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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 attracts Lore to a particular tree?

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

3. What happens when Lore and her siblings must cross a river with a broken bridge?

4. What does Lore have to give up to get more food and shelter for a night?

5. What opportunity is Helmut given in 1945?

Short Essay Questions

1. Helmut finally gets to join the army. What does this imply about the state of Germany at this point in the war?

2. 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?

3. When Lore offers to buy food from the woman who gives her bread and milk, she asks if Lore has anything other than money. Why does the woman not prefer money?

4. As part of Papi's pay, Gladigau takes family portraits while Helmut grows up. How do the family portraits play a role in this story and what progression is observed from when Helmut is a newborn to the last individual photo?

5. When the Americans question Lore, Tomas shows up with papers and tells them they are a family. What do the papers show and why does Seiffert mention a tattoo on Tomas' arm?

6. The Third Reich is at its height when Helmut is a teenager. How does this age and Helmut's life affect his acceptance and loyalty to the Third Reich?

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

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

9. During one of Helmut's walks around the city, he encounters the SS collecting and trucking the gypsies away. What is Helmut's reaction to this event?

10. Other than Lore, what do the children know of the current situation?

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

The novel touches upon lots of judgments and racism. Compare and contrast generational differences to these issues. How do the Omas feel? How do children of the veterans feel? Grandchildren?

Essay Topic 3

Seiffert writes over many generations in the novel. World War II ended in 1945 yet Micha is affected in the late 1990s when he learns about his Opa. Write about how history affects the present. This paper may take one of two paths, politically or personally. Choose only one avenue.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,472 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample