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Fighting back, or giving in?
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All But My Life
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Feb 23 2009, 12:42 AM EST by
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Thread started: Feb 22 2009, 12:02 PM EST
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In the begining of the book everything was so gradual, first they had to register, then move to the basement, arthur leaving, moving to the shacks. It was tiny tiny steps until they finally broke up the families, we knew where it was headed, but did they? Did they know it would happen eventually, but just thought they couldn't do anything about it? Or did they just place too much faith in humantity to believe that anybody could ever be that inhumane? Did Gerda and her family stay in their house becuase they didn't believe it would ever go as far as it did? Or becuase they simply saw no way out?
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RE: Fighting back, or giving in?
By: ,
Feb 23 2009, 12:42 AM EST
I think that a lot of people thought that the entire thing would just be a temporary thing, and had not even imagined that it would have turned into such a horrific event. As already said, everything in the beggining was somewhat bad, but was no where near what was going to happen later on. They just kept thinking it was only going to be for a little while with Arthur leaving, people being shot for being jewish, Hitler's affect's on the world, and all of the pain they were suffering in the beggining, They thought that what was happening in the beginning was probably the worst it was going to get. I think the family and Gerda remained in their own house because they were scared and didn't want to face what was out there. They kept hoping it would end. I think they were scared of them having to turn their faith to Hitler just like the people around them. When their close neighbors put up a Nazi flag, they knew then that it was not going to be easy to remain true to themselves. I don't think they thought that there was no way out, but didn't think the view on Jews would turn into such a horrific event.
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Physical or Mental?
(page: 1 2)
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All But My Life
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Feb 23 2009, 12:19 AM EST by
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Thread started: Feb 22 2009, 11:39 AM EST
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During the book, Gerda went thorugh unspeakable physical pain and hard labor. But she also went through many times of mental weaknesses where she felt like giving up and dying. Do you think the mental toll or the physical toll would be the worst? Do you feel that they are connected at all?
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RE: Physical or Mental?
By: ,
Feb 23 2009, 12:19 AM EST
I think the mental pain is much worst than the physical pain. Physical pain is very hard to over come, but it will heal in time. What happened to Gerda mentally will never leave her mind and soul. Since she was a littler girl she has had so many horrible things happen to her that will svar her for the rest of her life. How could it not? She witnessed so much cruelty, so much loss, and so much sadness at such a young age. These hard times will haunt her forever. She lost a lot of her close familym members and friends at such a young age. How could she have possibly have understood why all of this was happening? She stared death right in the face being in the middle of everyone's opinions and everyone's losses. Her family was having enough issues before all of this happened, she had to say good-bye to her own brother in such short notice and never got a chance to be close with her family...not like they used to be. It was a sad time. At some points, she considered suicide to be the only way out of this mess. The physical toll and mental toll both could contribute to horrible experience but mentally is by far the wrost.
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Was she right to lie?
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All But My Life
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Feb 23 2009, 12:02 AM EST by
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Thread started: Feb 22 2009, 6:28 PM EST
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When, near the end of the story, Gerda begins to spread rumors that Germany is falling apart, she seems to make (almost) everyone happy, but was this really the right thing for her to do? If the war hadn't ended, the false hope she gave people could have been enough to push them over the edge. Would you have done the same thing?
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RE: Was she right to lie?
By: ,
Feb 23 2009, 12:02 AM EST
If I were in her position, I most likely would have done exactly what she did. It reminds me of our economic situation today. Our economy is horrible right now. Many people are frightened and are starting to lose hope, just like Gerda and the people around her. Obama keeps saying our economy is going to change, that the war will be over soon, and he is doing what Gerda is doing. He is trying to give his people something to believe in. Just like Gerda is trying to make everyone have some hope, even though she was wrong to lie, she only did it to help out people who were hopeless.
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morrie23 |
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In between a rock and a hard place
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All But My Life
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Feb 22 2009, 11:54 PM EST by
klinez91 |
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Thread started: Feb 22 2009, 3:18 PM EST
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When Girda is placed in a camp for the first time she is given the opportunity to be free for the time being. In return for this she felt like she would be committed to Abek for marriage, which is an idea she didn't like and even chose to remain in the camps to avoid. If you were in Gerda's situation would you make the same decision or take the opportunity for freedom and deal with Abek later?
