Thursday, April 18, 2013
Monday, April 15, 2013
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Discussion Questions
- What did you think of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas? What did you particularly appreciate? How did your emotions change during the course of the story?
- If you have read John Boyne’s novel, how do the two compare? Do you think the changes are helpful or unhelpful? Why?
- Do you think Boyne was right to look at this subject from the perspective of a naïve young boy? How effective do you think this was in helping you to approach the subject?
- How did you feel about Bruno and his family when we first meet them in Berlin? To what extent did you struggle to identify with them because they are a Nazi family?
- What did you think of Bruno’s character? What did you like about him? What didn’t you like?
- To what extent could you understand Bruno’s adoration of his father, and his struggle to come to terms with what he was discovering?
- How did your feelings about Ralph (Bruno’s father) change during the film? Was there a turning point in your feelings? If so, when?
- Why do you think Ralph did what he did? How would he have justified it to himself and to others?
- What do you think drove Obersturmführer Kotler to be so cruel?
- Why does Gretel change? What impact does this have on Bruno?
- How would you describe Elsa? Were you surprised that Elsa (Bruno’s mother) was unaware of the true nature of the camp? How would you have responded to this situation if you had been in her position?
- ‘Elsa doesn’t think. She doesn’t think for herself, she doesn’t think deeply. She chooses to be oblivious, concerning herself only with the safety of her family and her position in society – everything else is beyond her periphery. She’s a sort of accomplice and assistant to her husband’s ideals, his desires, his morals and his ambitions.’ (Vera Farmiga)
To what extent do you think she is morally responsible for what happens? - How would you describe the friendship between Bruno and Schmuel? What makes it a good friendship?
- Why did Bruno betray Schmuel? Why was their friendship able to survive this?
- How do you think the family, and Ralph in particular, would be impacted by the final scenes of the film?
- How do the characters in The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas exemplify Hannah Arendt’s notion of ‘the banality of evil’, that evil arises out of the tendency of ordinary people to follow orders, to accept what they’re told by authorities, to conform to the prevailing opinion? How easily could such evil arise in our own society? What might lead to it? What could prevent it?
- To what extent is Bruno’s friendship with Schmuel like God’s love for human beings expressed in Jesus Christ’s incarnation? How is it different?
- In what sense is this a redemptive story?
- Does The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas fill you with despair or hope? Why?
- What would you identify as the most important messages from The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas?
Answer five questions of your choice. Due on 18 April.
Source: Tony Watkins
Current Events: India
Because our textbook is dated and not very detailed, you will be looking up some events that have occurred since the textbook's publication. To reduce the chance of duplicate events or getting just the most recent events, I have assigned you different years from which to find your "current" events.
2010
Megan, Caleb, Louise, Alexis, Ishyaka, Tanner
2011
Olivia, Malachi, Arnold, Rama, Hannah, Grace
2012
Wesley, Gwen, Alexander, Rodas, Martin, Anais
You must limit your events to those that are political, economic, or those that add to what is discussed in your textbook in Chapter 8, Section 1. Please print your article and attach a one-paragraph summary. This assignment is due Wednesday, 17 April.
10% will be deducted if you turn it in digitally (flash drive, Engrade, etc.).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)