1. How do we know Bruno s family is rich? The Boy in the Striped Pajamas Chapter Questions - Chapter 1 & 2 2. What is Maria (the maid) doing as the story beging? 3. How does his mother look on this occasion? How does she feel about leaving the house in Berlin? 4. Why does the family have to move? 5. Why does Bruno not want to leave? 6. How does Bruno feel about his sister?
7. What kind of person do you imagine Bruno s father to be? 8. Describe Bruno s house in Berlin. 9. Describe Bruno s new house. 10. What does Bruno think of this father s job? 11. Why doesn t Bruno understand the nature of his father s job? 12. How does Bruno feel about his new house? 13. Describe the young soldier in the hall. How do Bruno and Maria react to him?
Literary Device: Point of View The person telling the story. It can be arrated by a character in the book or by an author. Sometimes, even though the book is narrated by the author, it focuses on the thoughts and feelings of only one character. In this book, we see the actions through the eyes of only one of the characters in the story. 1. Who is telling the story? 2. On whose thoughts and feelings does the narration focus? Why do you think the author chose this point of view? Literary Element: Setting In literature, the setting is the time and place in which a story occurs. Setting is especially important in a historical novel such as this one. 1. What is the setting of this novel? 2. What details about the setting help make the characters times and lifestyles seem real? Social Studies Connection: Bruno talks about the Fury which is a mispronunciation of the Furhrer, the title given to the dictator Adolph Hitler. The beautiful blond woman Bruno refers to is Eva Braun. She was Hitler s companion, and later his wife. Writing Activity : Bruno s mother tells him to make the best of a bad situation. Tell about a time when you had to do this.
Chapter Questions - Chapter 3 5 1. Describe Gretel. 2. How does Gretel feel about the new house? 3. Why does Gretel hesitate before looking out Bruno s window? Where does Gretel think they are? 4. What is the name of their new house? 5. How are the children on the other side of the fence treated by the soldiers? 6. How does Gretel react to the children on the other side of the fence? 7. How were the two trains headed eastward from the station in Berlin different?
8. How does Bruno s father react to his son s desire to go home? Literary Deceives: 1. Simile figure of speech in which 2 unlike objects are compared using the words like or as. For Example: As the [Nazi soldiers] left they stood in a row together like toy soldiers... What is being compared? What does the comparison suggest about the Nazi soldiers? 2. Flashback A flashback is a scene or series of scenes showing events that happened at an earlier time. Indicate where the flashback begins and ends in chapter 5. What purpose does the flashback serve?
Social Studies Connection: Bruno s father has taught him how to do the Hitler salute, adapted by the Nazi party as a sign of loyalty to its leader, Adolph Hitler. The salute is performed by extending the right arm in the air with a straightened hand and is accompanied by the exclamation Heil Hitler! said in a firm and usually loud voice. The salute gesture is widely believed to be based on an ancient Roman custom. This was further elaborated upon in popular culture during the late 19th and early 20th centuries in plays and films that portrayed the salute as an ancient Roman custom. By autumn 1923, some members of the Nazi Party were using the rigid, outstretched right arm salute to greet Hitler, who responded by raising his own right hand crooked back at the elbow, palm opened upwards, in a gesture of acceptance.[23] In 1926, the Heil Hitler salute was made compulsory. It functioned as a display of commitment to the Party and a declaration of principle to the outside world. Yet the drive to gain acceptance did not go unchallenged. Writing Activity: Describe a time when you had a disagreement with your parents. What was the disagreement about? How was it resolved?
Chapter Questions - Chapter 6 & 7 1. How does Maria react when Bruno calls his father stupid? 2. Why is Maria grateful to the Commandant? 3. How do Bruno and Gretel treat their father differently? 4. What causes both Bruno and Gretel to feel uncomfortable with Lieutenant Kolter? 5. What does Bruno do to entertain himself? 6. How does Pavel help Bruno after his accident? What makes Bruno so surprised? Why? 7. Describe Lieutenant Kolter. What is Bruno s opinion? How does Gretel act around him? How does he treat Bruno?
Literary Deceives: Dramatic Irony- a device used more often in plays than in fiction, refers to a time when one character is ignorant of something that the other characters and the reader understand. What examples of dramatic irony can you find in Bruno s encounter with Pavel? Metaphor- A metaphor is a figure of speech in which a comparison between two unlike objects. It is when you portray a person, place, thing, or an action as being something else, even though it is not actually that. Examples: Black Sheep of the Family, Boiling Mad, Rollercoaster of Emotion) If you ask me [Bruno], we are all in the same boat. And its leaking. What is being compared? What does Bruno mean when he makes this comparison? Simile What is being compared in the following simile? The noise of a door slamming came from downstairs and reverberated through the house loudly like a gunshot that Bruno and Maria let out a small scream. Why is this appropriate comparison?
