Objective Summary #2

The Secret Annexe, where
Anne Frank went into hiding
 with her family

In, "The Diary of a Young Girl," by Anne Frank, between the dates June 15, 1943, and March 14, 1944, Anne emphasizes the importance of family, friends, and true love in ones life. Anne and her family are Jews, who are hiding in the attic of an old business building from the Nazi's. Cut off from the outside world they face boredom, hunger, claustrophobia, and even death. Family becomes the main aspect of everyones life. Anne stresses how being enclosed in a tight corridor with your family makes one closer to them. She also argues the fact that when only family is present, she realizes how much she misses her friends. Anne informs us since there is nothing to do in Secret Annexe, she spends every minute with her family bonding. Anne addresses her romantic feelings towards Peter. She highlights how Peter, keeps her happy and hopeful for the future. Towards the end of the section, Anne starts focusing on how much she misses her old life and longs to be free again. She concludes by describing her desire for a girl to call her true friend.

Anne Frank portrait at age 13

Frank, Anne, Otto Frank, Mirjam Pressler, and Susan Massotty. The Diary of a Young Girl: The Definitive Edition. New York: Doubleday, 1995. Print.

Essential Question Blog Post

Topic: Holocaust

Essential Question: Should the Holocaust be remembered or forgotten?

Claim: The Holocaust should be remembered throughout societies in the world.

Execution of the Jews during the Holocaust

Reason: The human injustices committed during the Holocaust should be remembered so we can avoid them happening again in the future. During the Holocaust, many crimes were committed against innocent people. These human injustices were committed against many different groups and must be remembered. By remembering the Holocaust we can learn from our mistakes and prevent genocides from occurring in the future.

Objective Summary

Front cover of The Diary
of a Young Girl, which also
shows a picture of Anne Frank

In, "The Diary of a Young Girl," by Anne Frank, between the dates June 12, 1942, and June 13, 1943, Anne stresses that even though Hitler has created a mass genocide among the Jews, she is still hopeful for the future. The Jews live in fear of the Nazi's, which is the political party dictating power and committing crimes against Jews. Anne and the Jews basic rights are taken away. The author states how Hitler is forcing people to move into concentration and death camps. These actions made by Hitler does not weaken Anne's hope, but instead strengthens it. Once tensions rise in Germany, search parties are sent out to find families in hiding. Anne's fear increases but she does not lose sight of her bright future. She emphasizes the importance of family, friends, education, and freedom in one of her journal entries. She explains that finding a real friend is a treasure in life. Anne mentions how most days all she would do was daydream because there was nothing else to do. She informs the reader about her past life and the boys she obsessed with. Towards the end of the section, Anne starts noting her hopefulness of freedom again. She concludes by highlighting the fact that the German leader, Adolf Hitler, has started to mass exterminate the Jews in gas chambers. Anne stays true to her faith and does not give up hope.

Adolf Hitler the leader of Germany and Nazi Party

Frank, Anne, Otto Frank, Mirjam Pressler, and Susan Massotty. The Diary of a Young Girl: The Definitive Edition. New York: Doubleday, 1995. Print.

Results of our survey

Our survey shows that everyone knows at least a little about the holocaust. No one has family connections to the holocaust in our class. Most people thought the camps were most interesting to learn about. A quarter of survey takers have been to historical sites which is actually pretty surprising.  Everyone knew which ethnic groups were targeted which include jews, gypsies, homosexuals, the disables, and more. These results are somewhat surprising.

Survey- Holocaust

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PV2JKPM

Discussion Blog Post #3

Discuss how Bruno represents the Innocence of a child?

     Throughout the book, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Bruno's innocence stays a the same level until the very end of the story. Shortly after moving from Berlin to Out-With (Auschwitz), Bruno's innocence is seen through the misunderstanding of his father's job, reason for a new home and the people in the striped pajamas. Deeper into the book, Bruno befriends Shmuel, a Jewish boy who lives on the other side of the fence. Shmuel and Bruno's lives are completely opposite from one another. Shmuel and his family were forced out of their city, separated from their mother and sister, and shipped into the concentration camp "Out-With". At Out-With they are worked hard, treated unfair, and hated by the Nazi soldiers. Bruno's parents have sheltered him so much he has no idea who the people in the striped pajamas are. Shmuel and his family could not be sheltered because they were the ones affected. Towards the end of the novel, Bruno informs Shmuel that he is moving back to Berlin because his parents say Out-Wth is no place to raise children. Shmuel says, "So I won't see you again?' asked Shmuel. 'Well someday, yes,' said Bruno. 'You could come on a holiday to Berlin. You can't stay here for ever after all. Can you?' Shmuel shook his head. 'I suppose not,' he said sadly" (196). Bruno and his family moved to Out-With over a year ago and Bruno still has no idea that Shmuel cannot leave! After all this time watching from his bedroom window one would think he might know a little bit more about the other side!  Unfortunately no, Bruno still has no idea what really occurs on the other side of the fence. For example, he doesn't realize that all the people who fall while working on the job have just died. Bruno's parents hide him from reality because they are scared of what might come if he knew. They don't want him to turn out like grandmother did, on the Jewish side. Being children, people are still innocent and don't know the crimes of which occur everyday. Kid's aren't exposed to the real world until later on in life. Bruno, being the small and thoughtful boy he is, would be horrified if he knew about the Jews. He would maybe try to help them which might lead to more punishment and death for the Jews. He could even potentially put his family in danger if the Fury got mad. By having his parents sheltering him, Bruno is still the innocent boy not knowing right from wrong. Sadly, his "innocence" lead him to crawl under the fence which resulted in his death. If Bruno had not been sheltered by his parents, then this book would have had a much happier ending.

The Boy in Striped Pajamas- Blog #2

Discuss why Bruno decides not to share the news about his new friend with his family?

Shmuel on the Jewish side of the fence

Bruno on the Nazi side of the fence

Bruno's family is very bold and judgmental of people (including family). Anything Bruno says must be proper and correct or trouble will occur. Bruno's new friend, Shmuel, is jewish. The Germans HATE the Jews with a burning passion. Realizing that Shmuel is jewish, Bruno decides not to tell his family about him for many reasons. First, trouble will arise. Second, violence will occur. And third, sadness will then follow. When walking back to his house after meeting Shmuel, Bruno gets a strange feeling. One may ask why would he get a certain feeling? People could say that it so cliche that he get's that feeling. He got this feeling because he has learned from his mistakes and doesn't want to make another one. If he told his family, that would be a BIG mistake. "But the closer he got to his own house, the more he started to think that that might not be a good idea" (Boyne 133). Earlier in the book, Bruno gets consequences for things like interrupting and speaking out of place. Imagine how much trouble this would cause him. He is basically going against everything the Nazi's believe in. 

Bruno is a smart, curious, and an adventurous kid. He is clever enough to know that if he tells his family about Shmuel, nothing good will come from it.