boy in striped pjs essay answers
Uploaded by kkk0x0 · 30 October 2026
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Text from the first pagesPrejudice Languageofdehumanisation Thosepeople whenBruno stripsindividualidentitygroupingJewsintonameless mass they'renotpeopleatall iiftheyarenothumanrulesofmoralitynolongerapply extremecrueltyispsychologicallyacceptabletoperpetratorjustified removeshumanrightsandempathy 2Physicalbarrierssymbolisespatialideologicalsegregation growingflowersinaplacelikethiswassomethinggood The Houseisbettersuperior nogreeneryanywheregroundwasmadeofasandlikesubstances Thefencewasveryhighhigherthanthehousebalesofbarbed wireweretangledinspirals fencesignifiesdivide ifenceistheultimatephysicalmanifestationofprejudicethe manicuredillusionofcivilisationofonesideandindustrialized dehumanizationontheother BoyneforcesreadertolookthroughBruno'slensrecognizingthe absurdityofthedivide 3Physicalmarkersusedtoenforcesegregationareentirely superficial
WhenhesawhimselfinthemirrorBrunocouldn'thelpbutthink howmuchlikeShmuelhelookednow strippedoftailoredclothesstyledhairhebecomes indistinguishablefromundesirablesFatherismurdering shavedheaddestroysvisualhierarchythatNaziregimereliesuponto justifysuperiority BrunoresemblesShmuelBoynecompletelydismantlesideologyof prejudice divideismerelyamatterofclothingcircumstancenotinherent worth
Loyalty 1ProfessionalLoyaltyVsPersonalloyalty shetellsBrunohowFatherpaidforhermother'shospitalbills funeraloutofhisownpocketbecausehadbeenafriendtohis mother loyaltybuiltonahistoryofkindness difficultforMariatocriticizeFatherevenwhenheservesaregime shemightdisagreewith Maria'ssilenceisherformofloyaltywhichshetriestoteach Bruno2Theprotectivelie whenGretelcatchesBrunotalkingaboutShmuelheliesandsays Shmuelisanimaginaryfriend lieisanactofloyaltyBrunowouldratherbemockedthanrisk Shmuel's safety3Thetestofloyalty fearcancauseonetobetraytheirloyalties whenLieutenantKotlerasksifBrunoknowsShmuelBrunoliessaying I'veneverspokentohimI'veneverseenhimbeforeinmylife BrunoisterrifiedofKotler'sviolenceandchooses selfpreservationloyaltytoShmuel
therefore lowestpointofloyaltyhighlightingBruno'sinternalconflict
Friendship 1TheUltimateVow You'remybestfriendShmuelMybestfriendforlife repetitionofphrasefromChapter Bruno'soriginalideaofafriendshipbetweenbestfriendswasjust asimplechildishplaygroundlabel contrastwithcurrentcircumstanceswhereinhisfinalmoments herealisesthefriendshiphehaswithShmuelisaunbreakablevow madeinthefaceofdeath therefore truefriendshiptranscendsprejudicewarandultimatelydeathitself theboysbondistheonlythingthatsurvivesthehorrorofOut with2Aconnectionacrossthedivide bothboysshareabirthdaywhichmakesBrunosayWe'relike twins sharedbirthdaysymbolisestheirinherentequality metaphorGermancommander'ssonVSJewishprisoner beneaththattheyaremirrorsofeachother friendshipisaequalizingforcethatinstantlybreaksdownartificial prejudicesoftheadult world3Accountabilityforgiveness
Heliftedthebottomofthefenceupandthetwoboysshookhands smiledateachotherItwasthefirsttimetheyhadevertouched massivesymbolicbreakthrough physicaltouchbeneathfencesymbolizesconqueringthedivide truefriendshipisaforcepowerfulenoughtohealeventhedeepest betrayals
Sample character development focusing on analysing quote. (Note that I’ve left out the Point/Topic Sentence as this exercise is focusing on unpacking a quote) Quote: “I’m not sure,” said Bruno, sticking as close to the truth as possible. “But it’s not as nice as home”. (Quotes should not be more than 5 words) Context/Explanation followed by Explanation/Analysis of Quote (only for this exercise. In a normal paragraph, context comes after Point/Topic Sentence): Bruno says this when Bruno and Gretel look through the window of their new home and see the people and buildings on the other side of the fence. Bruno does not understand what the place actually is, so he judges it using the experiences that are familiar to him. His response reveals his child-like innocence because he recognises that something is wrong but cannot comprehend the true reason behind it. Zoom in to words/phrases and explain significance: The phrase “I’m not sure” immediately emphasises Bruno’s uncertainty and lack of knowledge. However, the phrase “sticking as close to the truth as possible” suggests that Bruno values honesty and genuinely tries to understand the world rather than deliberately ignoring what he sees. The contrast between “not as nice” and “home” is also significant. Bruno reduces a horrifying reality to the simple idea that the place is not as pleasant as his own home. This demonstrates how his innocence prevents him from recognising the suffering around him. Writer’s effect or purpose by writing the quote chosen: Boyne uses Bruno’s child-like perspective to create dramatic irony: the reader can understand the reality of the camp far more clearly than Bruno can. This makes Bruno appear innocent rather than deliberately ignorant. It also makes the reader increasingly uncomfortable because Bruno is observing terrible circumstances without possessing the knowledge or vocabulary to understand them. Boyne therefore encourages the reader to see the consequences of prejudice and violence through the perspective of a child. Link to broader themes/ideas presented in the novel: This quote links to the broader themes of innocence, prejudice, ignorance and the destructive consequences of a certain ideology. Bruno judges people by what he sees rather than by the labels imposed on them by the Nazis regime. His friendship with Shmuel later reinforces the idea that prejudice is learned rather than someone being born with it. Bruno initially sees another child, rather than seeing the racial discrimination that the Nazis have created. Through Bruno’s innocence, Boyne challenges the idea that people should be divided according to race, religion or social status.
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