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RE: In between a rock and a hard place
By: klinez91,
Feb 22 2009, 11:54 PM EST
Knowing myself, i would have definitely have taken the opportunity for freedome choice. I would find it better to get out of the situation and then try to tell Abek about my feelings later than to try and go on how I was going. Especially if i knew that it would only get a lot worse.
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Does Gerda acutally love Abek?
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All But My Life
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Feb 22 2009, 10:57 PM EST by
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Thread started: Feb 22 2009, 10:30 PM EST
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Throughout the story Gerda mentions how she never feels the same love for Abek that he feels for her. But I think maybe it is because of the war and all of her losses and hardships that she just does not want to love. Do you think that Gerda actually does love Abek deep inside her?
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RE: Does Gerda acutally love Abek?
By: ,
Feb 22 2009, 10:57 PM EST
I definitely do not think that Gerda loves Abek deep inside her. I think the war and her losses would almost have reverse affect. I think, actually, that Gerda would be more likely to love and committ to someone else, fearing that no one else is out there for her. Gerda would feel all alone, and would almost mentally feel the need to committ and be loved by another. And because she still rejects Abek, even with everything he has went through for her, I think that clearly shows that the love is not mutual. As much as I wanted there to be love while reading the book, I just don't think it was meant to be. This is, of course, very unfortunate and sad.
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The Uncle in Turkey
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All But My Life
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Feb 22 2009, 10:39 PM EST by
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Thread started: Feb 22 2009, 10:07 AM EST
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Turkey was nuetral during World War II, so they did not favor either the allies or the axis side of the war. Gerda seemed close to her Uncle Leo living in Instanbul, at least close enough to write him numerous letters. The rest of Eastern Europe, including Yugoslavia and Greece, did not come under Axis control until November 1940ish, giving Gerda at least a year to escape. Why then, before the Nazis invaded or even after the Nazis invaded, did Gerda and her family not attempt to make it to Turkey where they were sure to be safe from the Nazis?
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RE: The Uncle in Turkey
By: ,
Feb 22 2009, 10:39 PM EST
Gerda and her family probably didn't think the war would last very long. They thought it would last a couple of months maximum. It felt like World War I had just ended so they didn't find it logical for there to be a second war that would be worse. Also, they were worried about Papa's health. Since he was sick, they didn't want to be going anywhere. Gerda and Arthur were the ones who decided to stay as a family instead of going off with Arthur's girlfriend's family. They could have had a chance to escape but they didn't know what was coming their way therefore chose to stay so that Papa's health didn't worsen. Had they known, they definitely would have taken the easy escape.
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During Gerdas march, she considered running away with ilse.
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All But My Life
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Feb 22 2009, 10:38 PM EST by
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Thread started: Feb 19 2009, 10:36 AM EST
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When Gerda's plan of running away was hatched, she then changed her mind at the thought of being responsible for the death of Ilse. Would you have attempted to run away, given the chance. Would you take the risks of death to be free.
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RE: During Gerdas march, she considered running away with ilse.
By: ,
Feb 22 2009, 10:38 PM EST
If i was in Gerdas position I beleive I would have run away. Even though Gerdas plan was lacking in many aspects. I believe I would have risked it all becuase I would have been on the brink of giving up anyways. overall not running away was obviously a good choice becasue everything worked out in the end for Gerda. Even though this is selfish I feel like if i was in the situation I would have done anything to save my own life. I may have tried not to risk any others life by running by myself and not bringing any others along.
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The Importance of Isle
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All But My Life
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Feb 22 2009, 10:34 PM EST by
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Thread started: Feb 22 2009, 10:18 PM EST
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Throughout the story Gerda tells she develops a relationship with another girl, Isle. These two girls travel from camp to camp and provide each other comfort. Together they ration their bread and make sure each other is safe. Without Isle do you think Gerda would have survived her experiences in the concentration camps?
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RE: The Importance of Isle
By: ,
Feb 22 2009, 10:34 PM EST
Because Gerda is so strong, I still think she would've been able to make it through. Gerda is also very good at making friends. But, I think it would have been very difficult for Gerda of Ilse weren't with her. They relied on each other for many things such as dealing with emotions, staying strong and having each other's back (like what Ilse did for Gerda in Marzdorf). Ilse also made Gerda's birthday memorable. If Ilse had died earlier, I think Gerda might not have made it through. Her hope would only rely on seeing her parents again which she knows deep down won't happen. I think her hope would eventually fail her and she would not have lasted much longer.
