The Boy in the Striped PajamasChapter 2 Before you read the chapter: Disappointment can be a most...

~ A Novel Study~

The Boy

in the

Striped

Pajamas

By John Boyne

A Novel Study Written By Nat Reed

2

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas By John Boyne

Table of Contents

Overall Expectations ……..……………………………………………………. 3

List of Skills ………………………………….………………………………… 4

Synopsis / Author Biography ……..…………………………………………... 5

Student Checklist ………………………………………………………………. 6

Reproducible Student Booklet …………………………………………………. 7

Answer Key ……………………………………………………………………. 55

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Overall Expectations

The students will:

- develop their skills in reading, writing, listening and oral communication

- use good literature as a vehicle for developing skills required by curriculum expectations:

reasoning and critical thinking, knowledge of language structure, vocabulary building, and

use of conventions

- become meaningfully engaged in the drama of literature through a variety of types of

questions and activities

- identify and describe elements of stories (i.e. plot, main idea, characters, setting)

- learn and review many skills in order to develop good reading habits

- provide clear answers to questions and well-constructed explanations

- organize and classify information to clarify thinking

- learn about the destructive nature of societal/racial prejudice

- relate events and feelings found in novels to their own lives and experiences

- appreciate the importance of family, friendship and loyalty in personal relationships

- appreciate that the growth of one’s character is more important than wealth or social status

- learn the importance of dealing with adversity and developing perseverance in the face of

adversity

- state their own interpretation of a written work, using evidence from the work and from

their own knowledge and experience

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List of Skills Vocabulary Development

1. Locating descriptive words / phrases 7. Use of singular / plural nouns

2. Listing synonyms & antonyms 8. Using content clues: analogies

3. Identifying / creating onomatopoeia 9. Identifying parts of speech

4. Use of capitals and punctuation 10. Determining alphabetical order

5. Identifying syllables 11. Identification of root words

6. Listing compound words 12. Identifying / creating alliteration

Setting Activities

1. Summarize the details of a setting

Plot Activities

1. Complete a time line of events

2. Identify conflict in the story

3. Identify cliffhangers

4. Identify the climax of a novel

Character Activities

1. Determine character traits 4. Relating personal experiences

2. Compare two characters

3. Understand concepts such as perseverance

Creative and Critical Thinking

1. Research 4. Conduct an interview

2. Write an editorial on an issue 5. Write a description of personal feelings

3. Write a letter to a friend

Art Activities

1. Design a cover for the novel

5


Synopsis

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is the unforgettable story of two boys: Bruno, the son of the Commandant of the infamous World War Two concentration camp, Auschwitz, and Shmuel, an inmate of the camp. Nine-year-old Bruno’s world is turned upside down when his family is uprooted and moved to far off “Out-With”, where he has no friends and must endure the insufferable Lieutenant Kotler. From his bedroom window, Bruno sees a fence near their house, and behind it are many people – all wearing striped pajamas. Bruno manages to become friends with a boy his own age, Shmuel, who lives on the other side of the fence, and wears peculiar striped pajamas all the time. Although their only contact is talking through the fence in a secluded area, the two boys soon become fast friends. Along the way Bruno meets an assortment of fascinating characters including Herr Liszt, his boring tutor, Pavel, the waiter who is also a medical doctor, and The Fury (Adolf Hitler) who comes to dinner. In the unforgettable conclusion, Bruno is told by his father that Bruno, his mother and sister will be returning to live in Berlin. He and Shmuel plan one last adventure in which Shmuel brings Bruno a pair of striped pajamas. Bruno sneaks into the camp to help Shmuel look for his father, who has disappeared, but both boys are swept up by the camp guards and perish.

Author Biography John Boyne

John Boyne was born on April 30, 1971 in Dublin, Ireland. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and studied Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia, where he was awarded the Curtis Brown prize. It was during this time that John’s writings first began to see publication.

John has written seven novels to date, as well as a number of short stories which have been published in various anthologies and broadcast on radio and television. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, which to date has sold more than 5 million copies worldwide, is a Number One New York Times Bestseller. This wonderful novel was also released as a movie in September 2008. His books have been published in 41 different languages.

Boyne continues to live and write in Dublin.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_College,_Dublin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_East_Anglia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boy_in_the_Striped_Pyjamas

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boy_in_the_Striped_Pyjamas

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Times_Bestseller

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Student Checklist

Student Name:

Assignment Grade / Level Comments

7

The Boy in the Striped

Pajamas

By John Boyne

Name:

8


Chapter 1

Before you read the chapter:

Moving to another town or city, or even to another home, can be a most difficult experience.

Describe from your own experience, or from your imagination, how it would feel to move to a

strange new place – as Bruno must do in this novel.

What might an advantage to moving to a new location?

Vocabulary:

Choose a word from the list to complete each sentence.

decent dismissively tartan banister presume

frustration hesitate protested chaos muster

1. Bert didn’t think he could the strength to finish the race.

2. My aunt showed her by stamping her foot angrily.

3. The situation was reduced to when the emperor entered the ballroom.

4. “It is so hard for the average person to earn a salary,” the reporter said.

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5. She didn’t even before answering the judge’s question.

6. For her birthday she received a skirt from her cousin, Sara.

7. My mother ordered the maid to go out into the foyer and polish the .

8. “Oh go peddle your papers,” she said .

9. There must have been more than a hundred people who the new law.

10. “Don’t just that the president is always right,” the commentator

suggested.

Questions

1. Bruno was told by his mother to treat the family’s maid, Maria, respectfully, and “not just

imitate the way Father spoke to her”. How must Bruno’s father have usually spoken to

Maria? What do you think this tells us about his father’s personality?

