Friday, November 16, 2007

BSP-DQ, part 2

6. When Bruno and his family boarded the train for Auschwitz, he noticed an over-crowded train headed in the same direction. How does he later make the connection between Shmuel and that train? How are both trains symbolic of each boy’s final journey?

7. Bruno issues a protest about leaving Berlin. His father responds, “Do you think that I would have made such a success of my life if I hadn’t learned when to argue and when to keep my mouth shut and follow orders?” (p. 49) What question might Bruno’s father ask at the end of the novel?

8. What does Gretel mean when she says, “Something about the way [Bruno] was watching made her feel suddenly nervous”? (p. 28) How does this statement foreshadow Bruno’s ultimate demise?

9. A pun is most often seen as humorous. But, in this novel the narrator uses dark or solemn puns like Out-With and Fury to convey certain meanings. Bruno is simply mispronouncing the real words, but the author is clearly asking the reader to consider a double meaning to these words. Discuss the use of this wordplay as a literary device. What is the narrator trying to convey to the reader? How do these words further communicate the horror of the situation?

10. When Bruno dresses in the filthy striped pajamas, he remembers something his grandmother once said. “You wear the right outfit and you feel like the person you’re pretending to be.” (p, 205) How is this true for Bruno? What about his father? What does this statement contribute to the overall meaning of the story?

11. Discuss the moral or message of the novel. What new insights and understandings does John Boyne want the reader to gain from reading this story?

12. Discuss the differences in a fable, an allegory, and a proverb. How might this story fit into each genre?

1 comment:

caboose said...

6. Shmuel crowded conditions at Auschwitz was the connection Bruno made of the train. Both boys were edgy when the crowd gathered, without knowing the danger that lay ahead of them.
7. Bruno father success in life was what he believed was the proper behavior of a man in uniform, follow directions and keeps your mouth shut. I do not think he would have learned one thing from finding his son dead body in a crowd of striped pajamas. Killing fields continue to excesses today in Darfur, with all the modern technology we still wait, watch and do nothing.
8. I think Bruno’s sister knew he was overly curious about the people on the other side of the fence. Looking without exploring was what made Gretel nervous.
9. I wish I could see a double meaning in these two words. I believe Hitler was a raging maniac who corrupted a society into believing he/they was superior. Out-with, the Jewish people, was the author’s way of creating a sick joke on what people in Germany may have viewed hard working, people who prospered and shared their wealth among themselves. Jealousy comes to mind here.

10. “You wear the right outfit and you feel like the person you’re pretending to be.” (p, 205)
How is this true for Bruno? He must feel worthless, and frightened in the pajamas what does this statement contribute to the overall meaning of the story? Don’t we all judge people by their dress code, in school, work and even at the check out stand in Wal mart? I wish I could say, no I do not judge people by their dress code but that would be a lie.

11. The moral of the story may be we all need to look closer at how effortless it is to sit back and do nothing.