Introduction

Introduction by Alice Pung

1. What were Asian-Australians referred to as when the author was growing up? They were refereed to as power-points because the way the power point looks is similar to the shape of a sterotypical Asians eyes.

2. How does she interpret this title? She thinks that it is cute because the way the 'eyes' are shaped.

3. What did this title actually refer to? Did the author find this demeaning? Why/why not? It refers to the way that Asians eyes look, like slit straight lines. I think this is very demeaning because their eyes are not like that and it is a common stereotype to think Asians eyes are like that. Also is makes them see less significant and more like a tool rather than a person.

4. ‘All that untapped potential! All that electrifying brain power!’ What techniques are being employed by the author? How does they highlight he misunderstanding? A metaphor is being used because it is saying something is like something else. The author states that she doesn't get the link between the actually reason and dismisses them as being cute and sticks with her first theory.

5. What did the teen author take away from teen fiction? What did she feel that she needed to do? Why? What does this say is essential to fitting in to a culture? She took away from teen fiction that she needed extensive plastic surgery to fit in because all of the people in the stories are perfect and you have to be this way to be accepted.

6. Who are the authors that she turns to? Why? She turns to authors such as John Marsden and Robert Cormier instead because they right with raw honesty and real feelings about coming of age.

7. In the third paragraph how does the author use repetition. How does it highlight the focus of this book? She repeats the theme of 'firsts' when you are young and this is the focus of the book because 'growing up is a funny time'. 

8. What metaphor does the author use to highlight the writers and the writing style in the third paragraph? The author uses the metaphor 'they are not distant observers, plucking the most garish fruit from the lowest-hanging branches of an exotic cultural tree. These writers are the tree, and they write from its roots'. This highlights the fact that people who write about the stereotypes and the struggles of an asian growing up in australia does not have the true story but rather a bias one based on there intension with the article/story, and by people with first hand experience writing it, it gives a more honest truth the the experience.

9. Why does the author use a quote in the 4^th paragraph? What does it say about her reaction to the stories in the book? The author uses the quote 'Strine' within the forth paragraph to show the way that she looks at the stories, she views them as bing jocular stories that poke fun at the Australian society and the way in which both the asians and non-asians react to each experience.

10. On page 2 the author talks about the themes that she loosely choose for the collection. What are they and why is it ironic that they show up in this book?  She uses the three loose themes 'the Battler, the Pioneer and the Legend'. It is ironic that she uses them because they describe key terms about non-asian Australians and the accomplishes of them be it the battling in war, the finding of Australia or the Legendary traits of Australia.

11. At the bottom of pg 3 on to page 4 the author says that sociologists have described Asians as the ‘model minority’. What is meant by this? What difficulties arise out of this label for young Asian-Australians? By saying 'model minority' the author is proposing that all Asians follow the same stereotype of working hard, education, money, career and are models to how to work hard but fit into the minority of Australia as well as fitting in the background. This can put pressure on young Asian-Australians because it pressures them to be stereotypical and fit the criteria of working hard and drifting into the background.

12. What are the editor’s hopes for the collection of stories? The editors hopes for the collection of the stories is that it will bring to the forefront the identity, place and perspective of Asian-Australians growing up in australia and there difficulties.

Pigs from Home

Pigs from Home by Hop Dac

1. How does the author start this story which is in direct contrast to the title of the story? What effect does this have on the reader and their expectations of the story? The author begins the story by stating different positives about pigs and there presence in the world. It is a contrast to the title because it states pigs in situation that are away from home. It than goes on to tell the negatives about pigs and illustrates to the reader that pigs would make horrible house animals.

2. What core Vietnamese value is instilled in the author? The core Vietnamese value that is instilled in the author is that 'any good Vietnamese family was a self-sustaining one'.

3. What is humorous about the mother’s ‘flair for natural medicine’ in regards to her personality? It is humorous that the mother has a flair for natural medicine because she is a hypochondriac and is very pedantic and always thinking she is unhealthy and has an unhealthy obsession with her house.

4. How does the description of the killing of pigeons continue the style utilised in the introduction of the story? The style of killing pigeons continues with the style of brutally killing for a source of food.

5. What is the author’s opinion of pigs? Give two quotes to support your conclusion. The authors opinion of pigs is that they are unimportant and only used for food 'no pig has ever been a friend of mine' and that she thinks they are greedy.