2. The setting of a story includes not only where but when the story takes place. What is the

setting of Chapter One?

3. In the first few chapters Bruno mentions a mysterious character called “the Fury”. In

Chapter One, what had the Fury done the week before?

b. In turns out that Bruno actually has misheard his parents when speaking of The Fury. What

his parents are saying is “The Führer”. Investigate who this character was and relate at least

two interesting facts about him.

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4. Who was Gretel, and why do you think Bruno referred to her as a “Hopeless Case”?

5. Why did the family have to move?

6. What (or who) was Bruno going to miss the most when he moved away?

7. In their home, what was “Out Of Bounds At All Times And No Exceptions”?

Language Activity

The author, John Boyle, enjoys using a variety of literary devices in this novel. One such

device is onomatopoeia. An example is “making whooshing sounds as he went”. Define

onomatopoeia, and use your imagination to think of another example of this device.

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Chapter 2


Disappointment can be a most distressing emotion to put up with. In Chapter 2 Bruno faces a great

disappointment and feels his parents have let him down. Describe a time in your life (or the life of

a friend) when you felt bitterly disappointed.

Vocabulary:

Many of the following words are from Chapter Two. Use the words in the box to complete the

following crossword puzzle.

1 2 3

4 5 6

7 8

9 10 11

12

13 14 15 16

17

18 19 20

21 22 23

24 25 26

27 28 29

30

31

32

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Down Across

1. The novel’s main character.

3. A man’s name.

5 Opposite of weakness.

6. A promissory note to someone.

8. Bruno’s name for The Feurer.

11 One of Bruno’s friends in Berlin.

12 A word in the novel’s title.

13. A city in Germany.

14. To pause.

15. A bright light.

16 Found at the beach in abundance.

19 Another of Bruno’s friends.

20 Often it is a test in one’s life.

22. Dreary; colorless.

25. Pork ___ beans.

26. Not outer.

28 No one has seen his good ___ yet.

2. In Chapter 2, Bruno moves to this

country.

4. A restraint.

7. Following.

9. Very large.

10. The blue above us.

15. Bruno’s nation of birth.

17 Bruno’s sister.

18 Put one’s feet up.

21 Remained.

23. Bruno’s family’s maid.

24. Hitler’s political party.

27 Utter confusion.

29 Someone from another country (or

planet).

30 Another of Bruno’s friends.

31. To ruin completely.

32 To see beforehand.

ENORMOUS MARIA ALIEN TRIAL GLARE NOEL SIDE

GRETEL NAZI HESITATE IOU DANIEL AND DRAB

STRIPED CHAOS STRENGTH PAJAMAS SAND BERLIN KARL

BRUNO SKY FURY AFTER POLAND MARTIN

REST DESTROY RESTRICTION GERMANY INNER FORESEEABLE

Questions

1. What was Bruno’s impression of his new home?

2. What had Bruno remembered about life in Berlin?

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3. What evidences are there that Bruno’s family was well off? (Try to find three proofs.)

4. How does Bruno’s father impress you thus far in the novel?

b) What hint is there in Bruno’s conversation with Maria about what his father does for a

living?

5. Read the last sentence in Chapter Two. This is something of a cliffhanger. What is a

cliffhanger, and why would an author use this device?

Language Activity

The author seems to enjoy using alliteration – a literary device where the author repeats the

same consonant sound at the beginning of several words in close succession. An example from

this chapter is: “for the foreseeable future”.

Using your imagination, create your own examples of alliteration from the following topics.

Each example must contain a minimum of three words.

The sound a snake makes in the grass –

The sob of a broken-hearted woman -

The cool night air in a graveyard –

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consonant

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Chapter 3


Consider one advantage and one disadvantage to having an older brother or sister.

Vocabulary:

In each of the following sets of words, underline the one word that does not belong. Then write a

sentence explaining why it does not fit.

1. protest complaint approval gripe

2. exasperation placation aggravation irritation

3. exploration investigation reconnaissance affiliation

4. affluent hesitate pause vacillate

5. stroll run amble saunter

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6. constant fixed permanent unstable

7. contentment torture anguish suffering

Questions

Cloze Call

Complete the following exercise filling in the correct words from the Word Box.

Berlin friendly unpleasant foreseeable Out-With

disappointment scared Martin situation Day

twelve three Louise nasty torture

month dolls

Bruno’s sister, Gretel, was often described as Trouble From ____ One. Gretel was

________ years older than Bruno. Although he didn’t like to admit it, Bruno was a little bit

__________ of her. Although she was only ______ years old, Gretel already had picked up

some ________ habits. She had a large collection of _____, and all of Gretel’s friends were

most __________. It was a constant __________ to Bruno that he was so short. Three of

Bruno’s friends were Karl, Daniel and _________. Three of Gretel’s friends, on the other hand,

were Hilda, Isobel and ________.

Bruno was most disappointed when they moved from _______, but at least now there was

no one around to ________ him. His mother suggested to Bruno that he make the best of a bad

_______________. Although Bruno thought they would be there for at least a _______, his

Father said they would be there for the __________ future. Their new home was called

_____________. Bruno surprised Gretel by saying that he didn’t find the children who lived

near their new home to look at all __________.

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Language Activities

A. Investigate:

The name of the place to which Bruno and Gretel have

moved is called “Out-With”.

Out-With is actually the name of the Concentration Camp

known to the world as “Auschwitz” – a very infamous

place from World War II.

Using resources from your school library or the Internet,

research three interesting facts about this notorious place.

