Chapter 10 Question - TBITSP

• (105) What does the progression of 'dot' to 'boy' tell us about the role of exploring and meeting the people in the camp? What does this represent about how other Germans view the Jews? The reason for the 'dot' to 'boy' shows the insignificance of the people within the concentration camp in the beginning of the book. When Bruno first discovers the concentration camp, the people are referred to as a group, and when he meets Shumel he gets a more one on one confrontation with him. This also shows the ignorance of the Germans and how they view the Jews as insignificant 'dots' as opposed to Brunos view of them as people and him viewing Shumel as a boy.
• (109) What effect does the boys both having the same birthday have? There is juxtaposition between the Germans and the Jews, and by having the same birthday it allows more exacting juxtaposition and allows a more 'true' contrast. Bruno and Shumel have the same birthday and they have to very different sides of the holocaust. It shows the difference in lifestyle of the two groups in the holocaust.
• (113-4) What do Bruno and Shmuel 'argue' about? What does Bruno decide to stop the argument? Bruno and Shmuel argue about which of their home towns is nicer to live in, in Bruno's case Berlin and Shmuel's case Poland. Bruno wants to stop the argument because he doesn't want to fight and argue with his new friend and instead changes the subject to exploration.
• (115) What does Bruno's last question reveal to Shmuel? What do you think Shmuel thinks of Bruno because of asking this question? Bruno's last question is that he understands that they are different in the way they dress but where do they come from and why are they on the opposing sides of the fence. Shmuel thinks that Bruno is ignorant and not very intelligent because he can't comprehend what is going on and what his 'kind' is doing to him.