Chapter 5-7
How did Mr. Johansen convince the German soldiers that Ellen was not a Jewish girl hiding?
He showed a baby picture of Lise.
What did Annemarie learn about Aunt Birte?
She learned that Aunt Birte never existed.
What does the word imperious mean?
Ellen stood on tiptoe again, and made an imperious gesture with her arm. " I am the Dark Queen," she intoned dramatically.
having or showing arrogant superiority to
"there's butter, too. Usually not even Henrik has butter, but he managed to save a little this time."
"Save a little from what? Annemarie asked,... "Don't tell me the soldiers try to- what's the word?- relocate butter, too?"
How does Annemarie make fun of the soldiers?
Annemarie makes a joke about soldiers relocating butter. The idea of butter being "marched away" by soldiers. The soldiers rationed all the butter for their army.
"The flashlight beam touched each thing in turn."
Personification
Why was Annemarie worried when the soldiers questioned them on the train?
She was worried that Kristi would say that it was Ellen's New Year.
Why did Ellen make a sharp cry when she went outside with Henrik?
Ellen saw her parents.
What does the word tentatively mean?
Ellen and Annemarie both smiled tentatively. For a moment their fear was eased.
unsettled in mind or opinion
What did Uncle Henrik mean when he said, “Tomorrow will be a good day for fishing?”
They were going to transport and save more Jews.
Identify the following sentence,
"She fell asleep, and it was a sleep as thin as the night clouds, dotted with dreams that came and went like stars."
Simile
What does the sea represent for Ellen and her family?
The sea represents freedom because on the other side is Sweden where Jews are accepted.
Why was Annemarie surprised by Uncle Henrik's announcement that there was to be a funeral?
This was the first she had heard of a family death and no one seemed sad.
What does the word deftly mean?
His strong hands continued, deftly pressing like a pulse against the cow.
skillful in physical movements; especially of the hands
Explain the following quote, " it is much easier to be brave if you don't know anything."
Uncle Henrik told Annemarie that its easier to be brave when you don't know the truth because it's hard to hide the truth when you know it.
Which figurative language is the following sentence?
"Annemarie looked up, panting, just as she reached the corner. Her laughter stopped. Her heart seemed to skip a beat."
Idiom a word or phrase which means something different from its literal meaning.
Where did Mrs. Johansen, Annemarie, Kirsti, and Ellen travel? Why didn't Mr. Johansen go with them?
Mrs. Johansen and the girls traveled to Gilleleje. Mr. Johansen didn't go because it would be suspicious to soldiers if the whole family left.
Why did Mrs. Johansen and Uncle Henrik create the “death of an Aunt Birte”?
Varies:
Mrs. Johansen and Uncle Henrik created the fake funeral to get the Jewish people together so that the German soldiers wouldn't be suspicious.
What does the word condescending mean?
He placed one gloved hand on its lid. “Poor Great-aunt Birte,” he said, in a condescending voice.
characteristic of those who treat others with arrogance or communicating with a lack of respect
What does this quote mean or reference?
" ...where Uncle Henrik, surrounded by bright blue sky and water, pulled in his nets filled with shiny silver fish- suddenly the specter of guns and grim-faced soldiers seemed nothing more than a ghost story, a joke with which to frighten children in the dark."
When Annemarie, Ellen, Kirsti, Mrs. Johansen, and Uncle Henrik were joking about the soldiers relocating the butter. The joking made Annemarie feel that all guns and soldiers are " a ghost story, a joke with which to frighten children in the dark."
Identify the following sentence, " It was still raining the next morning when Mama told me. Mama was crying, and the rain made it seem as if the whole world was crying."
Personification or Simile
What made Annemarie realize that her father was speaking in code to her uncle? What was their conversation really about?
Annemarie's father was speaking about cigarettes and cigarettes had been rationed for sometime. The conversation between Mr. Johansen and Henrik was about Ellen.
Who do you think the people arriving for the funeral really are?
The people arriving are Jewish people trying to escape the Nazis. Earlier Papa used s a code of cigarettes for Jewish people, and tells Henrik "But there are a lot of cigarettes available in Copenhagen now, and so there will be others coming to you as well, I'm sure."
What does the word dismayed mean?
She was startled. And dismayed. It was a question she did not want to be asked. When she asked it of herself, she didn’t like her own answer.
struck with fear or dread
Why is the book called the "Number the Stars?"
"The sky was speckled with stars.How could anyone number them one by one, as the psalm said? The sky was too big. Ellen had said her mother was frightened of the ocean, that it was too cold and too big. The sky was too, thought Annemarie. The whole world was: too cold, too big. And too cruel."
Peter read Psalm 147:4 from the Old Testament that was read by both Jews and Christians. "Number the Stars" comes from Psalm which states that God can number the stars one by one and no one is alone in this world. The book only zooms in on Jews and Christians and how they were impacted. While the God described in the psalm might be able to keep track of that entire galaxy, people can only see a limited amount. So Annemarie and her family can't save all the Jews in Copenhagen, but they can save a few—and for these few, they are able to "number them one by one."
The following sentence is an example of which type of figurative language, “He needs a wife,” she said, shaking her head, and attacked the old wooden floors with a broom while the rugs aired.”
What does this sentence mean?
Hyperbole. Mrs. Johansen is saying that Henrik future wife will need to thoroughly clean the floors.