B. Choose ten words from these chapters with two or more syllables. Indicate the syllables by

drawing a line between each syllable. Example: rain / coat.

C. A Letter Home

It must have been very difficult for Bruno to move away from all his friends – especially to a

place like Out-With. Imagine you are Bruno and write a letter home to either Karl, Daniel or

Martin, describing your new home and your feelings about the move. Your letter should be at

least a half-page in length and follow the proper format of a friendly letter.

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Chapters 4 - 5

Before you read the chapters:

Your children need your presence more than your presents. ~Jesse Jackson. Being a good parent is a most difficult responsibility. What do you feel are two very important attributes of an effective parent? Why do you feel these are important?

Vocabulary: Draw a straight line to connect the vocabulary word to its definition. Remember to use a straight

edge (like a ruler).

1. considerate a. prudent; reasonable

2. explanation b. acceptable

3. sensible c. regimen or training

4. conviction d. to praise

5. suitable e. thoughtful

6. lacquered f. scramble

7. discipline g. demanding

8. complement h. reason

9. clamber i. varnished

10. insistent j. belief or opinion

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Questions

1. What did Bruno and Gretel see outside the window?

b. What didn’t they see that was unusual?

2. What was Gretel’s explanation of the scene before them?

b. What two arguments did Bruno have to contradict Gretel’s suggestion?

3. What was extraordinary about the way all of the people were dressed?

4. Why do you think Bruno’s mother was so upset when Maria heard her say “We should

never have let the Fury come to dinner”?

5. In Chapter Five Bruno’s dad is referred to as “Commandant”. Investigate what the

responsibilities of a Commandant were at this time.

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Character Study

Bruno’s father seems like a most interesting man. In these two chapters we get to know him a little

bit better. One statement is particularly interesting: Father rarely became angry; he became quiet

and distant and always had his own way in the end anyway…

Describe what you were feeling when you read this statement about Bruno’s father.

List three things we know about Bruno’s father thus far (any information pertaining to the

man or his responsibilities).

1

2

3

Language Activity

The author loves to use expressions in this novel. Several common expressions are used in these

chapters. Put them in your own words.

Getting pushed from pillar to post

It’s neither here nor there anyway

I just put my best foot forward

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Chapter 6


Chapter Six has a rather unusual title – “The Overpaid Maid”. As it seems unlikely that Maria is

actually overpaid by Bruno’s family, predict why the author gave this chapter such a title.

Vocabulary: Choose a word from the list that means the same or nearly the same as the underlined word.

deliberate frenzy incredulous defensive irritable

response peckish concentrate campaign discard

1. Do you think that Jack will ditch his old baseball glove,

now that he has a new one?

2. Did Martin give you the correct answer?

3. I think his loss of balance was quite intentional.

4. My baby sister is usually cranky in the mornings.

5. I found that just before lunch I am usually famished.

6. The President began a deliberate movement to clear his

name.

7. Sandra was most protective of her reputation.

8. After being insulted, I thought she would fly into a

real fury.

9. Please focus on the important task at hand!

10. I could tell that Stanley was most doubtful about

the whole idea.

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Questions

1. Why do you think Bruno had such a long, interesting conversation with Maria in this

chapter, when he had never done so before?

2. Why do you think Maria weighed her responses to Bruno so carefully before

answering?

3. When Bruno asks Maria, “You can’t tell me that you’re happy we’ve moved here,

surely?” Maria answers, “I always enjoyed the garden in the house in Berlin.” What

strategy is Maria using here in answering Bruno’s question?

4. When Maria tells Bruno that it isn’t important what she thinks, Bruno disagrees. Who

do you think is correct? Defend your answer.

5. Describe how Maria came to be employed by the family as a maid.

6. Bruno is obviously very unhappy at Out-With. In the concluding paragraph he even

considers the idea of running away. What are Bruno’s realistic alternatives with regard

to this new situation?

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Language Activities

A. Place the following words from this chapter in alphabetical order.

some 1.

spidery 2.

sometimes 3.

silent 4.

stitching 5.

suspiciously 6.

stared 7.

surprised 8.

standing 9.

staying 10.

B. Bruno is certainly feeling badly about his circumstances in this chapter. Describe a similar

emotional experience in your own life. What happened and how did you feel?

C. Write the plural of the following nouns from this chapter. Careful – you may wish to consult a

dictionary for some of these words.

Singular Noun Plural Noun

decorator

self

man

memory

house

ivy

cry

person

family

life

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Chapter 7


There is an old expression which says “appearances can be deceiving”. What is meant by the

expression? Can you think of an example from your own life which supports this statement?

Vocabulary:

Solve the following word search puzzle using the words from the Word Box. Remember – the

words can be horizontal, vertical or diagonal. They may be forward or even backward!

Word Box:

dispute domestic diversion sensible hefty

escapade cologne exhaustion appalling simpered

Lieutenant astonish irritation install confident

Y T F E H Q W E R T I Y U I O

E L A S D F N O I S R E V I D

Z S I X C V B N M E R X Q N W

W E C E R T Y U I N I H I S T

A S D A U D F G H S T A E T N

P O I U P T T R E I A U W A E

E L K J H A E G G B T S F L D

T Z X C V B D N S L I T D L I

U P O I U Y I E A E O I T R F

P L K J H L G F D N N O W E N

S L H G L F D S A Z T N X C O

I Z X A C O L O G N E B N M C

D C P D O M E S T I C Y U I A

V P B N M H J D E R E P M I S

A S T O N I S H H G F D S A Z

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Questions

1. Why do you think it took Bruno “several weeks” after arriving at Out-With to decide

that he’d better start entertaining himself?