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Language of Maus (posted on wrong forum originally)
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Maus
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Feb 22 2009, 10:32 PM EST by
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Thread started: Feb 19 2009, 5:28 PM EST
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In Maus, Artie's father spoke a very strange version of english. Some words semed to be out of place or in the wrong order. It was still understandable, but took some re-reading a couple of times. I don't think the book was originally in another language, but if so was it a translation problem or is his strange speech supposed to signify something?
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RE: Language of Maus (posted on wrong forum originally)
By: ,
Feb 22 2009, 10:32 PM EST
I think that because Vladek is from the "old Country," he probably can't speak english very well. Also, I think it was done deliberately to emphasize this. Artie does say that he started to record these interviews so maybe he was putting down EXACTLY what was said.
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Kurt Klein
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All But My Life
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Feb 22 2009, 10:31 PM EST by
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Thread started: Feb 22 2009, 10:31 PM EST
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Kurt and Gerda are "together" for a few months before he proposes. Gerda is obviously more mature after everything she's been through, but she did miss out on her experimenting years and was forced to mature too fast? I guess Gerda did not fill in all the gaps well, but did they know each other well enough, or was moving to the United States the final test for their love?
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Animal Symbolism
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Maus
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Feb 22 2009, 10:29 PM EST by
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Thread started: Feb 19 2009, 7:08 PM EST
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Why do you think that the different types of people in the novel were represented by different animals? For example the Germans were cats, Poles were pigs, Jews were Mice and Americans were dogs. What do you think was the significance of this?
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RE: Animal Symbolism
By: ,
Feb 22 2009, 10:29 PM EST
I think that there was definite reason for choosing the cat/mouse relationship. The Poles might have been pigs because although they were peripherally involved in that they sold out the Jews, they weren't really part of the chase. The Americans might have been dogs because they did join the chase eventually.
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Key to Survival
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All But My Life
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Feb 22 2009, 10:25 PM EST by
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Thread started: Feb 22 2009, 10:19 PM EST
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What do you think was the main reason that helped Gerda survive while the majority of the girls didn't?
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RE: Key to Survival
By: ,
Feb 22 2009, 10:25 PM EST
I think it was her the almost insane amount of hope she had for life. All she ever would dream about is life after the war. These thoughts were what kept her going through all the hard times she had. I would also say having her friend Isle with her almost the whole journey helped keep sane.
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sandmm41 |
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The Cellar
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Maus
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Feb 22 2009, 10:23 PM EST by
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Thread started: Feb 19 2009, 11:22 PM EST
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When Anna and Vladek are hidden in the cellar, do you think it is ironic that there are rats and Anna is afraid of them but Vladek portrays them as mice when they themselfs are mice?
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RE: The Cellar
By: ,
Feb 22 2009, 10:23 PM EST
I think it is Ironic because i think it symbolizing the fact that everyone is afraid of Jews when they are harmless as a whole. Well, not really harmless but just as much people as any other. Rats are seen as disgusting and gross but they are animals that really wont hurt you. I think it's emphasizing the irrationality of the Holocaust. Anna is afraid of rats when she's hiding from a bigger threat.
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Too much?
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All But My Life
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Feb 22 2009, 10:20 PM EST by
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Thread started: Feb 22 2009, 7:20 PM EST
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I noticed while reading this book that when we were introduced to a character, such as Ilse or Suse, Gerda would tell us that that character died before liberation, and i was wondering if anyone else felt weird about that. would you rather not have known and found out later as she told the story? did she do this for a specific reason?
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RE: Too much?
By: ,
Feb 22 2009, 10:20 PM EST
Yeah, they weren't even hints, the author made it very blatant that they were dead. Though this made their deaths more dramatic and sad throughout the entire story, because I kind of kept forgetting that they were dead. Then, even though Gerda tells us how Ilse dies, it's still really heart-breaking.
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Maus Question
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Maus
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Feb 22 2009, 10:18 PM EST by
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Thread started: Feb 22 2009, 10:04 AM EST
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What do you think will happen with Art and Vladeks relationship? Now that Art sees his father as a "murderer", will their relationship ever be the same?