6. In the paragraph on pgs 53-54, give two examples of alliteration employed by the author. 'blowing raspberries on the bellies of babies' and 'feeding frenzy'

7. On pg 54 what simile is used to describe pigs? How does this simile work for the situation it is used? A pig is like an ocean is the simile used and it works because you can't turn you back on the ocean or you will get dumped by the wave and can't turn your back on a pig because it will bite you.

8. What simile does the author use to describe her mother sunning herself? How does this relate to the core focus of the story? 'She suns herself by standing in the drive way and slowly rotating like a rotisserie chicken'. This relates to the core focus of the story which is killing animals for food.

9. What does the author describe as ‘the divide between the old world and the new’? What do you think is meant by this statement? She began to see the harshness of killing animals for food and what happens in order to save money and not waste food.

10. What is the author’s reaction to the slaughter of the pig at night? What statement does the author make about the neighbours which displays the way he feels about the whole experience? What is important about including this statement? The author feels shocked by the slaughtering and the brutality of the task and the blood spurting out of its neck. 'I thought about our neighbours, the girls who caught the school bus with us, and wondered if hey had heard all the commotion'. This is important because the author believes that the situation was down wrongly and to harsh as well as the fact that the author didn't want anyone else to be involved in the murder.

11. Why don’t the parents have pigs anymore? How does this relate to the description of the burial of the last pig they owned? The parents don't have pigs anymore because they have a neighbour who is a pig farmer. This relates to the final description because the pig is killed by a snake and was buried and the people wouldn't want other pigs to die and not for them to be able to eat them.

12. How would you characterise the description of the mother’s treatment of the pig’s blood? Is it appetising? I would describe it as a lot of effort for a very unappealing, unappetising add in to dishes.

13. What is ironic about the way the author has a popular Vietnamese dish? What is it about the way the author describes the experience of having pigs that makes it ironic? It is ironic that the dish is made of beef which is the only animal that wasn't on the farm. It is also ironic that the worst situation of the pigs that the author experienced which was the blood is something that the author carries on with and enjoys.

14. How does this story relate to the title Pigs from Home? The author eats soup with pig's blood which reminds him of the cooking done by his mother back at his home.

15. Why do you think this story is in the Battlers section of the book? I believe it is in the battlers section of the book because it shows a situation where they have trouble and battle certain situations such as the slaughtering of the pig by the neighbours.

Letters for The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

Pavel to his family regarding living in the camp and working for Bruno's family.


To my dearest family,
Although the harsh endurance of the holocaust experience has taken its toll on the Jewish race, I have but a small window of opportunity to escape the horror. A slaves job is not easy, as well as the abuse from the soldiers, but is what price i have to pay to escape the camp and near death by gas. The delightful little boy, 'Master Bruno' is ever so kind and makes the whole day less agonising. His innocence is one to be admired, as well as his friendship and true self-of-sense which allows me to connect with him. His poor face and mind that has been effected by the evil soldier who attacked me. I now grow ill from the attack, my life is beginning to fade. I would love to hear you once more,
                                                                                            Pavel


Shmuel to his family back in Poland (if they were still alive) about his life in the camp and his best friend Bruno.


To mother and father,
This camp is horrible, i want to go home, i want to escape from here, i think i am going to die soon. The guards beat us, they yell at us, they treat us like dirt, whilst they live in fancy houses. I meet a nice boy though; my friend is Bruno. He is the same age as me and we have the same Birthday. He lives outside the camp; he is on the other-side of the fence. His father is a soldier, and he believes that he is a good, kind soldier, but i think all of the soldiers are mean. We both hate this one soldier though, Lt. Kotler. He is a bully and he picks on me and Bruno. Bruno is the only one who is nice to me and brings happiness to me. He doesn't understand a lot about my situation though, he doesn't know why i am in the camp. As much as i like Bruno, i want to be with you and free from this camp. Write back soon,
                                                                                        Shmuel

Holocaust Art: "It Takes But One" by Elizabeth Denholm and Alyssa Dziurlaj

What visual techniques are employed in this painting?
Some of the visual techniques that are employed within the painting include; contrast, colour,
How do these visual techniques highlight major thematic elements of holocaust art and literature?
The use of contrast within the poster is used to heighten the difference between the blank faces and the Jews, the power of many compared to the single hand within the side and that one persons can make a difference. By the use of scale it does look like the big hand can give hope to a crowd of people. Also the use of the 'bleeding black' and that the faceless group that are doing nothing to help.

