NAME: _______________________

HG: _______

‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’

The book is set in Poland in the 1930’s during World War II (The Holocaust).

The Holocaust

How do you know it?

What do you already know?

What do you want to find out?

‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’

Using computers, research the following questions on the holocaust.

1. When and what was the Holocaust?

2. How did the Germans define who was Jewish?

3. Why were the Jews singled out for extermination?

4. What is a death camp? How many were there? Where were they located?

5. What does the term ‘Final Solution’ mean and what is it origin? When did the ‘Final Solution’ actually begin?

6. How many Jews were murdered during the Holocaust?

7. How did World War II end?

‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’

Nazi Antisemitism

Intimidation a) What effect would the presence of stormtroopers outside shops have on customers?b) Why might non-Jewish shopkeepers have been pleased with this action?

Humiliation a) What do you notice about the way the Jews are dressed?b) What sorts of people usually clean city streets?c) What time of day would this form of degradation have had the most effect?d) Why might the Germans have taken this photo?e) What effect might this incident have had on the small children in the photo?

Ghettos

a) See the definition of 'ghetto' in the glossary. What problems might have arisen when large numbers of people, forced from their homes at a moment's notice, were crowded into these relatively small areas?b) Why did the Germans force the Jews into these ghettos?

c) If you were forced from your home and told to take only what you could carry, what would you take? What sorts of things would the Jews have in their bundles?d) What do you think happened to the Jews' former homes?e) How do you think you would feel if you had been sent to the ghetto, not knowing how long you were going to stay?f) It is 1943 and you have just heard the following details about the events in Warsaw: "The Germans had two reasons for moving Jews to the ghettos. At first they hoped the Jews might simply die off there by 'natural attrition', and later the ghettos were an easy way to collect Jews for deportation to the death camps." Write a letter to a major newspaper responding to this information.

The Final Solution

a) Why would these people have been executed in this manner?b) Why were they forced to undress? Consider the impact on women and young girls.c) What might have been done with their clothing?d) Why were the people forced to dig their own graves?

Mass Executions in Latvia

Campsa) What might the people be thinking, seeing their luggage having been left behind on the cattle trucks from which they have just disembarked?b) The able-bodied ones who were in this crowd were sent to work camps. What happened to the others?c) What chance do you think there was of escape from a camp like Auschwitz?d) What facilities were there for meals? for privacy? for possessions?e) Imagine that you are one of the inmates of a concentration camp. Write a personal account of your living conditions and meagre food rations in the camp. Recall your feelings during this traumatic time.

‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’

Journal

For each chapter you are required to write a journal. You must answer each question for each chapter.

1. Summarise the chapter. What are the main events that happened?

2. What new characters did we meet and what do we know about them? ORWhat did we learn about old characters?

3. Make some predictions about what might happen next.

‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’Chapter 1Bruno Makes a Discovery1. Chapter 1 describes Bruno’s house in Berlin. Highlight some of the key

words and phrases that create the image of his home. How does Bruno feel about his Berlin home?

Chapter 2The New House1. Chapter 2 describes Bruno’s new home. Highlight some of the key words

and phrases that create the image of his home. How does Bruno feel about his new home?

2. How does Bruno react when he looks out of the window in his new house? We aren’t told what it is he sees. What do you think it might be?

3. How do the other characters react to the move? Answer this question by filling in the table below.

Character Reaction EvidenceBruno’s mother She is angry and resentful for

having to move“We don’t have the luxury of thinking…some people make all the decisions for us.

Chapter 3The Hopeless Case1. Write down 3 things we learn about Gretel in this chapter.2. Why do you think the author shows Gretel arranging

dolls?3. What do the children decide is the reason for the name

‘Out-with’?4. The soldiers standing outside the house are described as

‘looking nervously up at the house.’ Why do you think they do this?

Chapter 4What They Saw Through the Window1. What did Bruno and Gretel see through the window? How does it make

them feel?2. What are some of their explanations for what they saw? How would you

explain it?3. How would you describe Bruno? Gretel? How are like alike and how are

they different?4. In the book, Bruno is nine and Gretel is twelve. Do you think their

responses are realistic?

5. Draw a picture of the view from Bruno’s window. Consider all his descriptions in chapter four, not just of the fence but in the rest of the yard. Also, consider how the different things in the yard make him feel. Can you use different colours or drawing styles to convey Bruno’s feelings?

Chapter 5Out Of Bounds At All Times And No Exceptions1. What do you think of Bruno’s father? How would you describe him?2. How does Bruno act in his father’s office? Does this surprise you?3. On page 53, Bruno finally asks his father about the people in the striped

pyjamas. His father says, “Those people…well, they’re not people at all, Bruno.” Why does he say this? What do you think Bruno thinks his father means? Does this change you feel about Bruno’s father?

Chapter 6The Overpaid Maid1. Make a list of all the things Maria has done for Bruno throughout his life.

How do you think Bruno has acted towards her up until now? Provide evidence for you answer.

2. In your own words, recount what Maria told Bruno about her past and that of her parents.

Chapter 7Her Mother Took Credit for Something that She Hadn’t Done1. Why does Mother not wish to discuss war?2. What does Bruno learn about Pavel? What does Pavel mean when he

says, ‘Just because a man glances up at the sky at night does not make him an astronomer?’ How does Bruno misunderstand the word ‘practice’?

