21. How are Gerda's life and character affected by the terrible letter from Erika? What changes have the dreadful events wrought on Erika's own character? "I want to kill, just kill," she writes (p.
70).
Gerda is forced to face the reality of the brutalities of the Germans. Erika's heart and soul has died, everything she loved has been brutally murdered; now she feels angry, desperate and hopeless and wants revenge.
22. How does Gerda deduce Arthur's changing state of mind from his letters?
His letter does not contain any real news, only a change in address and the words seem to be written by an unsteady hand. She believes he is trying to conceal his torment.
23. In April 1942, the Jews in Bielitz are ordered to move to the quarter near the railway terminal which would become their "ghetto." What does the word ghetto mean? What was its original meaning, and what has it come to signify today?
Original meaning was an island near Venice where Jews were forced to reside in the 16th century, today it is a slumlike section of a city where inhabited by an ethnic minority group as a result of social or economic restrictions, pressures or hardships.
24. Why does Gerda "despise" Niania when she goes to say goodbye (p. 75)?
Gerda envies Niania's security, the fact that she can stay in her own home without fear.
25. Why do Gerda's parents refuse to look back at their old home when they leave for the ghetto? Why does Gerda choose to look back?
It would be too painful for Gerda's parents to look back at their house, which represents the good life they had as a family, they have no choice but to walk to an uncertain future. Gerda does not want to let go of the memories of her garden, birthday celebrations, security, and family so she looks back and pretends this is all not happening.
26.
Why are Gerda's parents in better spirits when they arrive in their ghetto apartment?
The thing they had feared most was done, the moving was over.
27. What does Aussiedlung mean? Why is the word so resonant for the Bielitz Jews?
Deportation, The Beilitz Jews had heard that others had been sent to Auschwitz and what kind of camp that was, but they did not want to believe that this could happen to them.
28. What does Judenrein mean?
Free from Jews
29. How would you describe the farewell Gerda's parents take of one another: joyful, sorrowful, or a combination of the two? What legacy do they leave the young Gerda?
Gerda's parents tried to stay positive, they talked about their life together and what they would do when they were all reunited.
Their love kept them strong. When Papa left he did not look back, mama and Gerda were sorrowful, they did not want to show their fear and sorrow to each other, they were strong.
30.Who is Merin? Why does he say to Gerda, "Are you crazy?" (p. 90)? Why does he throw her back on the truck and say, "You are too young to die" (p.
91)? Is it because he pities her and wants to save her life, or because, as a worker, she will be useful to the Nazi State?
Merin: "King of the Jews", he is a mousy small man who worked with the SS to exterminate the Jews, and was thought to be greatly rewarded by the Germans. Gerda asked if they were going to Wadawitz to work but Merin knew that they were to be either deported to gas chambers in Auschwitz or labor camps there would be no more Jews here. He does not pity Gerda, but sees her as someone who can be useful to the Nazi state. He faintly smiles as if he enjoys seeing her pain and suffering.
31.Why does Gerda walk away from her mother without looking back?
She knew that if she turned around they would run toward each other and the Germans would beat or shoot them. So she knew they had to walk alone.
1. "Now I have to live," Gerda reflects on the train (p.
95). What reasons does she give for wanting to live?
Because she was alone and nothing could hurt her anymore, she was going to live for revenge
2.What is the Militz? How does it differ from the ordinary police force? Why does the Militz Commander feel so hostile toward his own race? Why does he agree to give Gerda her permit?
A Jewish force established by the Germans with an SS and a Jewish Commander. He resents the position he has been put in by the Germans, he feels shamed when Gerda asks him that he must not like having people cry outside his door.
3.
Why is Abek's family so generous and hospitable to Gerda? What is Gerda's reaction to their kindness?
Abek 's happiness is at stake, he sacrificed much to tell them that Gerda might be coming and to help her.. she kisses their hands.
4. What is a Dulag?
A transit camp that serves as a labor pool for the German war effort.
5.
Who are the "living skeletons" Gerda meets in the Dulag? Where are they to be sent?
They are girls that are sick, starving, hurt and no longer able to work. They will be sent to Auschwitz to die.
6. Why does Gerda refuse the working card and decide to move on to the camp? What does her decision have to do with Abek? Why doesn't she want any "special privileges" (p. 107)?
She knows that if she accepts the working card she will be indebted to Abek and his family.
She does not love Abek and does not want to marry him, and is willing to take the uncertainty of camp over the certainty of a life of unhappiness with Abek. She also hopes she can be reunited with her family somehow.
7. During the train ride to the camp, why does Suse Kunz say that she feels "pretty good, in spite of everything" (p. 113)? Does this statement reflect Gerda's mood?
Yes, in spite of everything, Gerda feels relieved that she has only herself to worry about and does not need to consider, Abek or her parents, all the decisions had been made.
8.
Who is Frau Kügler?
She was the camp supervisor who appeared grim and forbidding, but saved Gerda's life.