Daniel - Holocaust Poem

How is juxtaposition used in this poem to highlight an important them of Holocaust literature? The use of juxtaposition between the two people, the woman and the eight year old woman, to illustrate the two different status of people, one young and one old. This also shows the perspective of the boy and how the woman tries everything to protect him, innocence and compassion respectively. Innocence is a important and common theme in the holocaust genre and is often seen in the children who have 'built a barrier'. The boy within the story innocence comes from his view of the world ''he explained new events to her, that funny doggy, that pretty rock," and the woman's compassion comes from the way she describes the boy ''She vividly hears that little heartbeat, that was hers, always hers''.
How is descriptive language used to enhance the reader's reaction to the poem?
By using descriptive language within the poem the poem is enhanced and given more of a chance to connect with the reader. It also shows the compassion and innocence of the woman and boy respectively within the Jews and there ability to try and be happy even during dark times. It adds another element to the Holocaust genre and experience.

Chapter 15 - TBITSP

1. Why doesn't Bruno like Kotler? What does he observe and not understand about Kotler when his father is away? Bruno doesn't like Kotler because he is very negative towards him (such as he never smiles, always addressing Bruno as 'little man'), he is also acts in a very weird way to the rest of Bruno's family, i.e. sucking up to his father, flirting with his mother and always the attention of Gretel. Bruno observes him as being the man of the house when his father is out which annoys Bruno and that he is getting to close to his mother with helping to prepare for the surprise party and is past the point of merely being nice by helping.

2. What is meant when Kotler uses the cliche 'Don't worry, this one knows which side his bread is buttered on.'? This cliche means that he is sure that the person knows what he/she is talking about and he is sure they know what has to be done.

3. How would you describe the interaction between Kotler and Bruno? The interaction between Kotler and Bruno would be described as unique and different. There is obliviously tension between them which Bruno furthers with his attitude during there conversation. Kotler doesn't help the situation because he mocks Bruno with sarcastic jokes and thinks he is a little boy who doesn't know whats right for himself. They both try and get along but Kotler thinks he has dominance over Bruno which makes it hard for him.

4. What surprise does Bruno get? Bruno gets a very big surprise when he sees Shmuel in the kitchen in his kitchen cleaning glasses for the party tonight.

5. How is juxtaposition used when Bruno compares his hand to Shmuel's? Juxtaposition is used in contrasting Bruno and Shmuel as being clean and dirty respectively. Bruno is a clean cut boy who is healthy and happy as opposed to Shmuel who is under nourished, dirty and a skeleton like stature.

6. Does Bruno understand the pressure that Shmuel is under? Bruno doesn't understand the pressure Shmuel is user because him and Shmuel are friends which he in this situation is meant to be a servant. He than offers him food (Bruno thinking offering food to Shmuel would be polite) but Shmuel doesn't accept because he was told not to speak and clean glasses.

7. What dramatic situation unfolds and what is Bruno's reaction?  Bruno decides to be nice to Shmuel and give him some chicken, and Shmuel eats it. Lt. Kotler than notices it as he walks and gets very angry and asks Bruno about the situation and Bruno lies and says he has never seen him before in his life, mostly because he is scared of Lt. Kotler and what the consequences might be.

8.What does Bruno think of himself because of the way he reacts? How is the major theme 'fear' portrayed in this scene? What does it do to Bruno and Shmuel? Bruno thinks that he must be the meanest and worst friend in the world to Shmuel. The theme of 'fear' is portray heavily within the scene because the Bruno is in the situation because he feared Lt. Kotler and the consequences that follow it. Fear is also introduced to the two boys who even though are juxtaposed in there race, get along fine, but with Lt. Kotler comes fear. The fear destroys Bruno's and Shmuel's friendship and they don't talk for a while.

9. What does Bruno say that prompts Shmuel to offer his hand in friendship? How is this symbolic? Bruno says sorry to his friend Shmuel. He than explains why he acted the way he did which was because he was scared and acted like a coward. He than goes on to say that he would never to that to a friend which prompts there friendship and shows that they have made up and are now friends. This is symbolic because it shows the two races working in harmony even though the 'German' side of the equation had done wrong to the 'Jews'. Bruno also becomes less innocent as well because he becomes more aware of the people around him and there actions.

