Characters
Who is Maria?
Bruno’s family’s maid (help)
Why is Bruno upset at the beginning of the chapter?
Maria is packing his things.
Bruno’s house was always full of people ”in uniform.” Who are these people?
Soldiers
What does it mean to ”imitate” someone?
Bruno’s mother told him not to “imitate” how father spoke to Maria.
To “mimic” or speak in the same wa.
What is Bruno’s sister’s name?
Gretel
Why is Maria packing Bruno’s things?
Bruno’s family is moving.
How many floors does Bruno’s house have?
5 floors, if you included the basement.
What does it mean to “presume” something?
To make an assumption / to assume something.
Who are Bruno’s three best friends for life?
Karl, Daniel, and Martin
How does Bruno feel about his sister?
He thinks that she is annoying. She is a “hopeless case.”
Bruno’s house has a ”banister,“ and he likes to slide down it. What is a banister?
A railing on a staircase.
What does the word “chaos” mean?
Lots of trouble, destructio.
Who is the “Fury”?
The “fuhrer”, Adolf Hitler
Why does Bruno’s family have to move? Does Bruno understand?
Something to do with father’s job. Bruno does not understand.
This area of Bruno’s house is “Out of Bounds at all times with No Exceptions.”
Father’s Office
Mother never liked to “play favourites.”
What does this expression mean?
To favour / treat someone better than another. (Bruno over his sister)
People say that Bruno’s father is a “man to watch.” What does this mean?
He is important and will do great things.
How does father speak to Maria?
Very rudely / impolit.
In what historical time period is the novel set?
World War II, mid 1940s
What is ”an exception to a rule”?
When you are allowed to break a rule on a special occasio.