ThE Boy In The Striped Pyjamas Accessing question two

The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas !Some facts to help! A fantastic but disturbing book you need to get out of the library Written by John Boyne Set during the Second World War It is about two boys who become friends One boy is Jewish (Shmuel) and one boy is German (Bruno) They make friends despite living on two sides of a fence Bruno’s Dad is high up in the Nazi party and lives with his family in the living quarters of a Jewish Concentration Camp; he is not aware of what is really happening on Shmuel’s side of the fence.

Nazi Germany

The Boy in the Striped pyjamas Spotting language devices: A beginners guide Alliteration Adjectives Simile Metaphor Simple sentence Complex sentence Compound sentence Nouns Verbs

Writers use these devices like an artist uses paints (Cat is optional)

BISP Q2 How does the writer use language in each example to show Shmuel’s feelings? a) Lines 1 to 3: Before we came here I lived… b) Line 5: I had a beautiful watch… c) Line 9: They took it from me… d) Line 11: The soldiers, of course…

EXAMPLE RESPONSE: HOW TO PLAN A RESPONSE Connective hints at his previous life; he had a life before the one he now endures across the fence from Bruno. LOOK FOR: Type of sentence used and any adjectives used “Before we came here I lived with my mother and father and my brother Josef in a small flat above the store where Pappa makes his watches.”

EXAMPLE RESPONSE

SQI help Statement: A statement linked to the question – “How does Shmuel feel?” Quote: A quote in speech marks. Inference: What can you infer from this line? How does Shmuel feel? What language devices are used and how are they effective in terms of showing how he feels? (Language terminology) Example: Shmuel feels nostalgic about the flat he used to live in: “I lived with my mother and father and my brother Josef in a small flat above the store where papa makes his watches.” Boyne uses the adjective “small” to describe the flat which emphasises the fact that although the flat was perhaps limited in terms of its space, he misses it as he does not use more negative adjectives to describe it like “cramped” or “tiny”. The compound sentence in which he lists all of his family members conveys the size of his family as large compared to the “small” flat This evokes a rather warm and cosy feeling emphasising Shmuel’s longing for his old life. The use of the present tense in the line “papa makes his watches” perhaps hints at the idea that Shmuel is in denial about the reality of his situation; they no longer live there but he wishes he did.

Explosions help – Use these prompts to help you plan your SQI paragraphs Line 5: “I had a beautiful watch that he gave me but I don’t have it anymore.” Comment on: Use of the adjective “beautiful” and what is shows about Shmuel’s feelings towards the watch? Use of the connective “but” in this compound sentence and how this connective changes the tone of the sentence. Line 9: “They took it from me, “ said Shmuel. Comment on: Effect of the verb “took” and what it implies i.e. it was taken without his consent. Use of the simple sentence – what effect does this have on the tone of the sentence? The pronoun “They” and what it suggests about Shmuel’s feelings towards the soldiers?

SQI help – Prompts for line 11 “The soldiers, of course,” said Shmuel as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.” Comment on: Shmuel’s attitude towards Bruno here – what does it show about his feelings? What about the clause “of course”- how does that show his annoyance? What about the third person narrative view point? How does this add to our understanding of Bruno’s feelings?

Sentence starters to help Bruno feels …….. Using this (insert term e.g. adjective): conveys/presents/ suggests/implies/illustrates/highlights/reinforces/reflects/ Boyne’s use of….. Including……(e.g. a subordinate clause)

SELF ASSESSMENT Check list Clear statement related to question e.g. Shmuel is presented as feeling…. Clearly marked quote in quotation marks AFTER the statement “”They took it from me”, said Shmuel.” Clear identification in your inference section of the terms used in your quote The adjective……. Deep exploration of the EFFECT of the terms used in your quote Using this adjective enables the reader to empathise with Shmuel’s feelings because……. When re referring to words from your quote you put them in quotation marks. See SQI example when I re refer to “small” several times