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)
• 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?
• Summarise how Gretel describes what she sees.
• What does Gretel attempt to do when she sees the Concentration Camp? How does she attempt to understand what she sees?
• 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)
• 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?
• How does the author use understatement through the children's description of the Concentration Camp?

Responding to a Poem

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. Construct a response to this poem using the same style and structure.


2. Be mindful of your perspective. Your poem should be from your perspective.


3. Utilise the same techniques employed by the authour.

Chapter 3: The Hopeless Case

1. Describe how Bruno and Gretel's relationship is introduced in the chapter.
2. List quotes that show how the new house is described.
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?
4. What is Bruno's reaction to the new house?
5. How does it compare to their old house?
6. How does Gretel relate to her father?
7. Does Bruno understand where they are? What makes you believe this?
8. Does Gretel understand where they are? Explain.
9. How is Bruno's description of 'Out-with' represent a motif? What is darkly ironic about this?
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?

Holocaust Poetry

Read the poem and answer the question below. Include both the questions and the poem in your blog post.

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?
2. How does the author use 'we' in this poem?
3. What are the verbs used in the first sentence?
4. What are the verbs used in the second sentence? How do they contrast with those used in the first sentence?
5. What effect does the listing of 'lawyers, rabbis, wives, teachers, mothers'? What is it meant to signify?
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?
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?

The Boy in the Striped PJ's - Chapter 2

• Using quotes, how is the new house described?

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

• 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?

• Do you feel empathetic towards Bruno's new home? Why/why not?

Boy in Striped PJ's - Chapter 1

Bruno's Voice, introduction of characters, and victims

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

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

• 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?

• 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?

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).

Key Visual Techniques

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)
• How can the visual elements in the photo evoke empathy and reverence from a viewer?
• How is Auschwitz represented in this photo?
• 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?