2. Bruno’s mother says, “War is not a fit subject for conversation.” Do you agree with her

viewpoint? Defend your answer.

3. What caused Bruno’s former neighbour, Franz, to act so strangely?

4. Describe the little joke that Lieutenant Kotler made when Bruno asked him for a tyre.

5. Think of four adjectives that you think would describe Lieutenant Kotler to someone

who had never met him.

6. Describe Bruno’s accident.

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7. Although Bruno is appalled that his mother is planning on taking credit for cleaning

Bruno up instead of Pavel, it is possible that she was wise in doing so. Why might this

be true?

8. Predict: Lieutenant Kotler calls Pavel a name several times that the author does not

share with the reader. What do you think this name might be?

9. Pavel reveals something about himself that Bruno finds truly astonishing. What is this

piece of information? How do you think this change in circumstances for Pavel came

about?

Language Activities

A. Comparing Kotler and Pavel

In this chapter we meet two rather interesting, but very different characters: Lieutenant Kotler and

Pavel, a servant in Bruno’s home. In the comparison framework below compare these two

individuals by selecting criteria you feel reveals the similarities and/or differences between these two

men. You may select items regarding their appearance and/or character.

Criteria Lieutenant Kotler Pavel

1.

2.

3.

4.

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B. Rewrite the following sentences putting in the correct capitalization and punctuation.

bruno found lieutenant kotler to be a most disagreeable man

why didn’t gretel go back to berlin with pavel

bruno martin karl and daniel attended visited paris at christmas

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Chapters 8 - 9


E.B. White, the author of Charlotte’s Web, once said, “Prejudice is a great time saver. You can

form opinions without having to get the facts”. Still, we often form our opinions of someone else

based on race, sex or social status (for instance, Bruno can hardly believe that their servant, Pavel,

is a medical doctor). When forming an opinion of someone else, upon what factors should we base

our respect (or lack of respect)?

In the upcoming chapter, Bruno is somewhat troubled by his fading memories of people he left

behind in Berlin. How can this feature of our memory be both a good and a bad thing?

http://thinkexist.com/quotation/prejudice_is_a_great_time_saver-you_can_form/204569.html

http://thinkexist.com/quotation/prejudice_is_a_great_time_saver-you_can_form/204569.html

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Vocabulary:

Write a sentence using the following words. Make sure that the meaning of the word is clear in

your sentence.

calculated –

coincide –

dominated –

devise –

retrieved –

evidence -

sinister -

rummaged -

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Questions

1. Who did Bruno miss the most? Why?

2. How did Bruno’s grandmother feel about being asked to sing at parties? How do you

know this?

3. Describe how Bruno’s grandmother felt about her son’s uniform and responsibilities.

4. When Bruno was listening to his grandmother it mentions that her speech was

“surprisingly slurred”. What might this indicate?

5. Bruno’s grandmother says to her daughter-in-law, “Handsome, did you say? You

foolish girl! Is that what you consider to be of importance in the world?” In your own

opinion, what are some things about a person which are more important than looks?

6. What things did Herr Liszt plan to emphasize in Bruno’s studies?

7. Why do you think Bruno’s parents had forbidden him from walking near the fence?

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Language Activities

A. We have already read about a number of important conflicts in this novel. Conflict is an

important element in a novel. There are generally three types of conflict: person against

person; person against self; and person against nature. Find three examples of conflict in

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, and tell which type of conflict each is.

1.

2.

3.

B. Investigate

In Chapter 8 it mentions the Fury (Hitler) bringing a beautiful blonde woman with him to dine

with Bruno’s parents. This woman was probably Hitler’s mistress, Eva Braun. Using

resources in your school library or the Internet, find out three interesting facts about Eva

Braun.

1.

2.

3.

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Chapter 10


We are now at approximately the half-way point in this novel. From what you know about the

main character, Bruno, thus far, list one thing that you like or admire about him, and one thing

about him that bothers you.

Vocabulary:

Choose a word from the list to complete each definition.

resolution recommend recent category hesitate

exaggerate calculate forlorn despair enormous

1. A person who is without hope is in .

2. Putting an item into a is to classify or group that item.

3. Something which is very large is .

4. To stretch the truth is to .

5. Someone who is lost and lonely has a look about him or her.

6. To is to estimate or evaluate.

7. To is to advise as an alternative.

8. A is a formal expression of one’s opinion.

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9. A event happened in the not-too-distant past.

10. To is to pause.

BONUS QUESTION: Bruno speaks about an item which seems real but then disappears into

nothingness. What is the name for such a thing?

________________

Questions

1. Describe how Bruno came across Shmuel.

2. What was unusual about their birthdates?

3. Describe your thoughts when you read the part where Bruno informs Shmuel that the

German people were superior.

4. Why did Bruno feel he had to pay more attention in geography class?

5. This chapter ends with a question. Predict how you think Shmuel will answer it.

33

Language Activities

A. INVESTIGATE: The star that Shmuel wears is called The Star of

David. Using resources in your school library or on the Internet, find

out who was required to wear this emblem during World War Two, and

why.

B. Chapter Ten introduces us to a very intriguing character – Shmuel. Although he and Bruno

seem to hit it off – discovering that they have things in common – they are also two very

different people. Compare four things about these two boys. Consider such things as physical

appearance, personality, age, talents, attitude, etc.

Bruno Shmuel

1

2

3

4

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Chapters 11 - 12


First impressions are often very important. Someone once said, “You never get a second chance to

make a good first impression”. In Chapter Eleven Bruno meets two very famous people for the

first time and forms very different opinions of them. Why do you think first impressions can be so

important in determining how we regard a person for the rest of our lives?