Chapter 14 - TBITSP

1. What information do we get that makes the reader start to feel that he is becoming less innocent and more ignorant? Shmuel tells Bruno about the striped pyjamas and why there where them. This causes Bruno to start complaining about the fact that he doesn't get to wear striped pyjamas and has to wear shirts, shorts and ties. This adds to innocence of Bruno and that he wants to wear pyjamas all day rather than boring clothes. This also relates to Bruno's lack of understanding of discipline outside his house and his lack of understanding of the camps.

2. What is interesting about the weather and how does it relate to the overall emotion of this stage in the book? The is interesting and a coincidence that it begins to rain and become all miserable during a very emotion stage during the book because at the time Pavel becomes very weak and Shmuel is being beaten within the camp.

3. What does Bruno accidentally say to Gretel? "I hate the rain too, I should be with Shmuel by now. He'll think I've forgotten him" is accidentally said to Gretel and is very crucial because he is not meant to be talking to the jews.

4. Is Bruno able to consider Gretel's feelings? How do you know? Bruno is able to consider Gretel's feelings to an exempt because he thinks she to must be bored at Auschwitz as all she has to do is rearrange her dolls. He thinks that she would rather be playing with her friends, as he would, back in Berlin. He feels he must talk to Gretel because he suspects they both are bored.

5. What is it that motivates Bruno not to tell Gretel the truth? How does this portray Bruno as being selfish? Bruno is motivated to not tell the truth to Gretel because he thinks that Shmuel will be taken from him and Gretel would make him her friend. This shows that Bruno has an ignorant and selfish attitude towards Gretel and wants Shmuel all to himself.

6. What is it that Bruno realises when he starts recounting what Shmuel tells him? Why do you think that this is when he finally starts to realise what Shmuel is experiencing? Bruno begins to put the pieces together and recounts the stories in which Shmuel tells him and releases how sad Shmuel's story is about his grandfather and that he can't be found within the camp. He begins to lose his innocence and understand Shmuel's point of view rather than trying to relate his view with his own. He also becomes more sensitive to others feelings rather than his own and begins to realises to listen to others.

7. What is ironic and hypocritical about what Gretel tells Bruno regarding imaginary friends? It is ironic because Gretel thinks that it is childish to have an imaginary friend when she has created her own within her dolls. It is also hypocritical because she thinks it is childish when she does it, and she is only thirteen.

Chapter 13 - TBITSP

1. How does the initial paragraph frame Bruno's state of mind? Bruno's entail change of mind is changing because of his focus on Shmuel and that he is spending so much time with him rather than complaining about leaving Berlin.

2. What does the question Bruno asks Maria show about his development? Bruno asks Maria about Pavel and if he really did use to be a doctor or is he a waiter for the family. By asking this it shows his development as a person and the separation between the standard nazi german and that he doesn't just ignore information put forward and is persistent and seeking the truth

3. What is important about Maria's reaction to Bruno's question?  It is  important to the story because for the first time gives another point of view of family and also shows more juxtaposition within the story (i.e. Kotler and Maria) and another division of the family.

4. Why does Bruno want to tell Shmuel about Pavel? What does this highlight about Bruno's understanding of what is going on? Bruno wants to tell Shmuel about Pavel because he wants to know if there is a link between them. This also highlights that Bruno has to understand some factors about the jews and that they had jobs before they arrived there.

5. What do the boys argue about? Who does Bruno defend? Who is right/wrong? Why? Shmuel and Bruno begin to argue about the soldiers and whether or not they are good or bad. Bruno does think that some soldiers are bad, but also good because he thinks his father is good. Shmuel however thinks that all the soldiers are bad. I believe that they both are right because they would be some good soldiers that Shmuel may have not meet (not assigned to deal with the jews) but there is undoubtedly bad soldiers. Also, the point of view is heavily based upon there nationality as well for example, a proud Nazi thinks they are good and that the Holocaust is good as opposed to a jews point of view.

