The Boy In the Striped Pajamas
John Boyne
Historical References: Explain at least 3 references to REAL Events in your novel. Use the novel to cite specific text examples as evidence for these references. Include the page number if possible and remember quotation marks.
Response: In this book one real event in the holocaust was gas chambers. In the last few chapters Shmule and Bruno had been planing to meet inside the fence. Once inside the fence the boys are told to go on a march that takes them to the gas chambers where they are killed. Another real event in book is undernourishment. Since Shmule is the concentration camp they give him VERY little food and in chapter 12 Bruno bring Shmule some bread and he is so hungry that he devours it in seconds. Last, are the guards in the concentration camp. In this book the Nazis guards think of Jewish people as dirt and in WW2 they killed nearly 3 million people without a hint of guilt. It is sad but true that the absolutely hated there prisoners.
WHO ARE THE MAIN CHARACTERS? GIVE AN IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION OF EACH OF THE CHARACTERS, INCLUDE PERSONALITY TRAITS, QUALITIES, AND OTHER SPECIFIC DETAILS OF THE CHARACTERS
Response: The main characters in this book are Bruno and Shmule. Bruno is the son of Nazis, high in Hitlers rank, his father has never told what he is so Bruno is clueless to his fathers work. At the beginning of the story Bruno lives in 5 story house in Berlin with many servants. His father is told that he is to be a commander a concentration camp by the "Fury" (Hitler). He is forced to move to a 3 story house with a 30 foot high fence around it. He is very adventurous and loves to explore new things. He also has A LOT of energy. Shmule on the other hand is very humble. In one chapter he is brought to Bruno house and Bruno offers him food but he refuses until Bruno forces it in his hand. He is also very quiet. Sometimes when he meets Bruno at the fence he don't even talk he just and looks at the ground and listens to Bruno talk.
What is your opinion of the book? Would you recommend the book? Why or why not? Clarify your point of view with 3 or more reasons. Support your reasons with specific examples from the book
Response: My opinion is that this book is very good. I would recommend it because it is a very good example of friendship. Even though they only ever saw each other twice without a fence in between them Bruno thought Shmule was a better friend than any of his other old friends. For example, in the last chapter it says that he knew they wouldn't live but he felt he had lived a lifetime with Shmule as his friend. Bruno also would sneak food out of the house and take it to Shmule even though he knew he would get into ALOT of trouble if anyone found out. Last, Bruno and Shmule had the best kind of friendship-a caring one. No matter what the others problem was they did everything in there power to help each over. That is why everyone should read this book.
What is the main setting of the book (location and time period)?
Response: This book is set in WW2 at a concentration camp. The camp was under Nazis control and housed many Jewish people.
Explain some of the major problems the main character faced and how they were resolved?
Response: The major problem faced Bruno and Shmule is that they want to be together but they couldn't because Shmule was concentration camp inmate. In the end of the book the sad resolution that they both die together in the gas chambers.
Quotable Quotes: Find at least 3 memorable quotes that impacted you. Remember to use quotation marks!
Response: "Sitting around being miserable isn't going to make you happier." -Bruno "Were not supposed to be friends , were supposed to enemys." -Bruno "Its funny how grown ups cant make there minds up about what they want to do." -Bruno