Vocabulary:

Synonyms are words with similar meanings. Using the context of the sentences below, choose the

best synonym for the underlined words in each sentence.

1. Johan couldn’t believe how extravagant the meal was.

a) moderate b) indulgent c) economical d) thrifty

2. Maggie thinks it important to be as precise as possible.

a) happy b) questionable c) slipshod d) exact

3. Everyone treated Mr. Parkinson with disdain.

a) contempt b) favour c) respect d) love

4. He heard a snippet of the conversation.

a) lot b) fragment c) catch-all d) lull

5. I don’t remember it well, but I don’t think I contradicted him.

a) met b) approved c) disputed d) played with

35

6. Did you criticize Mrs. Jones at the staff meeting?

a) denounce b) compliment c) laud d) ignore

7. Did she insist on being there?

a) continue b) suggest c) forget d) persist

8. It was quite obvious that he was absent.

a) unclear b) ambiguous c) apparent d) delightful

9. “I wish you would enunciate properly,” she said.

a) articulate b) whisper c) bowl d) walk

10. Bruno was asked to help put the crockery away.

a) furniture b) silverware c) tableware d) scraps

Questions

1. According to Gretel, what was the main duty of the Fury (Führer).

2. Describe Bruno’s impression of the two people who came to dinner.

3. What little joke did the Fury make?

4. What was your impression of the Fury from Chapter 11? Why did he leave you with

this impression?

36

5. What did Shmuel’s father do for a living?

6. At one point in Chapter 12 Bruno compares his situation to Shmuel’s and says, “It didn’t

seem like such a terrible thing to him, and after all much the same thing had happened to

him”. Do you agree with Bruno’s assessment? Defend your answer with examples.

7 Do you think that it was smart of Bruno not to tell his family about Shmuel? Why or why

not?

Language Activities

A. Chapter 11 contains an important literary device called a flashback.

Define this device and explain why it can be a very effective tool for a storyteller.

37

B. Shmuel mentions that he came from the Polish city of Cracow. Using resources in your

school library or the Internet, research three interesting facts about this important city.

C. Copy out any three sentences from these chapters and underline the verbs.

D. Beside each of the following words from these chapters, write its root word.

arrangements

exploration

pronouncing

bigger

nodded

admitted

running

forgotten

38


Chapter 13


Benjamin Disraeli once said, “Courage is fire, bullying is smoke”. Do you consider Lieutenant

Kotler to be a bully? Give reasons for your answer.

Vocabulary:

Antonyms are words with opposite meanings. Draw a line from each word in column A to its

antonym in column B. Then use the words in column A to fill in the blanks in the sentences

below.

Column A Column B

suspicious greet

deliberate unsuited

catastrophe trustworthy

dismiss reject

revive accidental

appropriate blessing

prefer suppress

1. If the judge does not get himself under control, they will him.

2. It is only to offer to pay him for his labour.

39

3. Do you to sit or stand?

4. The hockey player received a two minute penalty for a attempt to

injure another player.

5. I found it very that he had been absent when the bank was robbed.

6. The crash of the airliner was a great .

7. I doubt if he will be able to his political career following that

horrible scandal.

Questions

Indicate whether the following statements are True or False.

1. When Maria found Bruno taking food, Bruno confessed to her that

he was taking it for Shmuel. T or F

2. Maria informed Bruno that Pavel was only a waiter and had never been a doctor. T or F

3. Shmuel confirmed that he knew Pavel. T or F

4. Shmuel told Bruno that there were thousands of people living on his

side of the fence. T or F

5. Shmuel also told Bruno that the soldiers on his side of the fence

don’t normally like people getting better. T or F

6. Bruno said he wanted to be a soldier, and Shmuel said he wanted to

work in a zoo. T or F

7. Despite his cruel ways, Bruno was quite fond of Lieutenant Kotler. T or F

8. Pavel seemed to grow smaller and smaller every week. T or F

9. Everyone could tell that Lieutenant Kotler enjoyed bragging about the

accomplishments of his father. T or F

10. When Pavel spilt the wine on Kotler, Bruno’s mother defended

the waiter and saved him from getting into trouble. T or F

40

Language Activities

A. Find three examples of the following parts of speech from this chapter.

Nouns Verbs Adjectives

B. Interview at least three other students for their views of this novel. (Try to get both

positive and negative comments.) Write a brief report putting these views together.

C. Shmuel mentions that many of the people from his side of the fence

came from the country of Czechoslovakia. This is a country which no

longer exists. Using resources from your school library or the Internet,

research three interesting facts about Czechoslovakia.

41


Chapters 14 - 15


Chapter 14 has a rather unusual title (like many in this novel). Do you think it is ever

“reasonable” to tell a lie to someone – or is it always wrong? Defend your answer.

Vocabulary:

Analogies are equations in which the first pair of words has the same relationship as the second

pair of words. For example, stop is to go as fast is to slow. In this example, both pairs of words

are opposites. Choose the best word from the word box to complete each of the analogies below.

undeniable sidetrack flounce dilemma despair

sophistication torture concentrate civilized sarcasm

1. Focus is to as late is to tardy.

2. Relief is to as stop is to go.

3. Cultured is to as hen is to chicken.

4. Disputable is to as courageous is to cowardly.

5. Crisis is to as love is to adore.

6. Sharp is to acute as ridicule is to .

42

7. Intelligent is to smart as sashay is to .

8. Difficult is to easy as simplicity is to .

9. Rough is to coarse and divert is to .

10. Careful is to negligent as cheerfulness is to .

Questions

1. At one point in Chapter 14 Gretel tells Bruno that he should stop speaking to his

imaginary friends because “It’s the first sign of madness”. Do you agree with her? Why

or why not?

