Holocaust Imagery - Hitler at a Nazi Rally

This is an image of a political rally in 1934, a staple of the Nazi regime. In your own blog post answer the questions below and include the image.

How are vectors used in this image? What effect does it have?
Vectors are used in this image to create a line of sight from Hitler in the foreground to the crowds in the background. This shows the viewer the size of the crowd and thus the number of people who have come to see Hitler at this political rally.
Describe the composition of the image and what is tells us about the Nazis and Hitler.
Hitler is located in front of high ranking officers showing his power over those people and he is surrounded by the swastika banners by what appears to military supporters each one with swastika arm bands. This use of uniformed men create a sense of order and the use of the banners show how important Hitler is compared to the rest of the populace.
How is symmetry used? What effect does it have?
Symmetry is used in the two lines of banners with men holding the banners creating a pathway for Hitler and official party to walk down. The effect this symmetry shows is the strength of the political party in support.
What effect does this picture being in black and white have?
The effect the picture has in being black and white blends all the uniformed men into one large group emphasising the number of people located in the crowd supporting Hitler. The black and white imagery also symbolises the ideology of the Nazi party's ideals about the Jewish people.
The contrast of the dark Nazi soldiers and of the colour of the crowd being a lighter colour represents the need the crowd has for to be leaded out of the dark time Germany was currently in.
Discuss the use of line in this image. What effect does it have?
The line created by the walkway moving into the distance accompanied with the large crowds aligned on each side show the order of the party in organisation and power in sheer numbers.
The straight lines used in the banners show the order within the Nazi party and of the ideologies the Nazi party supports.

Chapter 3: The Hopeless Case

List quotes that show how the new house is described.
"Well, what's Out-With  then?" he repeated "Out with What?"
"That's the name of the house,". This quote shows the ignorance of Bruno but also shows the mysterious of the house and area and how Bruno nor Gretel no about the implications of the area. " His house in Berlin didn't even have a name : it was just number four."
Describe how Bruno and Gretel's relationship is introduced in the chapter.
The relationship between Bruno and Gretel is introduced as being a stereotypical brother sister relationship. This is shown through how Bruno describes Gretel as being a "hopeless case".
It was very hollow and he decided that he better not go jumping around this house too often or it might collapse around their ears. What is the significance of this quote?

The significance of this quote shows Bruno's thoughts about the house and describes the age and built the house is. By describing it as about to "collapse around their ears" also highlights Bruno's dislike for the house.

What is Bruno's reaction to the new house?

Bruno's reaction to the new house is of despise and dislike by describing it as being "hollow" and with nothing to do.

How does it compare to their old house?

The old house is described a large amount in this chapter to juxtapose the new house, the old house as described by Bruno as being nice, large and well built.

How does Gretel relate to her father?

Gretel holds their father in high regard as it is described as "Gretel, who always spoke of Father as if he could never do any wrong and never got angry and always came in to kiss her goodnight before she went to sleep".
Gretel lines up her dolls like her father organising the troops. Gretel enjoys the sense of power and superiority over Bruno while her father has power over the troops (being a high ranking officer). Bruno is represented as being a Jew as having less power and that the dolls symbolise the troops of her father.

Does Bruno understand where they are? What makes you believe this?

Bruno does not understand the significance of the area or where the house is situated because it is a common motif of Bruno mispronouncing the well known Auschwitz as "Out-With"

Does Gretel understand where they are? Explain.

Gretel does not fully understand where they as she replies to Bruno's question of why the area is called "Out-With" by saying it was the name of the house.

How is Bruno's description of 'Out-with' represent a motif? What is darkly ironic about this?

Bruno's description of "Out-with" as it being desolate and bare with no life shows this is the representation of what is occurring inside the concentration camp. 

Read pgs 27-29. How are Bruno's and Gretel's reaction to 'the children' Bruno sees through the window different? What does this tell us about these two characters and 

their perception/understanding of where they are?
Bruno is curious about the children while Gretel is cautious of what the children are doing there and why they are on the other side of the fence. This shows the lack of knowledge Bruno juxtaposed to Gretel's understanding of the situation.

Responding to a Poem

We fight, we die
we fight for morales.
We were taught to fight against oppression
to fight against the strong for the weak.
We all send men into the machine of war to fight for 'the little guy', to fight against the oppressors for the oppressed. We fight with the fear of another massacre, the next terrorist attack another holocaust. We fight for the fallen, we fight for the war to end wars, the war for the better morales. We fight for our governments, for the fallen. We fight in the fear of another holocaust, another massacre, another terrorist attack. We fight for the fallen, we fight for the memory, we fight for morales, but is it right?

Responding to a poem

Holocaust
by Barbara Sonek

We played, we laughed
we were loved.
We were ripped from the arms of our
parents and thrown into the fire.
We were nothing more than children.
We had a future. We were going to be lawyers, rabbis, wives, teachers, mothers. We had dreams, then we had no hope. We were taken away in the dead of night like cattle in cars, no air to breathe smothering, crying, starving, dying. Separated from the world to be no more. From the ashes, hear our plea. This atrocity to mankind can not happen again. Remember us, for we were the children whose dreams and lives were stolen away.


What is your initial reaction to this poem?

The initial reaction of the poem starts off somewhat cheerful because by stating "played ... laughed" both of those words have positive connotations but with "we" placed before the words shows the atmospheric sadness.

How does the author use 'we' in this poem?