Literary Element: Direct and Indirect Characterization Characters in literature are revealed by what they say and do and by what others say about them. Direct Characterization- the method of character development in which the author simply tells what the character is like. (DIRECTLY WRITTEN IN TEXT) Indirect Characterization - the process by which the personality of a fictitious character is revealed through the character's speech, actions, appearance, etc. (SHOWN BY WHAT THE CHARACTERS SAY & DO) In the chart below, list important information you have learned about some if the characters in the book. Continue to fill out the chart as we read. You may add characters to the chart. Character Physical Appearance Direct Characterization Indirect Characterization Bruno Gretel Bruno s Mother Bruno s Father Lieutenant Kotler Shumel
Writing Activity: Retell the events in one of these chapters focusing on a character s thoughts and feelings other than Bruno s. Tell it from another character s point of view.
Chapter Questions - Chapter 8-10 1. Describe Bruno s Grandparents. 2. Why did the last play Bruno and Gretel performed with Grandmother end in disaster? 3. Why was Grandmother unimpressed with her son s new uniform? 4. Why does Herr Liszt dislike storybooks? 5. Why does Bruno decide to explore to find more about the people in the striped pajamas? 6. Why does Bruno think that Shumel s face is strange? 7. When Bruno states that he and Shumel are like twins, why does Shumel reply, A little bit?
Literary Deceives: 1. Flashback What is the purpose of the flashback in Chapter Eight? 2. Metaphor What is being compared in the following metaphor? I [Grandmother] was merely the blank wall to whom you [Grandfather] addressed your words. What does this reveal about the relationship between Bruno s grandparents? 3. Dramatic Irony What is ironic about Bruno thinking it is unfair that Shmuel has many friends while he has none? Literary Element: Conflict A conflict is a struggle between opposing forces. An external conflict is a character s struggle against an outside force, such as nature, society, or another person. An internal conflict is a personal struggle that takes place within a character s mind. Man V. Man Man V. Society Man V. Nature Man V. Himself
In the chart below, list the conflicts that have happened in the story so far. Indicate how some of these problems have been resolved,. As you continue the story, add to the chart. Describe Conflict Describe Resolution (if there was one) Man V. Man Man V. Society Man V. Nature Man V. Himself
Music Connection: Bruno s Grandmother likes to sing La Vie en Rose. Find a recording online [We did this in class as well]. How does your reaction to the song compare to that of Bruno? Literary Elements: Characterization: Although Bruno feels that Shmuel is like his twin, the boys are different in many ways. Using this Venn diagram, compare and contrast the two characters. Bruno (Different) (Similarities) Schumel (Different) Writing Activity: Bruno writes a letter to his grandmother. Imagine you are Grandmother and reply to this letter.
Chapter Questions - Chapter 11 13 1. How does Bruno s mother react when his father said the Fury was coming to dinner? 2. Describe the Fury & Eva. 3. Why did Bruno think the Fury was the rudest guest he had ever witnessed? 4. How did the blonde woman show consideration for the children? 5. How does Bruno reveal that he has no understanding of Shumel s situation? 6. Where did Shumel live before the camp? How did his life change before he was brought to camp? 7. Why doesn t Bruno tell his parents about Schumel?
8. Why isn t Bruno feeling quite so unhappy about his new life? 9. How do Bruno and Shumel disagree about soldiers? 10. Why does Bruno foresee that catastrophe is going to strike on the night Lieutenant Kotler comes to dinner? 11. Why is Lieutenant Kotler reluctant to talk about his father? How does this arouse the Commandant s suspicions? 12. How does Bruno come to the realization that he had better not disagree with anyone or anything about Out-With? Literary Deceives: 1. Flashback Why does the author use flashback in Chapter Eleven to show what happened when the Fury came to dinner? How would the effect have been different if this incident came at the very beginning of the book?
2. Symbolism A symbol is an object, person, or event that represents an idea or a set of ideas. What might the fence symbolize? What other objects in the book serve as symbols? Continue to record symbols as you read the book. Object/Person/Event What does it represent? Fence Beyone the Fence Pavel Lieutenant Kotler Gretel Bruno s Mother
Bruno s Father Grandmother Writing Activity: Write about a time when you or someone you know was faced with unfair treatment. Describe the incident and tell how you reacted.
