Chapter 3, Stillenstadt, Part 8 Summary

Ernie playacts his life as a chivalrous hero. He spends his time with a gang of Christian children but leaves them when he is required to fight or wield a sword in the playacting. The friends decide to portray Passion of Christ, choosing Ernie to be the Jew who put Christ to death. Ernie refuses to utter, "crucify him." The children insist that Ernie crucified Jesus. The children spit on Ernie and attack him and he is knocked unconscious. Two boys carry Ernie to his house. He lies, unconscious, still protesting that he never said to kill Jesus.

Chapter 3, Stillenstadt, Part 8 Analysis

The scene of Ernie being persecuted in the play yard is one of the first overt scenes of anti-Semitic violence shown. All prior violence is alluded to, but is mostly off-screen. This scene is dramatic, violent, and...