9. Bolkenhain is Gerda's first view of the "homeland of Nazism" (p. 114). How do the Germans there seem different from those she observed in Poland? What is "propaganda," and what effect has it had on the German people's preconceptions about Jews?
They looked as if they expected Jews to be monsters, different from themselves.
Propaganda is the deliberate spreading of rumors, these Germans have been taught that Jews were responsible for the war and were to be hated.
10. Who is Mrs. Berger? What does she imply in her short speech to the young women (p. 116)? Do you believe that her methods for dealing with the prisoners were good ones? Do you find her a sympathetic character?
Mrs.
Berger is assigned to be the direct supervisor of the girls. In her speech, she implied that they were not weak and foolish and would do what was needed without begging or emotion.
11. Why does the moon become Gerda's "loyal friend"? What does the moon signify to her?
The moon is always there for her and can watch over everyone. It represents consistency and more of a maternal protector who will watch over her.
12.
Why do the inmates of Bolkenhain have to wear three stars? Why is it necessary that they be identified as Jews from every angle?
This would make it easy to count them and make certain no one escaped, and Frau Kreuger could easily tell who they were.
13. Who is Meister Zimmer? How do his attitude and behavior differ from those of Frau Kugler?
He was the person who taught them how to operate the looms and spread the Nazi idealism and German philosophy to the girls. His voice was precise and well trained and told them that every mistake would be treated as sabotage
14. How does Mrs. Berger get Gerda to acknowledge her father's death? Do you think Mrs.
Berger's method is kind? What method does Gerda use to cope with the dreadful knowledge?
She tries to shock Gerda by slapping her, but when that does not work, shows her a picture of her own family who has most likely died and tells her that they are all in the same boat. Gerda wails like her father did when Arthur left to get her emotions out.
15. What is Yom Kippur? Why do the prisoners decide to fast, and what satisfaction do they derive from this fasting?
Yom Kippur is the day of atonement, the prisoners take satisfaction that they can still maintain their Jewish traditions of fasting and keep up with their work.
16. Why is Lotte weeping at the camp fence? Why is she, unlike Gerda, unable to draw on happy memories to help her survive?
Lotte, did not have a happy childhood. She did not have a father when she was young, and was reunited with him as a girl. Her parents were getting back together; she was to have a family when her father was killed on a train wreck.
Now she goes from camp to camp.
17. What makes Gerda sense that she will never see Arthur again after receiving his frayed, dirty letter?
It was dirty and frayed, reminding her of Erika's letter when her mother and brother were killed.
18. How did Frau Kügler save Gerda's life? Do you believe that genuine affection existed between Frau Kügler and the girls under her care?
Frau Kugler forced Gerda to come to work even though she was sick, so that she would not be selected to die. I do think that she genuinely cared about the girls under her care and tried to keep them safe for as long as she could.
19. How did Abek's mother and sisters die? What mixed emotions does their fate inspire in Gerda? Why is she ashamed of her own feelings?
They were either murdered in the fields or sent to Auschwitz, Gerda feels emptiness and sorrow at their death, but happy that she did not stay with them. She feels ashamed and guilty about her decision not to stay with them and that she has it better than most in the camp she now lives in.
20.
What message does Gerda communicate in the play she writes and performs for her fellow prisoners? In what way does the play manage to convey hope? What does Gerda get out of the experience of putting on the play, and why does she count it as the "greatest thing I have done in my life" (p. 142)?
She thanks God that she was able to "help them forget" the pain and horrors of the German brutalities and murders. Her plays make the girls laugh and give them joy that they cannot experience in their everyday lives and an opportunity to escape from their captivity.
21.
In the summer of 1943, a change comes over Bolkenhain: incoming mail is cut off, Meister Zimmer becomes abusive, and there is not enough raw material for spinning. What is the meaning of this multifaceted change? What turn is the war taking for the Germans?
The war is not going well for the Germans, there is not enough yarn to keep the looms working, so the mail is cut off as punishment to the girls.
22. How do the Marzdorf Judenalteste and Lagerfuhrerin differ from their counter parts at Bolkenhain? What does this mean for the inmates?
They are physically cruel to the girls, mean and uncaring
23. Who is Frau Aufsicht?
The Overseer with the Bullwhip who whips the girls and forces them to pull her around in a child's cart.
24.
Why is the supervisor's question to Gerda, "Are you hungry?" (p. 147) a "tricky" one?
Because if she said yes, she would be accusing the Germans of mistreating her.
25. What keeps Gerda from throwing herself under a train and ending her life?
Her neck was bothering her and she remembered her promise to her father who had pulled her by the neck.
26. Upon seeing Litzi, Frau Kugler, and Mrs.
Berger again, Gerda's reaction is "This was home!" (p. 153). What has she learned from her experiences at Marzdorf?
That camps were brutal and she would die from the work, mistreatment, hunger and exhaustion if forced to stay. Home is where people who love and care for you are.
