Reflection (22/1-28/1)

This week we were focusing on the the novel the boy in striped pajamas. We did quite a lot of activities regarding the novel including a comic strip, understanding how writers use irony or discretely says something when the writer is saying something else and other activities.

This week I have learned quite a number of skills which include understanding literary rules such as irony, understood how to make a comic strip, be able to deduct what the writer is actually saying in a context and be able to deduce discreet information that make up a context. This week I am pleased to have learned quite a few skills but what I feel is that I must try must best to put my skills to use so that I will not have forgotten them.

To achieve my goal of making sure I am able to remember and use these skills in the future, I plan to read and see if I am able to deduce if the writer is discretely meaning something else and see if I am able to understand what the writer is actually saying when he/she means otherwise

Chapter 8 Comic Strip (27/1/12)

Maria's Letter Chapter 6 (17/1/12)

To my dear friend,

Hello, old friend, how’s life back in London? I really cannot believe it has been six years since our last meeting! How’s the kids and Harold? Hope they are fit, healthy and happy as you are.
If you are wondering, life as a maid is pretty tough, but in the this household, it’s a different story.

Where do I start? Well my boss is a kindly man, offering me adequate food, shelter and comfort. I really can’t complain much about the boss i work with. Do you remember my dear old mama? She used to be a dresser for the master mother, unfortunately mama fell ill, she needed medical care fortunately my master stepped in. He took care all the medical bills, just because my mother knew his mother! During my mother’s funeral, he again was very generous paying the funeral bill, I’m really grateful for everything he has done for me. To tops things off, he offered me this job as a maid in his household! Seriously, my dear friend I cannot believe the kindness of this man, and to imagine he has connections with the ruthless Hitler!

About my job, I stay with a family of four, master and has wife and their dear children Bruno and Gretel, those children are handfuls at times, but still I have to treat them with love and respect as they were my own. Gretel is like any other girl, she sometimes help me with her tasks. But the boy Bruno, he’s...let’s say a different case.

Bruno is a bright boy of nine, and on rare occasions have conservations together, Recently he did a act of kindness towards me, yelling at Gretel when she rudely ordered e to draw her a bath, Bruno like a knight in shining armour defended me saying that even though I was a maid, I’m not someone who just takes orders, I was also a human being, that little act of kindness, made me shed a few tears back in my quarters.

Master Bruno seems disappointed that we moved here, in my opinion this house is a monstrosity, living next to a Jew camp, it;s residents utterly oblivious to the suffering and torture just next door, I cannot believe the master can live in these conditions.

Master Bruno seems to be planning to run away, but I chided him saying that running away would be a foolish thing to do! Anyways, I hear Gretel and Bruno fighting over her dolls again, such handfuls.... Anyways, best of health and I hope a speedy reply from you soon!

Regards,
Maria

Analysing Character And Viewpoint (17/1/12)

Character	Quotation	Explanation
Bruno’s Father	‘They… seemed to be fighting with each other for father’s attention.’ ‘Father was not  usually the type of man to give anyone a hug’ ‘Father called him back for a moment	Bruno’s father is a powerful man, who leads and is respected by the other soldiers. His father was not a really affectionate person, as he would not show affection to his own son.
Bruno
Bruno’s Mother

heil hitler

As we continue reading the novel, we see more and more references to Nazi Germany.  We realise that Bruno’s father works for Adolf Hitler, whom Bruno knows as ‘the Fury’ (misunderstanding the German word for leader: Fuhrer).  He also mistakes Auschwitz for Out-With, and at the end of chapter five he assumes that the infamous ‘Heil Hitler’ salute is a friendly farewell.

Explain why Boyne uses these misunderstandings and mistakes in the story.  What is the viewpoint and effect that he is trying to create in portraying these controversial events?

Hints Of Danger (16/1/12)

Hints of Danger

In a pair, make notes on the following extract, showing which words and phrases hint at danger and how they achieve this.

‘Look over there,’ said Bruno, and Gretel followed the direction of the finger he was pointing and saw, emerging from a hut in the distance, a group of children huddled together and being shouted at by a group of soldiers. The more they were shouted at, the closer they huddled together, but then one of the soldiers lunged towards them and they separated and seemed to do what he wanted them to do all along, which was to stand in a single line. When they did, the soldiers all started to laugh and applaud them.

(page 37)

How does Boyne hint danger in this extract?

In this extract Boyne’s hints danger in the way he describes how the soldiers treats the children. In the quote: “group of children huddled together” it indicates that the children are trying to shy away from the wrath and the bullying of the soldiers, as children usually huddle together to escape a source of danger.

Next, in the statement: ‘The more they were shouted as, the closer they huddled together’ again this statement hints that the children were terrified and huddled together as children feel more safer in numbers to escape the “danger” which is the shouting of the solider.

Lastly, in the statement “one of the soldiers lunged towards them, and they separated’ This clearly shws that the children separated to escape the “danger” which was the soldiers lunging towards them.

Opening And Predictions (16/1/12)

Opening and Predictions: Building a Case

We are going to focus on John Boyne’s use of intrigue and mystery in his first two chapters. You will have noticed that he often only hints at certain details about Bruno’s changing situation, without saying outright what is happening.

Working with a partner, try to answer these three crucial questions:

1  Why have Bruno’s family suddenly moved house?

2  Who are the Fury and the beautiful blonde woman?

3  What does Father’s new job appear to be?

You’ll have to be a real reading detective, and focus on gathering hints and clues. Fill in your evidence, clues and conclusions below.

1 Why have Bruno’s family suddenly moved house?

Evidence and clues: It is because of Bruno’s father’s job

“Your father’s job” explained mother. You know how important it is don’t you”

“The man who employs him asks him to go somewhere because there is a special job that needs doing there”……………………..……………………………………………………

Page number: 3 and 4………………………………………………………………………………………….

Our conclusion: Bruno and his family are moving away from their house in Berlin due to the fact his father suddenly had a new job.………………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..............

2 Who are the Fury and the beautiful blonde woman?

Evidence and clues: The fury is Hilter’s men and the beautiful blonde woman is Hilter’s girlfriend Eva.

“The Fury had big things in mind for him”

“So many visitors to the house, men in fantastic uniforms (soldiers?)  woman with typewriters (military secretaries?)

“they were always polite to father and told each other that he was a man to watch……………………………..……………………………………………………

Page number: ………………………………………………………………………………………….

Our conclusion: …The Fury are Hitler’s men while the beautiful blonde woman that appeared sometimes was called Eva……………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..............

3 What does Father’s new job appear to be?

Evidence and clues: A very important rank in Hitler’s army

‘his father was a man to watch,and the Fury had big things in mind for him…………………..……………………………………………………

Page number: ……7…………………………………………………………………………………….

Our conclusion: …His father was a important rank in Hilter’ army……………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..............

From Oxford Rollercoasters