The author uses "we" to create a sense of the number of the people. The use of using "we" towards the start of the poem shows the number of people before the alludes towards the holocaust.

What are the verbs used in the first sentence?

The verbs used in the first sentence are "played ... laughed" these verbs have positive connotations towards the narrator's life.

What are the verbs used in the second sentence? How do they contrast with those used in the first sentence?

The verb used in the second sentence "loved" has negative connotations juxtaposed to "played ... laughed" because "loved" suggests once being loved by someone then no longer.What effect does the listing of 'lawyers, rabbis, wives, teachers, mothers'? What is it meant to signify?

The effect by listing "lawyers, rabbis, wives, teachers" signify the joy in once having dreams to become what they wanted to become is now destroyed for all people in the situation.

What simile is used in the poem and what effect does it have?

The simile "we were taken away in the dead of night like cattle in cars" and the further listing of the conditions compare their lives towards animals being sent to an abattoir.

How has the poet represented herself in the last sentence?

The poet represents herself as being one of the dead pleading for the living to never allow such atrocities to ever happen again to anyone else.

If you could communicate to this person, a victim of the Holocaust, what would you want to say? What do you feel that you must do in your life as a response to this poem?

I would communicate to this person saying all that had happened in the world describing each recent incident that has recently occurred in the world. Some of these occurrences may be seen as horrific but is an example as the world improving from what it used to be.

The Boy in the Striped PJ's - Chapter 2

Using quotes, how is the new house described?
The new house is described as being juxtaposed to the new house by listing all the qualities of the old house " The house in Berlin had stood on a quiet street and alongside it were a handful of other big houses like his own, and it was always nice to look at them" this listing of the old house does not describe the new house but lists the old house this creates a visual image into the audiences mind.

How does it compare to the house in Berlin? How is this an example of juxtaposition?
The house compares to the house in Berlin as being the complete opposite of the old house "The house in Berlin had stood on a quiet street and alongside it were a handful of other big houses like his own, and it was always nice to look at them"

How is Bruno's reaction and discussion of the new house taken by the other characters? What is ironic about the way people treat Bruno's comments regarding the new house?
Bruno's reaction towards the house was written as "Bruno's eyes opened wide, his mouth made the shape of an O and his arms stretched out at his sides once again" this large reaction highlights Bruno's childishness and how he sees the new house. This reaction is juxtaposed towards the other characters such as his mother as she tries to console Bruno about the new house.

Do you feel empathetic towards Bruno's new home? Why/why not?
Bruno's overreaction of the new house creates a level of sympathy but it is incredibly exaggerated this is shown by the listing of all qualities of the old house "Bruno's reaction towards the house was written as "Bruno's eyes opened wide, his mouth made the shape of an O and his arms stretched out at his sides once again" this large reaction highlights Bruno's childishness and how he sees the new house."

Boy in Striped PJ's - Chapter 1

• Describe Bruno's voice. Give examples to support.

Burno's voice can be described as being childish because of the diction he illustrates in the first opening paragraph this can be seen through the use of run on sentences "who always kept her head bowed and never looked up ... - standing in his bedroom"

• What characters are introduced? Describe each and give examples to support.

The characters introduced would be Maria who is the family maid who is described as being loyal and humble "who always kept her head bowed and looked up from the carpet". Bruno who is the main character and narrator who is shown as being young. Bruno's mother is described as having "long red hair" and caring for Bruno offering him explanations and consolation for Bruno. 

• 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 victims can be seen towards the end of the chapter being Bruno having to leave the family house and never knowing of why his father is always away working some unknown job. This is an unusual character to be seen as a victim as it is alluded early on that he is German during World War 2. ‘But what about our house?’ asked Bruno. ‘Who’s going to take care of it while we’re gone?’

• Irony is an important element of the story. How is it used here in the first chapter? Give examples to support your answer.

The irony shown towards the end of the chapter is that even his mother is unknown of the new job and why the whole family has to move for his father's unknown job "‘What kind of job?’ asked Bruno, because if he was honest with himself."

• How is the setting presented in this chapter?

Setting is presented in this chapter as Bruno being a child living in a house that he is extremely happy about but due to unforeseen circumstances has to move to a new setting. The house is shown as having having secret areas these secret areas show that he has lived in this house for most of his childhood life.

The vector as seen in the barbed wire located in the foreground of the shot travels down into the background towards the guard tower which represents the security and how trapped the Jews were. This vector also shows the great distance as it becomes almost infinite in the distance showing how large Auschwitz is.

The colours used and the time of year with the snow represents the how cold and the pain that would have been endured in the cold months of this camp.

The use of parallel lines in the background of the barbed wire fence show how systematic the Nazis were to create a perfect camp for the destruction of the Jewish race.

The situation of the camera located looking into the camp shows may represent the Nazi looking into the camp. The camera is located between the two barbed wire fences representing the Nazis watching the Jews in the camp.

The contrast of the snow and of the barbed wire black fence represents the harsh black and white differences of the Nazi ideals with the Jews meaning that you are either in or out.

This high angle shot of the front gate of Auschwitz with the main focus of the famous 'Work Sets You Free' on the sign highlights people could not leave by the modern day people walking freely in and out of the camp.

The two posts of the gate show the power within Auschwitz of the Nazis over the Jews.

The contrasting colours of the snow and the bricks represents the contrasting views over the Jews in Nazi Germany

The mass of people located in the middle highlights how the Jews were not able to escape Auschwitz

The large fence shows the power the Nazis over the Jews and how they were not able to escape.