The Dark Room | Topics for Discussion & Projects

The Dark Room Topics for Discussion

Do you believe Helmut's parents were too protective of him during his childhood? Why or why not?

In "Helmut," Herr Gladigau disappears following the bombing and fails to return to the shop. When Helmut attempts to find Gladigau, he finds the old man's home still intact. After reading the story, what do you think happened to Gladigau? Explain your answer.

Why do you think Helmut was smiling at the end of the story, for the first time in a photo? Explain your answer.

In "Lore," Tomas suggests that Lore's father is in a prison of the Russians, and is being punished for his actions during the war. Lore's grandmother, on the other hand, states that Lore's father has done nothing wrong. Explain why these two characters view the situation differently.

At the end of "Lore," Juri and Lore discover that Tomas stole his papers from a dead Jewish prisoner in...
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