May 23

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

boy in striped pyjamas“Through the lens of an eight-year-old boy largely shielded from the reality of World War II, we witness a forbidden friendship that forms between Bruno, the son of Nazi commandant, and Schmuel, a Jewish boy held captive in a concentration camp. Though the two are separated physically by a barbed wire fence, their lives become inescapably intertwined. The imagined story of Bruno and Shmuel sheds light on the brutality, senselessness and devastating consequences of war from an unusual point of view. Together, their tragic journey helps recall the millions of innocent victims of the Holocaust.” Miramax Films

Film trailer:


An interview with author John Boyne – covers fable, the characters of Bruno and his father and what the characters represent, themes of the novel.

Library resources:

DVD0578 The boy in the striped pyjamas (movie)

F BOY The boy in the striped pyjamas (CDs – talking book)

823.09 BOY The boy in the striped pyjamas: reading guide

940.53 – there are lots of resources about the Holocaust at this Dewey number.

 

Characters:

Characterizations

Bruno

Bruno, Shmuel and Gretel

 

Themes:

Auschwitz survivors tell their story:

A teenager’s personal response to the Holocaust:

Symbolism, Assignment – A letter from Bruno to his grandmother, WWII poster about Hitler’s beliefs

Student workbook for novel and film including chapter questions, character analysis etc.

Powerpoint – analysis of the story

 

Teacher Resources:

Teachers’ Notes (Random House) – discusses the themes of the novel

8 part lesson plan for the novel

Film Education source page

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