2. Describe how Bruno was able to talk his way out of trouble when he slipped and told

Gretel about being with Shmuel.

3. At one point in Chapter 14 the author uses a literary device called exaggeration: “there

are moments when a brother and sister can lay down their instruments of torture for a

moment…” Why do you think exaggeration can be an effective way of expressing a

thought?

4. How did Lieutenant Kotler’s relationship with Bruno’s mother make Bruno feel? Why

do you think this was the case?

43

5. Authors are told to avoid using coincidence in their stories as much as is possible. Is

the appearance of Shmuel in Bruno’s kitchen an example of a coincidence? Defend

your answer.

6. Describe how Bruno betrayed his friend, Shmuel, in Chapter 15. What caused him to

betray Shmuel?

7. What was significant about the way Chapter 15 concludes?

Language Activities

A. Lieutenant Kotler mentioned that his father was now

living in Switzerland. Using resources in your school

library or on the Internet, find out three things that this

country is famous for.

44

B. Sarcasm, or satire, is a device used by the author quite frequently in this novel. For

instance, when Gretel says, “How interesting” to her brother, when she doesn’t think it is

interesting at all. See if you can find another example of sarcasm in the novel or using your

imagination create an example of sarcasm.

C. Pretend you are a newspaper editor at the time of Bruno’s adventures at Out-With. You

decide to write an editorial describing what you suspect is going on in the Out-With camp.

Write the editorial, not only outlining what is happening to the people of Out-With, but also

describing the way you feel about it.

45


Chapter 16


Up to this point in the novel Bruno has not really asked anyone any questions regarding the

people on the other side of the fence. Why do you think this is the case?

Vocabulary:

Replace the words that are underlined in the sentences below with a word from the word list in the

box. Remember to consider the context of the word in the sentences, as some words have several

meanings.

tended obvious reassured dwindle

deny productions persisted inconsolable

1. Are you going to contradict my sworn statement?

2. Bruno’s grandmother always put on entertaining presentations.

3. She was brokenhearted when her friend moved away.

4. She is inclined to lie to others.

5. She endured until the bitter end.

6. It was apparent to all that Caleb was not a good ball player.

7. Jonathan was convinced that he would be chosen.

8. The numbers supporting him began to fade.

46

Questions

1. At the beginning of this chapter, why did Bruno’s family have to return to Berlin?

b) Why was Bruno’s dad especially sad upon this occasion?

2. What change in the household caused Bruno great happiness, but also caused his

parents to shout at each other?

3. What do you think might have happened if Bruno had told his dad about making friends

with Shmuel?

4. Whom did Gretel say were on the other side of the fence? And who was on their side of

the fence?

5. Describe what interrupted Bruno’s conversation with his sister.

6. What measures did Bruno’s father take to remedy this situation with Bruno?

47

Language Activities

A. Try to reassemble the word parts listed below into ten compound words found in this

chapter.

hair day grand room tip ship paper some

any cut after mother bath toes friend news

thing wards birth way

1. 6.

2. 7.

3. 8.

4. 9.

5. 10.

B. Investigation

In this Chapter Bruno discovers that the people on the other side of the fence are Jews. Using

resources in your school library, or on the Internet, do an investigation on the Jews. Discover

three interesting facts about them and record your findings below

48


Chapters 17 - 18


Predict what the title of Chapter 17 refers to with regard to Mother getting her own way.

Other than bringing him food when they visit, can you think of any way that Bruno can help

Shmuel in these very difficult circumstances? (This might be a challenge you choose to do with a

partner.)

Vocabulary:

Think of synonyms for the following words. Use a thesaurus if necessary.

senile

remote

indirect

exasperate

49

reluctant

reject

suitable

sensible

Questions

1. Why did Mother become increasingly unhappy at Out-With?

2. What does the following statement tells the reader about Bruno’s mother: “he’d never

known anyone to need quite so many medicinal sherries”?

3. What important news did Father tell Bruno about in Chapter 17?

4. Do you agree with Bruno when he said that he had only seen the children in the striped

pajamas, and that he hadn’t actually been watching them? Is there a difference? Why or

why not?

5. Why was Shmuel upset at the beginning of Chapter 18?

50

6. Describe Shmuel’s reaction to the news that Bruno would be returning to Berlin on

Saturday.

7. What did the boys plan to do on Bruno’s last visit?

b. Why might such a plan be very dangerous?

Language Activities

A. Create a book cover for The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. Be

sure to include the title, author, and a picture that will make other

students want to read the novel.

B. The author writes The Boy in the Striped Pajamas as an omniscient third person narrator

(as compared to the first person). An omniscient narrator is able to witness all the events of the

story, and not just the ones that happen to the main character. He / she is also able to read the

thoughts of all the characters and knows everything that has happened in the past to all of the

characters. How would this point of view be an advantage in the telling of this story? How might

it have been more interesting if it had been told from only Bruno’s point of view?

51


Chapters 19 - 20


Before reading these last two chapters, predict what you think will happen to Bruno and Shmuel.

Now that the novel is almost over, write the impression that you have formed to this point of

Bruno’s father. Be sure to back up your comments with supporting evidence.

Vocabulary:

Circle the correct word that matches the meaning of the underlined word.

