Writing Letters

Shmuel to his family back in Poland (if they were still alive) about his life in the camp and his best friend Bruno.


Dear Mother and Father,


I miss you two very much and I cannot wait to see you, Papa has been looking after me but I do not see him an awful lot. I try to work my hardest but when I become too tired I sit behind a pile of rubble and stare out across the other side of the fence. I miss the outside of that fence, and I want to see you again.
I do this almost everyday and I met a boy called 'Bruno'. I know strange name isn't it? He lives on the other side of the fence in a house called 'Out with'. He tells me about his old house back in Berlin and the coffe' shops and the fruit stalls and how you should never walk in Berlin on a Saturday otherwise you risk getting pushed from pillar to post.
I hope you are both okay. Although it is hard work I look forward to seeing my Friend Bruno everyday.
I'm very hungry as well and we don't get fed much, Bruno gave me some chicken the other day but a Lieutenant yelled at me and told me off saying that I 'stole it'. I don't like that Lieutenant much but I only ever see him around Bruno's house on the other side of the fence.
Love you very much,
Shmuel

Holocaust Art: "It Takes But One" by Elizabeth Denholm and Alyssa Dziurlaj

What visual techniques are employed in this painting? It shows to me that because the Jewish people are on the red side and there is a huge side it shows that the Jews are trying to make us remember what happened back then as it is so obvious in the picture. Also the darkness is seeping into the Jews and that they might be losing hope. Also it may show that the help and sympathy from one German can give hope and change the life of a Jew and the people in the background and this shows that they are all black and white and all part of the same group, they don't stop to help, stop to feel sympathy.
How do these visual techniques highlight major thematic elements of holocaust art and literature?

Child innocence, humanity, brutality of the Nazi's, fragility of human life, illusion, irony, juxtaposition.

Holocaust Poetry 3: 'Daniel' by Laura Crist

How is juxtaposition used in this poem to highlight an important theme of Holocaust literature?
It uses juxtaposition as it is such a nice lovely poem describing the love that the mother has for the boy and how great her life is with him and all of a sudden it ends with him being 'sheared and stripped for the gas chamber'. These are two exact opposites as one is nice and great and loving and one is brutal. Also it shows the time that she spent with this boy and how she grew to love him and look after him and know him and all of a sudden he is just suddenly gone and these are two exact opposites as well. 
How is descriptive language used to enhance the reader's reaction to the poem?
It makes the viewer feel an enormous amount of sympathy for the mother as it describes how innocent and cute this little boy is and all of a sudden his childhood is taken away from him by being gassed. It also shocks the reader and makes them think about how fragile life is and how something so happy can turn into something so dark in an instant. The child innocence is taken away in an instant and they cannot grow up as normal children now. It is Not only the loss of innocence is taken away but also the loss of humanity towards not only the Jews but also the Nazi's who were forced to fight and kill people.

Daniel
	Laura Crist

And the child held her hand
A child tiny for almost eight,
Deep blue eyes that dominated his face,
When he explained new events to her,
     that funny doggy,
     that pretty rock,
And the freckles on his cheek,
No one saw a sunrise more perfect,
     to her,
She so vividly smells the fragrance of
     his hair,
     his ears,
     his breath in the morning
She vividly hears that little heartbeat,
     that was hers
     always hers,
     and the laughter,
     that raspy little laugh,
     when he caught her in a conundrum.
All this,
But this is merely the surface,
As she watches her little God sheared,
     and stripped,
For the gas chamber.

Evaluating your Partner's Performance

Today in class we are going to listen to a discussion for 5-10 min on each chapter (11 + 12).

During the conversation you are to take notes on:
- participation
Very good participation, he asked questions and he also answered most of the question.


- what questions/answers they ask
 how is Bruno's innocence raised in the chapter? he shows interest in them but it is the wrong interest, he compares the two symbols of the different races. He wishes he could wear his fathers Swastika and this shows his ignorance and innocence.
Andrews Question :If superiority wasn't in chapter 12 what would it be like? 
Do you think Bruno feels sorry for Shmuel in the prison and if not why? The only reason Bruno comes back to Shmuel to see him is that Shmuel might have an interest to see him everyday and that he is his only friend.
The last thing Bruno wanted to do was upset Shmuel. How is this ironic? When Shmuel asks him for food Bruno talks about his own life which Shmuel doesn't have anymore and tells Shmuel why his life is so bad, like his house sucks and there's no friends whereas Shmuel doesn't have these things either.
Was Hitler a bad person taking into account the Americans and the nuclear attack on Nagasaki and Hiroshima? Started the question but did not finish as bell rang.


do they know what they are talking about
Andrew has definitely read in depth of what the two chapters were about as he asked a very hard hitting and in depth question and answered the questions with confidence.



overall what is your impression of their understanding of what is happening in the chapter
it is obvious to me that Andrew has read the two chapters and has a good depth of understanding of both.
Give your partner an HONEST score out of 10 (10 being the best).


8.5