Behind the Bedroom Wall Lesson 3

Behind the Bedroom Wall

Lesson Three: Chapters 5 & 6 (pg. 45-74)

Comprehension Questions

1. Why couldn’t Korinna sleep the night she met Sophie and Rachel?_________________________________________________________________
2. How did Korinna react when she saw her mother with one of Korinna’s old dresses?_________________________________________________________________
3. What do you conclude happened to Frau Rosen, the lady who made Korinna’s dress?_________________________________________________________________
4. What made Korinna feel jealous of Rachel? _________________________________________________________________

Getting Involved with the Story

1. In this section, Korinna begins to changer her feelings toward the Jewish family.  however, she still calls her mother a traitor for helping them, and calls Rachel and Sophie dirty.  Slowly, she learns that they are not dirty and do not fit any of the stereotypes the Nazi movement uses to describe them.  Yet she still feels caught up in the Jungmadel with her friends. She has a fard time with her two friends in the Hitler youth group once she knows what is happening her her own home.  She is experiencing a lot of internal conflict.

What are the various kinds of conflicts all the characters face in this book so far? Which characters face these conflicts?

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In what way have you experienced conflict in these categories? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1. Korinna uses the word “enemy” many times in these two chapters to describe her own parents.  Find examples of this usage or count the times she uses this word.  Do you feel her parents are enemies?  How do we decide who our enemies are?___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Read over pages 57 to 61.  Look for the small signs that Korinn’s attitude toward the family behind the wall is beginning to change.  She is beginning to see through the stereotypes she has heard about Jews and to see them as individuals.  List these small ways in which she is changing.  This is how the author creates change in a character.  Do you think that getting to know someone from a group you have been taught to hate can change how you feel about the group?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. In the last part of this section, Korinna puts the kitten behind the wall for Rachel to play with.  What does this say about Korinna?  Would you have done the same thing?  How do you feel she will behave with her friends the next time she see them,  given that she seems to have become friendlier toward Rachel?  __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What Would You Do?

1. In this section of the novel, Korinna begins to understand that she will have to live with a Jewish family.  How would you feel if you were asked to share your space, either your room, your apartment, your house, with someone new?  Has this happened to you?  What was it like? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Think of the times in your life when you have found yourself disagreeing with or questioning something you think you believe in?  How did it feel to be in this situation?  How did you resolve this internal conflict?   How were you different after it was resolved? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Have you ever disagreed with the government?  With your city?  With the rules of your school?  Why did you disagree? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Word Mastery List

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

vehemently___________________________ catering ________________________

suspicion _____________________________ abhorrent_______________________

deposited_____________________________ crooned_________________________

Special Words

synagogue ____________________________________________________________

Guten Morgen__________________________________________________________

kosher ________________________________________________________________

Nazi __________________________________________________________________

Treaty of Versailles ______________________________________________________