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RE: Maus Question
By: ,
Feb 22 2009, 10:18 PM EST
I think that artie feels a deep resentment for Vladek. Not only did he destroy all of Anja's things, he did it knowing that she wanted Artie to have them. They were all Artie had left of his mother and Vladek destroyed it. I don't think it will be the same because this must be like his mother dying again and this time it's his father's fault.
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Vladek+Mala=Awkward
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Maus
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Feb 22 2009, 10:15 PM EST by
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Thread started: Feb 19 2009, 6:46 PM EST
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If you were Art, would you feel awkward about the fact that your father openly feels that his wife is only with him for the money? What would you do about it?
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RE: Vladek+Mala=Awkward
By: ,
Feb 22 2009, 10:15 PM EST
With the kind of tension that must be in that house, yes. I would feel really awkward. I wouldn't know who to help. Vladek is "my" father but he seems so disrespectful and mean to Mala. Mala isn't "my" mother so how could i defend her against Vladek? Plus I wouldn't know what her motives truly were. I think that unlike Artie, i would make more than a token suggestion that they get marriage counceling and insinst that they talk to someone or at least have them both talk to me so that i could be an unaffected party that could see the situation clearly.
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Advice for Abek
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All But My Life
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Feb 22 2009, 10:03 PM EST by
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Thread started: Feb 22 2009, 5:45 PM EST
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The relationship between Gerba and Abek seemed to be very one sided. Gerda never really gave Abek anything in return for what he gave her. I think most started to feel bad for Abek and feel some sort of resentment towards Gerda for not even really trying to love him. If you had to chance to talk to Abek after knowing everything you know about how Gerda feels what would you tell him? What advice would you give him? Would you tell him to give up and move on from Gerda? Or to stick it out and keep trying to win her love?
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RE: Advice for Abek
By: ,
Feb 22 2009, 10:03 PM EST
I would tell him to give up and go somewhere else for a wife. By pursuing Gerda, Abek would only have caused misery for both of them. If she eventually told him the truth about what she felt for him, Abek would have crushed, and Gerda would have hated herself. If Gerda caved in and married Abek, she would have been miserable, and eventually he would have to stop deluding himself about her love for him, and they would completely fall apart.
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Labeling
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All But My Life
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Feb 22 2009, 9:55 PM EST by
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Thread started: Feb 22 2009, 4:45 PM EST
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When Gerda sees her father for the last time as she is about to leave, she said something about him that caught my eye. "There he stood, already beyond my reach, my father, the center of my life, just labeled JEW." Do you think that still today people put negative labels on others [not literally] not only for religion and race, but just for being themselves, when to other people they may be seen just as Gerda viewed her father?
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RE: Labeling
By: ,
Feb 22 2009, 9:55 PM EST
Labeling definitely takes place all around us today, but it is never as obvious as it was during the Holocaust. While Hitler actually put bright labels on people, we put labels on people as broad as race, or as narrow as rumors about a specific person. Labeling can even be sneaky and invasive enough to cause people to believe their labels actually mean something and to act accordingly. When this occurs, it is a sad sight, to watch someone destroy their future by paying attention to their label.
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The title
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All But My Life
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2 |
Feb 22 2009, 9:48 PM EST by
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Thread started: Feb 22 2009, 7:46 PM EST
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Why do you think the book is titled All But My Life
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RE: The title
By: ,
Feb 22 2009, 9:48 PM EST
The title is well fitted for the content of the book. Gerda, along with every other Jew in Germany, had literally everything but her life stripped away, and most of the people she knew did not even escape with that much. Her family was taken away, her health was taken, her sanity was very nearly lost, but she continued to hold on to her life, and at the end of the story, she was able to start over with the little bit she had left.
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Arthur
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Discussion Forum
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Feb 22 2009, 9:44 PM EST by
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Thread started: Feb 22 2009, 3:49 PM EST
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When Aurther was in the age group that was taken to the woods and set free to get shot at, what do you think was going through Arthurs head when he was running away from the Germans Bullets? Do you think he was thinking about his Girlfriend, his Family? What would be going through your mind?
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RE: Arthur
By: ,
Feb 22 2009, 9:44 PM EST
I think that Arthur's life was flashing before his eyes as he ran for his safety. I'm sure his family, his girlfriend and faithful memories crossed his mind. I'm sure his soul concentratinon was getting to safety though! Just so he would be able to see the ones he loves so much again. I would certainly be thinking about my family and friends as well. Probably a "i'm too young to die!" too. It would be so scary
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