Chapters 11+12

What are the main themes of the novel so far? A main theme is innocene - what they don't know won't hurt them - keep the population ignorant for control - plays on Bruno's innocence. 

What are the main techniques? Main techniques in book so far are Juxtaposition, x, y & z. Juxtaposition is making a comparison of two things. In war there are always two sides which are commonly juxtaposed by other countries choosing who to side with. In the holocaust, the two sides were the Jews and the Germans. Juxtaposition is used throughout the book to compare the two sides. Some of the few examples Bruno compares the two sides by are their dress, their presentation, their authority and their clothes. As there are many things two sides and be compared two, juxtaposition is definitely a key technique in the book 

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 questions: 

1. What is the significance of the 'Fury' coming to dinner? The significance of the Fury coming to dinner is that he is very powerful and in charge of Germany, "He runs the country, idiot," this quote is something Gretel said to Bruno in reference to  'the Fury.' Realistically the Fury plays a massive historical role - it's Hitler. At that time having Hitler come to your house would be the same as having Julia Guillard over for dinner; that sought of stuff doesn't happen and is a very big deal. 
2. What is the effect of father inviting Bruno and Gretel into his study to give them rules for the night? The effect of having father invite Bruno and Gretel into his study for dinner to give them rules for the night is that this is the first time they've ever been in there, "the study was out of bounds at all times and no exceptions," this quote was said by father when he got the study. Now He's letting them in. This makes tonight a big deal, so much so it literally goes beyond an exception.
3. What technique is used in reference to the fury and Father? What does it do for us (the readers)? (Page 121) The technique used in reference to the fury and Father is Juxtaposition. What it does for the reader is help describe to us what Hitler's build is - small. This helps us learn more about the main anitagonist in the Holocaust as it has historical meaning. 
4. "'The Fury has something he wants to discuss with me,' said Father, who was allowed to interupt Mother eve if no one else was." What does this quote show about Father's want for power? How is it symbolic of what all Germany was trying to achieve in the Holocaust? This quote is symbolic of how father would kick out his own rules to get his points across; to have power and authority. This is symbolic of how the Germans acted in the Holocaust by them throwing their rules and laws by killing millions so they could have more power and land. Just as Father was willing to throw out his own rules to get his point across as he felt it important, Germany was willing to go against their laws to become more powerful as they felt it important. This is important in understanding Germany's goal and the whole reason the Holocaust came to be in the first place. 
5. What silent message is said when the Fury sits in Father's seat? How does this sum up what how he treats the Jews? (page 122) The message that is said through the Fury sitting in Father's seat is that he deems himself more powerful and in charge despite the fact that he doesn't live at the house. This is immensely relevant in how the Jews were treated because despite the fact that he wasn't the parents of children he decided their fates and he wasn't a President or Prime Minister of Poland, but he still decided what their people would do. This want for power is what propelled the Nazi pursuit. Hitler and the Nazis however wouldn't have been told what to do. The do as I say not as I do theme is and underlying statement in the Holocaust along with the want for power - it's what fueled the war.

Chapter 12 Questions: 

1. What is significant about the two boys symbols? The significance of the two boys' symbols is that they're the symbols of the Jews and The Nazis. Bruno's symbol that is on Father's uniform is the one of the Nazis and Shmuel's symbol is the one of the Jews; these symbols represent the two sides in the war and plays a pretty big deal being the colours of either side. 
2. What is completely ironic about how the boys compare the two symbols?  What is completely ironic about how the boys compare the two symbols is that when they show each other their symbols, Bruno thinks Shmuel's is better and vice versa and they have a pleasent exchange of the two. What happened when the Nazis met the Jews however was they didn't exchange and casually chat about their symbols, the Nazis started taking Jews into captivity. This is also a form of dramatic irony as the boys don't know or understand this. The comparison of the two symbols is also an example of juxtaposition
3. How is the comparison of the train rides representative of the two sides? (page 129) The comparison of the train rides are representative of the two sides in that one of the trains was small and full of people (Jews) and the other was large and empty (Germans). The Germans have so much land and are so powerful that they can have few people to a lot of land whereas the Jews have many people to a little land. The power comparison is another example of Juxtaposition and how much strength each side possessed. 
4. How does the example of how much chocolate each of the boys have juxtaposise their upbringings? The example of how much chocolate each of the boys have juxtaposises their upbringings by Bruno having had a wealthy German family that could afford to by him lots of chocolate whereas Shmuel had a poor Jewish family that couldn't afford to buy him chocolate a all (he'd only ever had it once). This example of juxtaposition is another example of how much wealth the two sides had. 
5. What does Bruno notice as Shmuel walks away? How does it show how the Jews were treated in contrast to  the Germans? What Bruno notices as Shmuel walks away is how skinny he is. This shows how the Jews were treated in contrast to the Germans by Bruno walking home to a "beef that was roasting in the oven" whereas Shmuel wouldn't have had any food for dinner because the Jews weren't given much if any food in Auschwitz. This is another example of Juxtaposition and the immense different in power in the Holocaust.