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. 

The Boy in Striped Pajamas Discussion Question Response

Discuss why Bruno does not know about the people in the striped pajamas on the other side of the fence.

Bruno and Gretel's parents are extra cautious about what their kids know about. They are overprotective and isolate him from the world. Bruno and Gretel have just moved into Out-With. Now this house isn't particularly everyones favorite place to live. Their new home is placed right next to Out-With concentration camp. Bruno and Gretel can see a fence between them and the people in striped pajamas. They have no idea why there are people on the other side! His father also wears a Swastika on his arm along with all the other soldiers. Also,his father travels on the other side of the fence often. Many times he see's people on the other side fall to the ground, and being carried away. He has enough information to make out the truth, but he is to young to do so.

He questions his parents often about who the people in the striped pajamas are. His parents will never give him a detailed enough response. They never actually answer his question, always avoiding it somehow. An example of this is when Bruno is having a meeting with his father.  He brings up the people on the other side of the fence and once again... he doesn't answer his question. "Ah those people, they're not people at all Bruno... well at least not as we understand t'he term, but you shouldn't be worrying about them right now. They're nothing to do with you. You have nothing whatsoever in common with them. Just settle into your home and be good" (Boyne 53). Bruno's parents always give him a reply that doesn't address the topic. They leave out all the parts about the people in striped pajamas. Maria and Pavel never say anything either! Some adult should tell him what's going on cause he might go to far.  Bruno's parents should tell him and his sister Gretel, to avoid any harm.