Chapter Questions - Chapter 14-15 1. What does Bruno ask Shmuel every day? 2. Why does Bruno pretend that he has an imaginary friend? 3. How does talking about Shmuel to Gretel help Bruno understand his friend? 4. What signs reveal that Lieutenant Kotler is getting very close to Bruno s mother? 5. Why is Shmuel at Bruno s house? 6. How does Bruno inadvertently get Shmuel into trouble? 7. Why does Bruno fail to tell Lieutenant Kotler that he gave Shmuel that chicken?
Literary Element: Mood Mood is the overall atmosphere or feeling of a literary work. Happiness or sadness, terror or tranquility mood can be any strong feeling or emotion the author creates. Read the following passage: You will finish polishing all the glasses, said Lieutenant Kotler in a very quiet voice now, so quiet that Bruno almost couldn t hear him. It was as if all his anger had just changes into something else. Not quite the opposite, but something unexpected and dreadful. And then I will come to collect you and bring you back to camp, where we will have a discussion about what happenes to boys who steal. This is understood, yes? What is the mood set by this passage? Underline/Highlight the words that help create this mood
Literature Connection: Bruno is reading Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. The story is told in the first person by Jim Hawkins, whose mother kept the Admiral Benbow Inn, and who shared in the adventures from start to finish. An old sea dog comes to this peaceful inn one day, apparently intending to finish his life there. He hires Jim to keep a watch out for other sailors, but despite all precautions, he is hunted out and served with the black spot that means death. Jim and his mother barely escape death when Blind Pew, Black Dog, and other pirates descend on the inn in search of the sea dog s papers. Jim snatches up a packet of papers to square the sailor s debt, when they were forced to retreat from the inn. The packet contains a map showing the location of the pirate Flint s buried treasure, which Jim, Doctor Livesey, and Squire Trelawney determine to find. Fitting out a ship, they hire hands and set out on their adventure. Unfortunately, their crew includes one-legged Long John Silver, a pirate also in search of the treasure, and a number of his confederates. Jim, hidden in an apple barrel, overhears the plans of the crew to mutiny, and he warns his comrades. The battle between the pirates and Jim s party is an exciting and bloody one, taking place both on the island and aboard ship. Jim escapes from the ship, discovers the marooned sailor, Ben Gunn, who has already found and cached the treasure, and finally the victors get safely aboard the ship with the treasure. Do you think that this is a book Bruno would enjoy? Why do you think his father gave it to him to read? Writing Activity: Tell about a time that you failed to stand up for someone or someone failed to stand up for you. What happened? What were the consequences?
Chapter Questions - Chapter 16-18 1. Why is Bruno happier about his life at Out-With? 2. Why does Bruno have a hard time understanding Gretel s explination for the fence? 3. How does Bruno come to look like Shmuel? 4. How does the Commandmant become convinced that his wife should take the children back to Berlin? 5. Why is Shmuel particularly unhappy when he shows up at the fence after being absent for two days? 6. How does Bruno plan to get into the camp unnoticed? 7. Why does Bruno s plan to visit the camp seem very sensible to the two boys?
Literary Element: Author s Purpose A writers purpose may be to inform, entertain, or persuade the reader, or to express an idea. Sometimes the author has more than one purpose for writing a piece. What do you think is the author s main purpose in writing The Boy in the Striped Pajamas? Writing Activity: Imagine you are Bruno s mother. In a journal entry, tell why you have become increasingly unhappy with Out-With.
Chapter Questions - Chapter 19-20 1. How does the weather threaten Bruno s plan? 2. Why do the boys want to embrace when Bruno first appears on Shmuel s side of the fence? 3. How does the reality of the camp differ from the way Bruno imagined it? 4. Why doesn t Bruno leave when he sees what the camp really is like? 5. How is Brino prevented from going home? 6. How does Bruno come to hold Shmuel s hand in the airtight room?
7. How do the members of Bruno s family react to his disappearance? 8. How does the Commandant come to the horrible realization of what happened to his son? Literary Deceives: 1. Foreshadowing Foreshadowing refers to clues that they author gives to suggest events what will occur later in the book. What events foreshadow Bruno s fate? 2. Irony Verbal Irony is a contrast between what is said or written and what is really meant. For example: And that s the end of the story about Bruno and his family. Of course all this happened a long time ago and nothing like that could ever happen again. Not in this day and age. What is ironic about this passage? Why does the author end the novel this way?
Literary Element: Theme An author usually writes a story to communicate a general message about life and hoe people might behave. This message, or theme, can typically be stated in one sentence. A long literary work might have more than one theme. Make a list of important themes in this book. Concider what the book is saying about the following topics: Prejudice Courage Loyality vs. Betrayl Innocence Good vs. Evil Friendship Write a sentence about each topic
Name: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas -Whole-Group Activities-