line. This gives you a true feeling of empathy and deep respect for these people who had to deal with this in their lives. You can see that the all shapes  are ridged and structure. It was a place for murder and you can see this, this would of been torture for these innocent people.
  
• How is Auschwitz represented in this photo?
  
  It is represented in this photo as being a cold, heartless place, built for only torture, murder and despair.  
  
• 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?

Boy in Striped PJ's - Chapter 1

1.  Brunos voice is very demanding and fairly rude. ‘You take your hands off my things.’ Although he subcutaneously thought not to be rude or disrespectful
   
2. Gretel- Is Brunos sister, she seems to be more overpowering and you can see that she probably finds her brother annoying
   Maria- the maid, knows her place in the house and doesn't talk back to Bruno or his family. She's quite aswell.
   Lars-The butler you don't get told much about him
   Father- Brunos father is a busy man and doesn't have alot of time for Bruno
   Bruno- Young, curiosity gets the better of him, behaves, is liked most in the famiy
   Mum- kind, red hair, seems to cry alot cries a lot,
   
3. The victims could be seen as being Brunos family as they have to do and go where their fathers' job takes him. 
4. Irony is used as Bruno has no clue what his father really does.
5. The setting is presented with Brunos home. The Author describes everywere he goes and in turn describes the actual house aswell

Donald Duck in 'Der Fueherer's Face'

How are the Germans (and Japanese) portrayed in the opening sequence? How is irony created?

They are potrayed as believing they are superior, irony is created by the reality of it being that they are not superior

How is propaganda and the effect of propaganda portrayed with the introduction of Donald Duck?

He's surrounded by nazi objects.

How is irony continued into the breakfast scene?

Nazis are going on about how they are great but they have no food.

How is Nazi Germany portrayed in the opening shot at 3:30?

They are potrayed as being a dark, and cruel, almost a hellish place.

What is ironic about the song lyrics regarding work and what is happening in the scene?

Their playing happy music, but the work was very boring and hard.

What does the conveyor belt portray regarding the lifestyle of Germans?

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.

It doesn't show the people because it is to signify that 

What is ironic about the vacation?

It is ironic becsause it is just a 30 second break

In the dream sequence, how are the Germans portrayed? Why?

They are portrayed as being all about war.

What do the pajamas when we see Donald in his bed tell us?

The pyjamas tell us that he's a proud american citizen

What is the Statue of Liberty used to convey?

Freedom

How is Hilter portrayed at the end of the film? What is it about his face that is important?

He looks really funny, there is nothing flattering about him, and he doesn't look anything like he says that the Superior race is.

Why is this a representation of propaganda? Why is it actually ironic considering the way the Nazi's are portrayed?

Who are the villains, victims, and heroes?

The Nazis, Donald duck, and America in a whole

How are the portrayed?

They are portrayed as being very forceful, being represented with weapons of war

What can you conclude about how these characters are portrayed knowing that this was produced in 1943 USA? (write a short essay including a discussion of the director's use of film techniques.)