Behind the Bedroom Wall Lesson 1 and 2

Name ______________________________

Behind the Bedroom Wall

Lesson One: Chapters 1 & 2 (pg. 3-21)

Comprehension Questions

1. Why was Herr Haase taken away by the Gestapo? _________________________________________________________________
2. Describe the difference between Korinna’s and her parents’ feelings about the changes taking place in Germany. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Why do the girls always carry around a little black notebook? _________________________________________________________________

Getting Involved with the Story

1. In this section you learn that the main character, Korinna, is in the Hitler Youth Movement.  What do you notice about her dress and mannerisms?  Why do you think it is important for this group to have all its members dress and act in the same way? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Make a list of groups you see around you.  What features or characteristics (religion, dress, interest in sports, etc.) make you think of these people as “groups”? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. How important are our clothes in terms of saying something about ourselves?  Describe someone in detail who is in a certain religious or social group.  This should be a person who is not in the same social or religious group you are in.  Imagine a day in this person’s life.  (Think of the Amish, orthodox Jews, gang members, preppies, jocks, etc.)To what extent does membership in a particular group identify the individual? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. EXTRA CREDIT: Interview a person from another religious or social group.  Write a one-page paper on what a typical day in his or her life is like.

What Would You Do?

1. At the end of chapter 2, Korinna hears Eva say things that are “un-German.” Have you ever been in a situation where you heard something that you had been told should not be said?  What happened? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Fraulein Meiser was replaced by another teacher because whe read parts of history that were forbidden by Hitler.  Do you feel teachers should be able to say whatever they want in class?  If they criticize the policies of the school or their own government, would anything happen to them?  What if they use stereotypes to describe their students?  What if they use materials that make you uncomfortable? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Word Mastery List

You came across the following words as you read chapter 1 and 2.  Use a dictionary to look up the words you do not already know.

faltered ______________________________ shrugged ________________________

impatient _____________________________ emphasis________________________

viciously______________________________ traitor ___________________________

cozy_________________________________ vigorously________________________

perception____________________________ shivered_________________________

intently_______________________________ extracting________________________

chided_______________________________ glint_____________________________

solemn_______________________________ sympathetic ______________________

accurate______________________________

German Words

Herr ________________________________ Gestapo_________________________

Fraulein _____________________________ Frau ___________________________

Liebling _____________________________ Fuhrer__________________________

Heil Hitler ___________________________ Jungmadel ______________________

Draw a young German girl in the Jungmadel.

Behind the Bedroom Wall

Lesson Two: Chapters 3 & 4 (pg. 23-43)

Comprehension Questions

1. Why does Korinna think that her parents are traitors?_________________________________________________________________
2. Describe who Korinna found hiding behind her bedroom wall. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Getting Involved with the Story

1. This is a story about love and betrayal.  in the last two chapters Rita turned in her own cousin to the Gestapo, and Korinna heard Eva say things that sounded “un-German”.  Now, in this chapter, Korinna’s very own parents disagree with everything she believes in and is taught in school.  In comparing Rita’s actions with the actions of Korinna’s parents, whom do you think is the traitor?_________________________________________________________________Under what conditions do you believe people are justified in turing in or reporting a family member or friend to the police?  _________________________________________________________________What do you think Korinna will do? ____________________________________

         If you had to make the choice would you rather betray your country or your family?       ________________________________________________________________

1. “At whose expense? At what cost?” pg. 29. This is what Frau Rehme, Korinna’s mother, asks when she and Korinna discuss the work of the Fuhrer.  Frau Rehme disagrees with her daughters.  Do you think discussing something with someone you you don’t agree with is worthwhile?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. “For love? I don’t know Korinna, maybe, there’s something even more important than that.” pg. 53.  Korinna is confused by Fraulein Meiser’s actions and when she asks her father about it, this is his reply, “Can you think of anything that would be more important to you than the love of people who are important to you?” Why do you think Fraulein Meiser went with her father?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. What is Korinna’s dilemma now, at the end of chapter 4?  Read page 43 again.  What do you think Korinna believes she should do?  Can you guess what she will do now? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What Would You Do?

CHOOSE ONE QUESTION TO RESPOND TO: 

a)When have you disagreed with your parents or your guardians?  What did it feel like to disagree?  Did you argue?  How did you try to resolve this conflict with them?  Did you succeed in reaching a resolution?

1. You will read about a hiding place in these in these two chapters.  What are some of your own hiding places?  Are there places you go to be away from everyone?  Are they important in your life?  Where would you go right now if you thought you were in danger?
2. Who are your protectors?  in this section of Behind the Bedroom Wall, Korinna’s parents reveal to here that they have become protectors for someone.  Whom do you feel you can go to if you need someone to protect you?  Police?  Teacher?  Parent? Friends? Relatives? Why?
3. In this section of the book, Korinna’s parent are doing something that endangers her as well as themselves.  Do you think they are right to do this?  Has there ever been a time in your life when you have had to risk something for what you believe in?  Have you ever experienced a time when your parents had to risk your safety and theirs for something for something more important?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Exercises

Foreshadowing is a literary device writers use to give the reader hints that something is wrong or about to happen.  Read through chapter 3 looking for foreshadowing.  One example would be that the cat could not be found.  List at least four examples of foreshadowing in chapter. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

EXTRA CREDIT: Watch a mystery movie.  Look for clues that the moviemaker gives you as the story goes along.  Write them down.  OR with a small group create a play that involves foreshadowing.  Include at least 5 clues or hints fefore the final revelation of the mystery is made to the audience.

Word Mastery List

You came across the following words as you read chapter 3 and 4. Write definitions in your own words.

plunged ______________________________ scrawl __________________________

stealthily _____________________________ seldomly_________________________

fierce________________________________ wanly___________________________

preferable____________________________ mutely__________________________

tinged_______________________________ evasively________________________

constricting___________________________

German Words

Schrank _________________________ Gute Nacht_________________________