3. What is the difference between Kotler’s ‘little man’ and Pavel’s ‘young man’?

4. Why do you think Mother says to the waiter who claimed to be a doctor, that if the Commandant asked, she would say she cleaned Bruno up? Is she right to do so? Explain.

Chapter 8Why Grandmother Stormed Out 1. How do Mother and Grandfather react to Bruno’s father’s new uniform and

his new title of Commandant? Why is Grandfather so proud?2. How is Grandmother’s reaction different? What does she mean when she

says to her son that he is dressing up like a puppet on a string without caring what it really means? What does it really mean? Why does she find both her husband and son foolish?

3. To what ‘terrible things’ does Grandmother allude? But why does father call his son a patriot?

Chapter 9Bruno Remembers that He Used to Enjoy Exploration1. What usual things went on at Out-With? Name at least five.2. What interests Herr Liszt most of all? What does he want Bruno to study?3. What occurred to Bruno after a few months at Out-With, and what does he

finally decide to do?4. What was Bruno’s mothers and fathers admonition (warning)? Why did he

try to forget it?

Chapter 10The Dot that Became a Speck that Became a Blob that Became aFigure that Became a Boy1. Describe the conversation the two boys have about their names. What is

the significance?2. What fact of significance do the two boys find out about each other? What

is the narrator suggesting by making this a fact in the story?3. What is revealed in the conversation about the difference in attitudes

between Shmuel’s mother and Bruno’s father?4. What other shocking information does Bruno learn?

Chapter 11The Fury1. What does Bruno feel about the Fury as the

evening begins and progresses? Why? What does the Fury do that he finds offensive?

2. Why does the Fury roar as Eva is talking to the children? What does that tell about him?

3. The Fury and Eva are virtually opposites. What would draw them together as a couple?

4. Put together the conversation between Father and Mother. How does she feel? How does he?

Chapter 12Shmuel Thinks of an Answer to Bruno’s Question1. What is the irony of the wearing of the armbands?2. How does Bruno identify with Shmuel’s story about his house.?3. What is Bruno most interested in? What is Shmuel? How does Bruno deal

with Shmuel? How does it demonstrate his further lack of understanding?4. What does Shmuel mean by ‘You’re on the wrong side of the fence?’ Is

he?5. What does Bruno propose to do?

Chapter 13The Bottle of Wine1. What do you think Maria tells Bruno about Pavel? Why do you think he

changed from being a doctor to a waiter?2. What does it show us about Shmuel and Bruno when Shmuel starts to

shiver after the conversation about Lieutenant Kotler and Bruno says, “What’s the matter? It’s not that cold is it? You should have brought a jumper, you know.”

3. Describe Pavel’s behaviour and appearance at the dinner. What does Bruno notice about him?

4. What does Lieutenant Kotler tell Bruno’s family about his father? Why is Bruno’s father so interested?

Chapter 14Bruno Tells a Perfectly Reasonable Lie1. Why does Bruno pretend to Gretel that Shmuel is an imaginary friend?2. What does Bruno tell Gretel about Shmuel and what does he realise as

he’s telling her?3. Write a letter form Bruno to his grandmother telling her all about Shmuel.

Chapter 15Something He Shouldn’t Have Done1. Make a list of all the reasons Bruno gives for disliking Lietenant Kotler.2. Why has Shmuel been brought to the house?3. What do Bruno and Shmuel notice when they compare hands?4. How does Bruno feel after he denies knowing Shmuel? Find evidence in

the text to support your ideas.

Chapter 16The Haircut1. Why does the family return to Berlin?2. How do we know that Gretel is becoming more aware of the reality of the

situation in Germany and at Out-With?3. What does Gretel find in her hair and what are the consequences of what

she finds?4. What does Shmuel say is the difference between him and Bruno now that

Bruno has had his hair shaved off?

Chapter 17Mother Gets Her Own Way1. Besides the argument with Bruno’s father, what evidence is there that

Bruno’s mother is unhappy?2. Why does Bruno’s father summon Bruno and Gretel to his office?3. How do the children react to the news? Find words or phrases to support

your ideas.4. How does Bruno’s father react when Bruno says, ‘There are hundreds of

children here’?

Chapter 18Thinking Up the Final Adventure1. When Shmuel’s father disappears, how do we know that Bruno still does

not understand what goes on at Out-With?2. What is each boy looking forward to about the plan?3. The last sentence of the chapter reads, ‘All in all, it seemed like a very

sensible plan and a good way to say goodbye.’ What do you think of the idea?

Chapter 19 What Happened the Next Day1. What is Bruno’s reaction when he sees the spare pair of pyjamas? Why

might this be seen as ironic?2. What does Shmuel mean when, looking at Bruno in the pyjamas, he

thinks, ‘It was almost…as if they were all exactly the same really’?3. Write or draw what Bruno imagined the camp would be like and what it is

really like? What does this show us about Bruno?

Chapter 20The Last Chapter1. Why does Bruno’s mother stay for several months more and why does she

then suddenly return to Berlin?2. What is Gretel’s reaction to Bruno’s disappearance? Does it surprise you?

Give reasons for your decisions.3. Why does Bruno’s father fall to the ground when he realises what probably

happened to Bruno? Do you have any sympathy for him when he works out that happened to his son?