1. In Chapter 27, the burning of the bodies begins at Plaszow. Keneally says "In the enthusiasm of the spring of 1943, bodies--notably the bodies of those killed in the ghetto's last two days--were thrown randomly into mass graves in the woods." Having read of the number killed in the ghetto clearances, and knowing how many have been killed since at Plaszow, describe how you think this level of murder could be completely hidden. If you think it cannot be completely hidden, tell why you think that.

2. How does witnessing the activities in Krakusa Street affect Schindler?

3. Chapters 1-5 describe a point in the war when Germany was advancing quickly, yet little of the actual war movement is described. Why do you think the author chose to do this?

4. At the beginning of Chapter 6, Keneally describes Oskar Schindler using "portable wealth--diamonds, gold, trade goods" as the desirable currency of the day. Describe some of the "trade goods" that you think might have been used as currency or barter since much of the Jewish wealth had been confiscated.

5. The ghetto's last morning, as detailed in Chapter 20, was on a Shabbat. Amon Goeth was in Peace Square to supervise. Discuss the imagery Keneally wrote into this scene, and how that imagery made the scene more effective.

6. Mila and Poldek Pfefferberg meet and marry in the Jewish ghetto. Why might Keneally have included this information in the midst of the ghetto clearance, in which thousands were killed.

7. In the Prologue, the prostitute with Goeth guides him up the stairs rather than toward the back of the house. Keneally refers to this as "the sorority in operation." What does he mean by that?

8. At the beginning of Chapter 14, Keneally says "Even in the summer of 1942 it was impossible to guess at the connections between such a man as this and those ovens of extraordinary cubic capacity." What does he mean by this?

9. Oskar eventually returns to Frankfurt, where he decides to go into industry again. What type of business does he open?

10. Henry Rosner recalls that, even after the war, Oskar was the "great discoverer of unprocurables." What did he obtain in Munich that seemingly no one else could obtain?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Chapter 9, Oskar's old motorcycle-riding friends push him toward a reconciliation with his father, even as Oskar can't bring himself to give up his mistresses and bring his wife to Cracow to live with him. He's also begun to be inconvenienced by the number of his workers being press-ganged each day to shovel snow or perform other menial tasks. Oskar originally saw his father as a larger-than-life figure, but when he finally spoke with him, Keneally says, "so Oskar decided that even Herr Hans Schindler was human." Describe how you think these things mirror each other, showing us the development in the story of Oskar Schindler as a more well-rounded person, allowing us to understand some possible motivation behind the risks he would eventually take.

Essay Topic 2

Examine the different ways Oskar Schindler defies authority. Although he doesn't participate in outright defiance, like bombing buildings, his defiance is still measurable. Describe at least three ways Oskar defies "the system," and give specific examples from the book.

Essay Topic 3

What message do you think Keneally is trying to convey in this novel? The author chose not to write this as a biography of Schindler, and most novels have an underlying theme or message. What did you come away with after reading this book? What do you think Keneally wanted to convey? Are those the same, or do you think you got something a little different out of the book than Keneally intended? If so, why?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 999 words
(approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page)

View a FREE sample

More summaries and resources for teaching or studying Schindler's List.

View all Lesson Plans available from BookRags.

Copyrights

BookRags