6. Shmuel says 'You don't know what it's like here.' and Bruno reacts by saying 'You don't have any sisters, do you?' He says this to avoid an answer to Shmuel. What does this show about Bruno's understanding of what is happening? Bruno is beginning to understand the darkness behind the fence and wants to hold on to the innocence he has but it is beginning to fade. This also shows that he is getting more information, a key aspect which is hid for most Germans to conceal the darkness of the camps. He also doesn't want to get involved with his father and his work because he also suspects his dad is involved.

7. What connection do the boys have regarding Lt. Kotler? The boys connections to Lt. Kotler is that both believe that he is a bully and a mean person. They are also frightened of him a and that he is a generally bad man.

8. What has changed in the the way Bruno sees Pavel? Bruno begins to notice Pavel as a person and everything he does around the house such as waitering for the family, rather a  'slave'. He also, rather than looking past him and never notice him, begins to notice everything he does in detail. He also begins to view Pavel over a week to week basis.

9. What important words are used to describe the way the father eats and addresses Bruno? What makes them important? How do they relate to the scene and the father as a character? Bruno's father's way of eating is described as 'attacking a leg of lamb' which shows the way in which he approaches factors in his life. Not only did he 'attack' his food but he also pointed with a knife and shrugged his shoulders which are both considered in-polite. This shows the authority of Bruno's father and that he is has no rules within there household.

10. We learn Lt. Kotler's first name - 'Kurt'. What is it about the sounds in his full name that are important? 'Kurt Kotler' By giving the name 'Kurt' to Lt. Kotler it adds upon the metaphor of him being the perfect Nazi German as he already has blonde hair, blue eyes and now has a alliterate name.
11. What do we learn about Kotler's father? What is Bruno's father's reaction/suggestion regarding Kotler's father leaving Germany for Switzerland?  We learn a very important fact about Kotler which is that his father is a teacher who moved out of Germany to Switzerland in 1938. Bruno's father's reaction is that he feels insulted and that Kotler's father would leave Germany and even during a time of her uprising.

12. What happens to break the tension at the dinner table? What does Kotler do and what are everyone's reactions? What does Bruno decide regarding disagreeing with anyone anymore after seeing what happens to Kotler? What does this relate to historically in regards to the Nazis?' A wine bottle is dropped by Pavel which breaks the tension at the table. Most of the wine is spilt over Kotler and he gets very angry and beats him up which causes Gretel to go white and Bruno to start to cry. Bruno then decides that he not disagree with anyone or complain to anyone anymore. He does this because he thinks that he would get yelled at like Pavel by Kotler or similar and decides better keep his mouth shut. This historically relates to the Nazis and there contempt with power over the Jews and that even other Germans fear powerful military based Nazis.

Angus Macrae Evaluation

• Participation Contributes with relevant 'one-word' answers, but only when needed and not any depth
• What questions/answers they ask The questions he asked is very relevant but in some instances are badly worded, answered question that was very important
• Do they know what they are talking about He does know what he is talking about because his questions are relevant and show the depth in his answers however doesn't contribute in a minimal range
• Overall what is your impression of their understanding of what is happening in the chapter  I believe he does have a good understanding of the chapter as seen through his comments to the juxtaposition between Shmuel and Bruno, and there journey to Auschwitz 
• Mark - 8.5/10

Chapter 11 and 12 - TBITSP

What are the main themes of the novel so far?

There are several themes within the novel so far but there are only a few main themes. These themes include: the cruelty of the Germans to the Jews, the Holocaust experience, 

What are the main techniques?

Juxtaposition, dramatic irony (also dark), 

Think of 5 important questions for each of these two chapters about how important motifs and themes play a role in each chapter.

Chapter 11

• How does dramatic irony play an important role in this chapter (seen through the short phases towards the end of the chapter)
• What is the use of juxtaposition in this chapter between the mothers reaction and fathers reaction
• What is the use of juxtaposition between Gretels and Bruno's reaction to the 'Fury' and 'Her'
• What is the technique used between 'the Fury' and 'Her' manners and how they act
• What imagery is used in the describing of 'Her' (Eva)

Chapter 12

• How is Bruno's seen less innocent in this chapter
• What is an example of juxtaposition in the chapter and why is it used
• Why do you think Bruno sees past the facts in front of him (i.e. Shmuel catching the overcrowded train, how the guards treat Shmuel and his 'kind')
• Why do you think Shmuel was hesitant to asking the question 'do you have any food?'
• Do you think Bruno honestly feels that he is equal done wrong by as Shmuel