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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Lore's role in the family?

2. Which of Helmut's family portraits does Papi usually prefer?

3. What does Lore leave behind when Lore and the children leave a woman's home?

4. Why does the farmer's wife ask if Lore's mother is still around?

5. What opportunity is Helmut given in 1945?

Short Essay Questions

1. Helmut does not ever speak of Germany's purge of its own population. Does Helmut, as a common civilian, know about the prison camps in other parts of Germany? Does it make a difference in his beliefs?

2. Why is Lore's family moving around and hiding in the farm valley? From whom are they hiding?

3. Tomas helps Lore and her family out of trouble and follows them. Why? What does he gain from the situation? Is he just being nice?

4. Although Seiffert does not say much about the farmers, what are the implied feelings of the farmers?

5. Helmut catalogues Berlin through his snapshots. For months, Helmut sees the emptying of the city. When Gladigau interprets the pictures, he sees Berlin as the home it always is. What does Helmut learn about photography from this experience?

6. Helmut is cast to the side with the weak during physical education. Helmut tries to "prove himself" for whom and why?

7. Mutti and Papi love their son, but there is a stubborn denial that there is anything wrong with Helmut. What does it finally take them to accept the truth and how do they handle it?

8. At night, when the bombs are close, Helmut shouts at the noise. Why does he feel this need? What does it do for him?

9. Describe Lore's role in the family.

10. Helmut loses his parents and Gladigau is away. Helmut is often cold, hungry, and completely alone. How does he feel about the war at this stage?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Helmut speaks of loyalty and pride in regards to the Third Reich. However, Helmut is human and more complex than having a simple faith. How does Helmut show indications that his loyalty are also feelings that are self-serving and not for the people of Germany?

Essay Topic 2

In Micha's story, Micha gets angry that the school only teaches about the occupation from the victim's perspective. This novel offers the German's perspective. Write a short paper on how this novel changed your ideas about WWII. Has it changed? How has it changed? Did you ever consider the human side of the German soldiers before? If so, does this novel give you a better idea?

Essay Topic 3

Describe in detail and follow the progression of Lore's feelings for Tomas. How does she feel about him when she first sees him? How does she feel about Tomas when Juri asks about him on the ferry?

(see the answer keys)

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