1. I thought for sure that Aunt Bessie would squelch our plans.

a) approve b) suppress c) add to d) bless

2. Jasmine was very fond of her doll collection.

a) attached to b) embarrassed c) hostile toward d) careless

3. Gretel was a very confident girl.

a) self-assured b) pretty c) playful d) serious

52

4. The detectives found evidence that he was home at the time.

a) repentance b) admittance c) proof d) opportunity

5. There was a disturbance outside our home last night.

a) commotion b) accident c) murder d) party

6. The cook felt very frustrated on the voyage home.

a) angry b) overjoyed c) excited d) disappointed

7. “If you don’t give me another room, I will lodge a complaint,” she said.

a) grievance b) commendation c) promise d) sanction

8. My mother is a most particular person.

a) loved b) aged c) fussy d) polite

Questions

1. What almost ruined Bruno’s plans for meeting Shmuel one last time?

2. What two things were difficult for Bruno when he changed into the striped pajamas?

3. What were Bruno and Shmuel trying to find together?

4. Describe Bruno’s reaction when he found out what the camp was like.

53

5. Describe what happened to Bruno and Shmuel.

6. How did Bruno’s family react to his disappearance?

Gretel

His Dad

His Mom

7. The climax of a story occurs when the main problem of the story is solved. Describe

the event in this novel when the climax occurs.

8. Describe your own reaction to this novel’s dramatic ending. Did it leave you feeling

satisfied?

9 What do you think was one of the author’s main reasons for writing such a novel - with

such a dramatic, surprising conclusions?

54

Language Activities

A. A Time Line

Create a time line for The Boy in the Striped Pajamas below, indicating the ten most

important events of the novel and the order in which they happened.

B. The Movie

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas has been released as an exciting movie starring Asa Butterfield

as Bruno. If you have a chance to watch the movie make a list of five things which differed

from the novel; and one thing which you liked more about either the novel or the movie.

C. A Book Review

Now is your chance to share your own reactions to the novel with others. Write a review of the

book, describing in no more than one paragraph an outline of the plot, and then in another

paragraph how you enjoyed the novel (or didn’t) and why. (Please don’t give away the

ending!)

This review can be posted to a website like www.amazon.com for others to enjoy.

http://www.amazon.com/

55

Answer Key Chapter 1

Vocabulary:

1.muster 2. frustration 3. chaos 4. decent 5. hesitate 6.tartan

7. banister 8. dismissively 9. protested 10. presume

Questions:

1. Answers may vary. It seems he spoke disrespectfully to Maria.

2. Berlin, Germany during World War II.

3. He had come to dinner with Bruno’s family.

b. Answers will vary. The Fuhrer is Adolf Hitler.

4. Gretel was Bruno’s older sister. Answers will vary (Perhaps he heard his parents refer to her as

this.)

5. Bruno’s father had been promoted and his job took him elsewhere.

6. His three best friends: Karl, Daniel and Martin.

7. Bruno’s father’s office.

Chapter 2

Vocabulary:

B P O L A N D

R E S T R I C T I O N O

U T O A F T E R

E N O R M O U S S K Y U L

O E A P R

B N H G E R M A N Y S

E G R E T E L L J A

R E S T S A M A R T I N

L H I R M R D

I S T A Y E D M A R I A

N A Z I A R S A

N N T C H A O S A L I E N

D A N I E L B I

E D E S T R O Y

F O R E S E E A B L E

Questions:

1. He hated it, finding it empty and desolate place.

2. Answers will vary. (i.e. people sitting at tables set out on the street where people drank and

laughed).

3. Answers will vary. They had a maid, a large house and boxes of toys and books.

4. Answers will vary.

b. Maria mentions “commandants” as an occupation.

5. A cliffhanger leaves the reader in suspense and makes him/her eager to read more.

56

Chapter 3

Vocabulary:

1. approval 2. placation 3. affiliation 4. affluent 5. run 6. unstable 7. contentment

Questions:

Bruno’s sister, Gretel, was often described as Trouble From Day One. Gretel was three years older

than Bruno. Although he didn’t like to admit it, Bruno was a little bit scared of her. Although she was

only twelve years old, Gretel already had picked up some nasty habits. She had a large collection of

dolls, and all of Gretel’s friends were most unpleasant. It was a constant disappointment to Bruno that

he was so short. Three of Bruno’s friends were Karl, Daniel and Martin. Three of Gretel’s friends, on

the other hand, were Hilda, Isobel and Louise.

Bruno was most disappointed when they moved from Berlin, but at least now there was no one

around to torture him. His mother suggested to Bruno that he make the best of a bad situation.

Although Bruno thought they would be there for at least a month, his Father said they would be there

for the foreseeable future. Their new home was called Out-With. Bruno surprised Gretel by saying that

he didn’t find the children who lived near their new home to look at all friendly.

Chapter 4 - 5

Vocabulary:

1 – e 2 – h 3 – a 4 – j 5 – b 6 – i 7 – c 8 – d 9 – f 10 - g

Questions:

1. They saw many boys and men living in a very desolate area beyond a fence.

b Girls and women.

2. It must be the countryside.

b. There were no farm animals. The ground would look a lot better.

3. They all wore striped pajamas.

4. Answers will vary (i.e. She might get into trouble for saying such a thing.)

5. Answers will vary. (He is in charge of a prison camp).

Chapter 6

Vocabulary: 1 – discard 2 – response 3 – deliberate 4 – irritable 5 – peckish

6 – campaign 7 – defensive 8 – frenzy 9 – concentrate 10 - incredulous

Questions:

1. Answers may vary. (i.e. he was lonely)

2. She might get into trouble if her answers were repeated to an adult.

3. Avoiding answering a question by deflecting the attention to another subject.

4. Answers may vary.

5. Maria’s mother worked for Bruno’s grandmother. Then times became hard and Bruno’s father

offered Maria a job.

