Boy in the Striped PyjamasThemes and Critical Essay

Synopsis• The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas directed by Mark

Herman is a ‘fable’ about a young boy – Bruno - whose world changes when his family moves to a new house, unaware that it stands at the entrance to a concentration camp.

• Bruno’s father is the new Commandant in charge of the camp, but his son understands little of his father’s business, knowing only that he has an important job, and is in charge of a number of soldiers.

• Stuck inside the house with only his mother, sister and an aged schoolteacher for company, Bruno quickly becomes isolated and lonely.

Synopsis Continued

• Fond of exploration, Bruno finds his new home to be frustratingly short of interesting discoveries. However, when he notices that a garden gate has been left open, he begins a journey that will ultimately end in tragedy.

• On the other side of the fence is Shmuel, a young boy of exactly Bruno’s age, dressed in blue-grey striped pyjamas. He is pale and dishevelled; his head is shaved. He is a Jew, and although neither boy truly understands what is going on, he is a prisoner of the Nazis, and ultimately of Bruno’s father

Synopsis Continued

Despite the fence and all that it represents, the two boys become great friends, their relationship running in stark contrast to what is going on between the adults in their lives. Their friendship is strong, and even survives a moment of betrayal which, although played out between children, echoes the bigger picture of the camp.

• In the end, it is the innocence of youth, and the inherent goodness of the boys’ friendship, which leads to the film’s tragic and shocking conclusion. As it unfolds, we are offered an insight into the true horrors of this unspeakable genocide, but with a twist of perspective which not only strikes at the heart, but also causes the head to think again.

Unlocking the themes in the film

• What do you think is meant by the term THEME?

Themes are main ideas or points raised within a text.

TaskTimeIn pairs discuss what you think are the main

ideas or points raised in the film and jot five of them down in your jotter. (5 mins)

Some of the themes from the film;

• Childhood innocence• Loneliness• Friendship• Racial discrimination• War• Genocide.• Did you talk about these themes or did you find

another theme?

Find the scene from the film to analyse your theme.

• Childhood innocence• Bruno refers to

Shmuel’s number on his clothing -“The number game”

• Bruno thinks that the camp is a farm.

Themes

• Loneliness• When Bruno and his

family move from Berlin to the countryside. Bruno leaves all of his friends behind. He has to amuse himself by going exploring.

Themes

• Friendship• An unlikely friendship

occurs between (German) Bruno and (Jewish) Shmuel.

• Also the friendship between Bruno and Pavel is extremely sweet.

Themes

• Racial Discrimination• This is noticeable in the

home schooling of Bruno and Gretel.

• Can you think of any other scenes this topic is relevant in?

Themes

• War• Although we never see

any scenes of destruction we are aware in many scenes that a war is happening.

Themes

• Genocide• This is another theme

that is important to the telling of the story.

• What scene do you think would be relevant in revealing this theme.

Task time

• Now that we have our evidence and our scenes we are ready to begin our critical essay.

• Critical essays are made up of 7 paragraphs and contain an important structure. This is ;

• Introduction• Brief Summary• Body of the Essay• Conclusion

The Question

• The film ‘Boy in the Striped Pyjamas deals with many harrowing and emotional themes. By selecting important scenes from the film show how these themes are revealed.

Essay Plan

• Introduction – This should include the Title of the film, Author/Director of the film, Refer to important words from the question and what Techniques you will look at to reveal what the question asks you.

• This is known as the TART system.

Essay Plan

• Brief summary – Briefly tell me what the film was about. This should be no longer than seven sentences. Only mention the main points in the film. DO NOT go into detail.

Essay Plan• The Body of the Essay – This part of the essay is made up of 4 paragraphs

and contains the same structure throughout. Each paragraph should focus on a different theme.

• You should always begin with a TOPIC SENTENCE. This should always contain words from the question. For example, The film contains the upsetting theme of genocide.

• You then have to use the PEE chain. P-point. E-evidence and E-explain your evidence.

• Making your point is easy. You begin by telling me about your chosen theme in reference to the film

• You then prove evidence by referring to the main scene that reveals your chosen theme.

• Finally, you explain why you chose this scene. Was it successful in revealing your chosen theme. If so why?

• This structure MUST be followed to ensure that your essay is correct.

Essay Plan• The conclusion – This paragraph mirrors the

structure of the introduction in that it follows the TART system.

• You must always begin your conclusion by using one of these phrases;

• In conclusion,• Overall, • Summing up my evidence, • To conclude my evidence,• Therefore,