Devil's Arithmetic By: Jane Yolen

Home SettingCharacters Character Study ProblemPlotResolution Story map

Characters  Hannah  Chaya  Grandpa Will  Aunt Eva  Ron Ron  Gitl  Shmuel  Rachel  Esther  Yente  Shifre  Fayge  Rivka  Blokova  Commandant Breuer  Wolfe

Character Study - Fayge  Before Fayge went to the camp she was a pretty young woman who was getting married to Shmuel.  She had a strong nose like a bird of prey and beautiful black hair. She is very wealthy.  All she can think about is her wedding.  During the train ride to the camp she seems to begin to lose her mind.  She doesn’t talk anymore and seems very sad.  She loses her desire to live.  She gets killed by the Nazi’s when she runs to Shmuel at the execution

Plot  Hannah got sent back in time and is now Chaya. She is going to Shmuel’s wedding with all the other villagers. when they get there the Nazi’s are waiting for them. They get sent on cattle cars and arrive at the camp. She is at the camp and Shmuel tries to escape with others but get caught and are shot to death. Later her friend Rivka gets chosen but Hannah goes instead of Rivka. At last she was sent to the future again.

Problem  Will Hannah survive the camp?  Will she be less selfish?  Will the others survive the camp?

Setting Present  In an apartment building in New Rochelle, New York  In the middle of Passover Past  Poland  In a concentration camp  1940’s

Resolution  Chaya does not survive. She goes in the gas chamber. Hannah survives and goes to the future.  She is not very selfish anymore.  Gitl And Rivka survive the camp.

Bibliography Yolen, Jane. Devil’s Arithmetic. New York: puffin books. 1988