Chapter 5 Questions - TBITSP

• What does it say that we only actually meet the father in the book in Chapter 5 even though he is the one causing much of the action in the book? Although he is an important character within the story and that he is a big driving force within the story his presence within the first few chapters is enough to be the driving force in the story (i.e. the moving of houses). He however is needed in this chapter because his opinion is needed to again drive the story, but in a new way where his point of view creates a complication for the protagonist Bruno.
• The mother says: ‘We should have never let the Fury come to dinner. Some people and their determination to get ahead.’ What theme does this introduce regarding the role of ambition and causing harm? This statement means that the mothers is sensitive and has the ability to see that if ambitions lead to causing harm that those ambitions should be changed or altered to help; the mother has a very intact view of right and wrong.
• How does Bruno's father speak to him? Give an example to support your answer. Bruno speaks to his father in a very child-like, 'rude' way because he has a very strong view of what his goals are. This is seen in the chapter such as 'I don't want to accept it! shouted Bruno' which follows the speech from his father about accepting the move which adds to the fact that Bruno has a very stern opinion on the subject.
• How would you compare the way Bruno speaks about the world to his father's? Do they both comment about what is going on around them the same? Bruno's speech is much like his in the way that he demands things and wants things his way, such as a commander of soldiers does. They both however relate to one another and there point of view, Bruno says that his father was once his age and that he should be able to relate and see the problem with it as opposed to his dad which said that he listened to his dad when he was Bruno's age.

• How does the father rationalise every concern that Bruno has? Bruno's father rationalise every concern Bruno's has by saying 'I want to go home' is no problem because 'home is where the family is' and that his family is all here so there is nothing to worry about. However this is does not make sense to Bruno because he wants to go back to Berlin and he feels his father is ignoring what he is saying.
• What is ironic about what the father says when he comes around the desk and talks to Bruno about his childhood? Bruno's father says to make the best out of the situation because that is what his father told him to do and that he always listened to him. This is ironic because he is telling Bruno to so the right things but he works for the Nazis and is killing people for a living.
• Do you think that the father really cares about Bruno? Why/why not? I think that he does care about Bruno but has his priorities wrong, work first, family second. This is because he did not take into consideration the feelings his family and focused more on impressing Hitler.
• Do you think that Bruno understands what he is saying when he says 'Heil Hitler!'? I don't think that he does understand the saying 'Heil Hitler' because the reader knows what it means and he explains his meaning of the phase. This is an example of dramatic irony because the reader knows more than the character.
• How is juxtaposition used in Bruno's description of their boarding the train to Auschwitz? The use of juxtaposition is used in Bruno's description of boarding the train because he is put in a very spacious carriage with only a few people whilst the 'low class' are squeezed into a closed in space. This shows the difference between the big area of Bruno's house and the confined space of the concentration camp.
• What is Bruno's reason for not saying anything to the Jews on the crowded train? How is this a representation of the greater German population? Bruno thinks that he is out of line by saying anything to the Jews although by him thinking of saying the Jews means that he is a compassionate person. However this does represent the greater German population because it shows that they are either too arrogant to help others or too scared to help others.