Boy in Striped PJ's - Chapter 1

Bruno's Voice, introduction of characters, and victims

• Describe Bruno's voice. Give examples to support. Bruno's voice is very demanding and strong willed; he convicts a lot of passion and a lot of his feeling into his voice and he doesn't guard what he says.

• What characters are introduced? Describe each and give examples to support. Some of the characters who are introduced are Gretel, who Bruno describes as a 'hopeless case' and is his older sister; Mother who is very stressed and tired; Father who is very important and is never really home (not a family man); the maid and butler who are unimportant to Bruno/narrator 

• Who are presented as victims in this chapter and what are the victims of? Do you think that it is fair to consider them victims? The victim in this chapter is Bruno and it is because he and his friends had so much planned for their holidays, he's enjoying school, he has a big house, etc. but in an instant, all these luxuries and Privileges are taken away from him. With that, Bruno moves far away from his friends who he now can't carry out his 'plans' with, his school and his home into a house only three stories. I don't think it is fair to consider Bruno a victim because he is spoilt and this 'lesser life' he moves into is significantly better than that of most people and it is his parents fault if he feels that he is underprivileged and unlucky in the 3 story house he has moved into. Another reason it's not fair for Bruno (or Mother & Gretel) to feel bad or like victims is because their father/husband is responsible for the death of so many innocent people who are the real victims.

• Irony is an important element of the story. How is it used here in the first chapter? Give examples to support your answer. Dramatic irony is used a lot throughout this entire novel as he doesn't know what his dad's job is, he doesn't understand why he's moving or where he's moving to etc. He also doesn't understand why his grandparents wouldn't be coming, how long he's going for, how privileged he is or who the Fury is and his father's ties with him.

• How is the setting presented in this chapter? The setting is presented as a lonely place, "there were no other houses around, which meant there would be no kids for Bruno to play with." It's a very isolated area with no other houses, schools, buildings, etc.