The Boy In The Striped Pajamas
By John Boyne
Bruno, a nine year old boy, is living in the 1940's with his family when he moves from a spacious home in Berlin, Germany, to a small house next to Auschwitz. (Or Out-With, as Bruno thinks it's called.) His father is a Nazi with a close connection to the Führer, or Hitler. When Bruno is out exploring he meets a boy in 'striped pajamas' on the other side of the fence. He strikes a friendship with Shmuel, unknowing of the dangers that his new companion goes through each day, or why he can't come visit him on the other side.
Theme
The theme of 'The Boy In The Striped Pajamas' is innocence. Bruno does not know about the horrors of Auschwitz, or why the Jews are different. He doesn't know his father is a Nazi or why he can't communicate with the people on the other side of the fence. He thinks Shmuel is just a regular friend, which is why he goes under the fence to be with him...
History VS. Story
In the real Auschwitz, the prisoners also wore 'striped pajamas' as a way to show the Jews were not superior enough to wear real clothes.
In the real Auschwitz, it would be almost impossible for a person to get under the fence and infiltrate the camp because there was an electrical barbed wire fence surrounding it.
Works Cited
Book Used
Boyne, John. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas: A Fable. Oxford: David Fickling, 2006. Print.
Website Used
"Auschwitz-Birkenau - Home Page - History." Auschwitz-Birkenau - Home Page - History. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2014.
Pictures Used
http://www.filmeducation.org/theboyinthestripedpyjamas/images/stills/bruno_on_swing.jpg
http://s3.thcdn.com/productimg/0/600/600/33/10884833-1386943500-615613.jpg
http://en.auschwitz.org/m/index.php?option=com_ponygallery&func=watermark&id=710&Itemid=17