Topic: Puzzled

What I’m puzzled about is why Bruno pretended not to know Shmuel when Shmuel was at Bruno’s house. Bruno was surprised to see Shmuel in the kitchen. And as much as Bruno was sheltered and naive, he did not admit that he had a friendship with Shmuel. Bruno offered Shmuel food without understanding that he could get Shmuel into big trouble if Shmuel was caught eating food. When Shmuel was caught eating, he told Lt. Kotler that he and Bruno were friends. Even though Shmuel was telling the truth, Lt. Kotler didn’t believe him. Bruno may or may not have known that Shmuel wouldn’t be believed by Lt. Kotler. Still, he lied and said he didn’t know who Shmuel was. I don’t think he intentionally tried to get his friend in trouble, more as he was intimidated by Lt. Kotler, and didn’t want to say something wrong. What would happen if Bruno told the truth? Would he get in trouble or scolded, or would Shmuel still be the one to take the blame? Would Bruno not be allowed to hang out with Shmuel anymore? Would there be a change of heart? Realistically, probably not. No matter what Bruno would say, Shmuel would still possibly take the fall. Bruno would be seen as a child who didn’t know any better. Shmuel however, wouldn’t, and would get a harsh punishment. Shmuel thought that his only friend would back him up. I can’t imagine what he felt when Bruno said he didn’t know him. He was betrayed by everyone, and now his only friend, Bruno, did the same. Even though Bruno later apologized to Shmuel, I don’t think he forgave him completely. I feel like Shmuel was forced to forgive him, because he had no friends except for Bruno. If he chose not to forgive Bruno, their friendship would likely be over, and that would be that. There would be no one happy.

Topic: Imagery/Symbolism

For Bruno, Berlin is home and full of life. Berlin is color; beauty; busy, crowded streets; freedom; his Grandmother and Grandfather who live close by. We see how much Berlin affected him. Bruno is a character who uses his senses to learn about his world. We understand his connection to Berlin by what he sees, hears, smells and tastes, and touches. How he loves his home on a quiet street with the many floors, the “enormous oak doors,” (9) his bedroom, the “nooks and crannies,” and the long banister that he slides down. When Bruno arrives at his new home outside of Out-With, he immediately dislikes it. He thinks “everything about it seemed to be the exact opposite of their old home.” (11) In contrast, Out-With is in an “empty, desolate place” with no other houses around and no other families with children to play with. The new house was cold and bland. Bruno made a bold statement shortly after arriving: “This isn’t home and it never will be.” (16) And something “made him feel cold and unsafe.” (20) Everything that Berlin represents is being, breathing, growing. While Out-With is cold, nasty, stunted, decaying. The Out-With prisoners that Bruno sees outside the window are in contrast to the people he saw in Berlin. The buildings and huts on the Out-With camp are plain and utilitarian, no things of beauty. Everything he is learning about Out-With is the complete opposite of what his experiences were in Berlin. Every detail, even the people in the striped pajamas and matching caps represent opposites in Bruno’s world. On the train ride to Out-With, Bruno and his family ride in a near empty comfortable train while across the platform another train car headed in the same direction is being load with crowds of people. We see how things change quickly for Bruno and how Berlin is the complete opposite of Out-With.

Topic: Characterization

Bruno is a significant character because the story is his. He is the protagonist in the story. Bruno is happy, young (9 years old) and naive. In Berlin, there is beauty, color, friends and freedom–freedom to explore indoors and outdoors. Bruno is near-sighted, only seeing what is directly in front of him and only what his parents show him. This is understandable because of his age. The truth is hidden from him and he spends a lot of time guessing what is happening around him–he does not know what his father does for a living, but he knows what his friends’ fathers do for a living. In his family, when conversations are not for children, Bruno is told to leave. On several occasions, he tries to listen in and eavesdrop and piece together bits of information, but because of his immaturity, he is not able to. What Bruno seems to know is that his father has an important job, soldiers visit his home, and his father’s office at home is “Out Of Bounds At ALL Times And No Exceptions.” At the party when his Grandmother was upset with Bruno’s father, Bruno has no idea why. It is clear to the reader why Bruno’s Grandmother is so upset with her son. When Bruno’s father gets promoted to “Commandant,” Bruno does no idea what that means. Bruno is upset that the family had to move from his home to the place he calls Out-With. At Out-With, he misses his old house in Berlin, he misses his friends, and he misses exploring outside. Bruno thinks the new house feels “empty and cold.” (13). There is no beauty, no friends, no color, no freedom. He is told not to venture toward to camp with the barbed wire fence. After a while Bruno sees beyond his own home and begins to explore.