6. Answers will vary. (i.e. Run away; stay and make the best of it; ask to live with his grandparents.)

Language Activity

A - silent, some, sometimes, spidery, standing, stared, staying, stitching, surprised, suspiciously

B – decorators, selves, men, memories, houses ivies, cries, people, families, lives

57

Chapter 7

Vocabulary: Y T F E H I

E L N O I S R E V I D

S I E R X N

C E N I H S T

A U S T A T N

P T I A U A E

E A E G B T S L D

T D N L I T L I

U I E A E O I F

P L N N O N

S L T N O

I A C O L O G N E C

D P D O M E S T I C

P D E R E P M I S

A S T O N I S H

Questions:



3. He had been a soldier in World War I and his mind had been damaged.

4. The only spare tyre he had seen belonged to Sergeant Hoffschneider and he carries it around his

waist.

5. Answers will vary (i.e. cruel, proud, condescending, outspoken).

6. He hurt himself on the tyre swing.

7. It probably would be better for Pavel not to draw attention to himself from Bruno’s father.

8. Answers will vary (We find out later it is “Jew”)

9. He was a medical doctor. He was a prisoner in the concentration camp because he is Jewish.

Chapter 8 - 9

Vocabulary: Answers will vary.

Questions: 1. Grandmother and Grandfather. Answers will vary (i.e. his grandmother, especially was a most

interesting person who helped the children put on plays).

2. She loved to be the center of attention.

3. She despised what the uniform stood for.

4. She had been drinking.


6. To teach Bruno more about where he came from – his heritage.

7. Answers will vary. (It might be dangerous; or he might ask difficult questions.)

58

Chapter 10

Vocabulary: 1 – despair 2 – category 3 – enormous 4 – exaggerate 5 – forlorn

6 – calculate 7 – recommend 8 – resolution 9 – recent 10 - hesitate BONUS = mirage

Questions: 1. Bruno went for a walk down the perimeter of the fence and came across Shmuel sitting by himself

on the other side of the fence in a secluded area.

2. They were on the same date: April 15, 1934.


4. He didn’t know where Denmark was.


Chapter 11 - 12

Vocabulary: 1 – b 2 – d 3 – a 4 – b 5 – c 6 – a 7 – d 8 – c 9 – a 10 - c

Questions:

1. He runs the country.

2. He found the Fury to be rude and the blond lady to be quite charming.

3. When Gretel and Bruno were introduced to him he asked “which is which?”


5. He repaired watches and made them.


7. Answers will vary. (He was smart not to tell. They’d have forbidden him from seeing his friend.)

Chapter 13

Vocabulary: suspicious - trustworthy deliberate - accidental catastrophe - blessing dismiss -

greet revive - suppress appropriate - unsuited prefer - reject

1 – dismiss 2 – appropriate 3 – prefer 4 - deliberate 5 – suspicious 6 – catastrophe 7 - revive

Questions: 1 – F 2 – F 3 – F 4 – T 5 – T 6 – T 7 – F 8 – T 9 – F 10 – F

Chapter 14 - 15

Vocabulary: 1 – concentrate 2 – torture 3 – civilized 4 – undeniable 5 – dilemma

6 – sarcasm 7 – flounce 8 – sophistication 9 – sidetrack 10 - despair

Questions:


2. He told Gretel that because he didn’t have any friends at Out-With, he made up imaginary friends

to play with.


4. It made him feel jealous and uneasy. Answers will vary.

5. It does seem to be a coincidence – out of hundreds of young boys in the camp that Shmuel would

be chosen.

6. Bruno denied ever seeing Shmuel before when questioned by Kotler.

7. “It was the first time they had ever touched.” Answers will vary.

59

Chapter 16

Vocabulary: 1 – deny 2 – productions 3 – inconsolable 4 – tended 5 – persisted

6 – obvious 7 – reassured 8 – dwindle

Questions:

1. Bruno’s grandmother died.

b. He had never made peace with Grandmother.

2. Lieutenant Kotler was transferred elsewhere.

3. He probably would have been forbidden to ever see him again.

4. Jews – Opposites.

5. Gretel found an egg from a louse.

6. He shaved Bruno’s hair off.

Compound Words: haircut, grandmother, tiptoes, friendship, something, anyway, afterwards,

bathroom, newspaper, birthday

Chapter 17 - 18

Vocabulary: Answers may vary.

Questions:

1. Answers will vary (i.e. she was lonely; she hated the place; there was nothing to do; their children

had no friends).

2. She was drinking too much alcohol.

3. Bruno, Gretel and their mother would be moving back to Berlin.


5. His father had disappeared.

6. He was surprised and saddened.

7. Shmuel would bring a pair of pajamas for Bruno and he would crawl under the wire and look for

Shmuel’s father with him.

8. Answers may vary. (i.e. he might be harmed by the guards or killed.)

Chapter 19 - 20

Vocabulary: 1 - b 2 - a 3 – a 4 – c 5 – a 6 – d 7 – a 8 – c

Questions:

1. It was raining.

2. The smell; changing in front of someone else; changing clothes in the mud.

3. Shmuel’s father.

4. He was horrified.

5. They were caught in amongst a group of people being transported for extermination.

6. Answers may vary. Gretel – she cried a lot because she missed Bruno. Mother – stayed at

Out-With for several more months waiting for news of Bruno, but then returned to Berlin,

expecting to see Bruno there. Father – kept trying to find out what had happened to Bruno.

7. At the end of Chapter 19 when Shmuel and Bruno are taken away together.

8. Answers may vary


60

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