Movie: “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas”
1. When have you ever been discriminated against? When have you witnessed discrimination against other people or discriminated against someone else?
2. What is a stereotype? Why do people stereotype groups that are different from them? How does the movie depict Nazis stereotyping Jews?
3. A scapegoat is blamed for things they are not responsible for. During the Holocaust, Jews became scapegoats, blamed for all the troubles in Germany. Why were they made scapegoats?
4. Gretel becomes prejudiced against Jews. Who influenced her? How does she show her prejudiced views?
5. When Bruno first finds out that Shmuel is Jewish, he says: “You’re a Jew. You can’t be. I think I should go now.” Why does Bruno react that way at first?
6. When you hear someone make a biased comment about a group of people, what do you usually do? How hard is it to stand up to prejudice and discrimination? Why?
7. In the story, who fights against prejudice and discrimination? Give examples of people in history who fought against prejudice and discrimination.
8. What conflicts around the world today are the result of prejudice? What are its effects on innocent people, including children?
9. In your opinion, what does the end of the story symbolize? Why?
10. Do you know anyone, or have you read about Jews or other persecuted people, who survived the Holocaust or other grave circumstances due to the courageous actions of others? Share one of these stories.
11. What do you think causes people to treat others in such horrific ways as was done during the Holocaust? Are there people being treated like this anywhere in the world today? What can be done to stop it?
12. How can people use the power of friendship to cross boundaries of race, religion, and culture?
