Somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean -1939 8 days from home
Literary element: Mood/tone
The literary element I want to focus on in this chapter is the mood/tone. In the beginning of the chapter, the mood of the chapter is cheerful but clashes a little bit with fear. This is because this chapter is about Josef's mitzvah which he is very excited for. However, frantically was trying to tell his family that this is another one of the Nazi's trap. On page 75, it says ""No. It's a trap. Meant to lure us out. That's when they'll snatch us. A trap"" This shows fear because Josef's dad keeps thinking that the whole ship is just another trick by the Nazis. But in the middle of the chapter, it turns back to joyful and happiness. But this quickly changes again near the end where twostewards were talking about how if they aren't the first ship to Cuba, they won't be accepted. This changes the mood to a more suspenseful atmosphere. This impacts the story because it starts adding into the plot and climax of the story. On page 79, it says "Hadn't everyone on board already applied and pad for visas? Cuba couldn't turn them away. Could they?" This shows Josef starting to question if the ship being a paradise is a facade or not.
Just outside Havana Harbor-1939
18 days from home
My father had jumped out into the ocean, rather wanting to die than be on the ship for another second. I yelled out for help, everyone gathered near the rails of ship but did nothing to help. I started to grow frantic, there wasn't much I could do besides watching my father flail around helplessly. Suddenly, a Cuban policeman leaped off the ship, going after my dad. My hands gripped on the rails of the ship, looking at the vast ocean, trying to find my father and the cuban policeman in the sea of darkness. It felt like hours before the police man rose back up to the surface. I felt more relieved than ever, but as if things couldn't have gotten worse, the fins of two fiesty sharks swam around them. I felt like I could've passed out right there. As the Cuban policeman grabbed hold of my father, he started thrashing at him, trying to escape his hold. But my father was much more weak and much more skinny than before and with the help of other policeman, the Cuban policeman and my father made it onto one of the motorboats. I felt overwhelmed with so many emotions. He would rather die than be with his family. And most of all, how would my family be able to get into Cuba after my father's stunt? How can we ever escape the Nazis?
This chapter was full of suspense and tension. From when Josef's father jumped out into the sea and when he got rescued. This chapter shows how far Josef's father would go to escape the Nazis, even willing to jump of a ship as a suicide attempt. It also shows the downfall of Josef's story. When Josef first got onto the ship, he felt like he was starting a new life, and that everything was going to get better. However, in this chapter, it shows how Josef's life is starting to break. On page 186, it says "Josef's father was gone. His mother was unconscious. His little sister was all by herself. And they would never let Josef's family into Cuba now, not after his father had gone mad." This shows how Josef's life is starting to fall apart and there may not be a way to fix that.
Just outside haana harbor-1939
19 days from home
Ever since my father had jumped off the ship, people have been coming left to right telling me how sorry they were and things will be all right again. But I find that hard to believe. I almost lost my father, how can things get better? The ship is surrounded by little boats and the security has tightened even more so, looking for any more suicide attempts. However, I was able to see the policeman that had saved my father. A flood of passengers were thanking him for his heoric actions. He was short with a wide face,olive skin, and a thick mustache. He was welcomed with claps, cheers, and even money. Me and my mother and my sister were able to push through the crowd to have a face to face talk with the policeman. My mother had asked what happened to my father and the policeman replied saying they took him to the hospital. I knew she blamed herself, but I blame myself too, if only I was there back in time. The policeman started playing around with Ruthie, playing pretend. He offered me to play aswell, but I'm too old for that.
This chapter starts to show the character development of Josef becoming the man of the family. With Josef's father not being with the family, Josef had to mature a lot to help his mother. This chapter shows the aftermath of Josef's father jumping out of the ship. Because of Josef's father jump, there were many Cuban police boats surrounding the ship, watching out for any more people jumping. In the chapter, a new character gets introduced, Officer Padron, who was the person who saved Josef's father. The mood seemed to change when he was introduced. Josef says that he feels a surge of affection to the policeman for saving his father and many other passengers agreed aswell, thanking him and cheering him on. However, at the end of the chapter, the when Cuban policeman mentions passengers asking him when they will leave the ship, the happy mood starts to fade away, giving off a more hopeless feeling.
Just outside Havana Harbor- 1939
18 days from home
LITERARY ELEMENT: Character development
The literary element I want to focus on for this chapter is character element. After Schiendick and his friends had destroyed Josef and his famiy's cabin, Josef's father has been acting very paranoid and even barricaded his door because he think's there're gonna come back and take him. Josef and his mother try to calm him down but that only made things worse. Josef's mom decided to go to the ship's doctor so she can get Josef's father a sleeping draught to calm him down. She told Ruthie to go the pool while she heads to the doctor, leaving Josef alone with his father. But when Josef's mother came back, she seemed to be dozed off. Josef's mother told Josef that she had taken the sleeping draught. She fell asleep before mumbling to Josef to get his sister. Josef started to feel like the world was on his shoulders. He knew he had to get his sister, but without his mom, who would watch his father? Josef realized he was the man of the house. He was the one who had to take care of his parents and his sister. In the beginning of the story, Josef also looked up to his father, wanting to be like him. But after his father gotten out of the concentration camp, he was nothing like the person Josef looked up to. This made Josef realize that he had to step up as the adult of the family because his father had stepped down from being the father. On page 167, it says "Suddenly, Josef was the man of the family-the only adult in the family-whether he wanted to be or not" This shows that Josef had to grow up quickly to be there for his family. This impacts the story because as he starts to change, his actions change aswell, driving the plot of the story.
Somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean-1939
14 days from home
Literary Element: theme
The literary element I want to focus on is theme. This chapters shows the theme of having to grow up too fast. This is because in the chapter, Josef's father was acting very scared during the medical examination. Josef knew that if the doctor thought something was wrong with Josef's father, they wouldn't let them into Cuba. There, Josef slapped his father and told him if he doesn't be quiet, they will take him back to Germany. Josef felt an immense load of guilt for treating his father that way, making him more scared than before. But he knew if he didn't anything, the doctor could've found his father suspicious. On page 134, it days "He felt terrible for scaring hisi father like that, for making Papa's fears worse instead of better. And he felt terrible for taking his father's place as the man in the family." This shows how Josef had to mature quickly, becoming the man of the family, and felt shame treating his father that way and taking his place in the family.
Just outside Havana Harbor -1939
18 days from home
(my last 5 markers)
in this chapter, Josef's father jumped off the ship. Josef's father, Aaron Landau, had been taken into a concentration camp and was released so he can leave Germany or else he would be taken back to the concentration camps. Throughout the whole trip to Cuba, Aaron Landau was acting very paranoid about the ship and that it was just a trick. However, the thing that set him off was when Schiendick destroyed him and his family's cabin. Aaron Landau then jumped off the ship but got safed and taken to the hospital in Cuba. Although Aaron Landau is a fictional character, he was based on a real Jewish person who jumped off a ship. On page 183, it says "Far below him, already a couple hundred yards away from the shi, Josef's father thrashed crazily in the water. He screamed incoherently, but he wasn't calling out for rescue." This ties to something that happened in history because Jewish man actually did jump off the MS St. Louis ship. This Jewish man's name is Max Loewe who was a Jewish lawyer. As he was stuck on the ship for many days outside of Havana, Cuba, he grew increasingly paranoid, believing that the Gestapo were gonna arrest him and take him back to the concentration camps. On May 30, Max Loewe slit his wrists and jumped off the ship as a suicide attempt. However he was rescued by a crew member, Heinrich Meier, and was sent to the hospital
Somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean -1939
22 days from home
(my last 5 markers)
literary element: conflict
The literary element I want to focus on inthis chapter is conflict. The conflict in the chapter was between Josef and the other passengers against the crewman. Recently Capatin Schroeder annoucned that the ship would be sailing back to Europe. This caused many of the passengers to be enraged. Ponzer had asked Josef to help him and the other passengers take over the ship since he had been in the engine room and the bridge. Josef agreed and led the group of men to the bridge. There, the men fought with the sailors to take over the bridge. On page 255, it says "The mutineers quickly surrounded he other sailors, threatening the with their makeshift clubs." This shows conflict because it talks about the mutineers and sailors fighting against each other. Another piece of evidence is on page 254, it says "He looked up from the map cabinet with surprise, but before he could do anything, Pozner and one of the other men grabbed him and pushed him through the door to the bridge." This also shows conflict because it also shows the men fighting with the sailors, causing conflict
On a train to Hamburg, Germany -1939
1 day from home
Every since Kristallnacht and my dad being taken to a concentration camp, my parents have been acting off. Especially my dad, he doesn't same the anymore since the nazis took him. He had both his thick hair and beard shaven and he was a lot thinner. He looked so unwell that even Rudi cried because he scared her. I wonder what must have happened at the concentration camp for him to end up like this. But when I entered the ship, it felt like entering a whole new world. The Germans didn't see me as dirt. Not like how the Hitler Youth treated me. They treated me like a real person.
This chapter shows how much the concentration changes people, both physically and mentally. For example, the way Josef's father look before and after the concentration camp is crazy. He had his hair and beard shaven off and looked a lot thinner too. It also changes people mentally because the Josef's father acts after the concentration camp is very scared and jitterly. He says that the Nazis are gonna take him back and tries to convince his family that the ship is a trap. It seemed like he was convinced he was never really let out from the concentration camp
Berlin, Germany -1938
literary element: conflict
The literary element I wanna focus on for this chapter is conflict. In the Chapter, there was a lot of conflict. This conflict was between the Jews and the Nazis but more focus on Josef's family. On page 5, it says "The Nazis trashed the rest of Josef's house, breaking furniture and smashing plates and tearing curtains."This shows conflict because the nazis destroyed Josef's house and took his father away. This literary element impacts the story because it's the inciting incident to why Josef's family is leaving Germany and the reason for the whole plot of the story.
Antwerp, Belgium- 1939
36 days from home
(my last 5 markers)
literary element: Mood/tone
The literary element I want to focus on for this chapter is mood/tone. The mood of the chapter was hopeful. However, at the end of the chapter, the mood changed to despairing. This is because in the beggining of the chapter, it talks about Belgium, Holland, France, and England agreeing to take the refugees. Josef and his family were finally able to take refugee in France and start a new life. There was even a party on the ship, showing how happy the Jews were. On page 273, it says "Maybe this was the Promised Land after all." Josef refers to Moses in from the torah. He says he feels like Moses because he had gone through so much to find a safe place to call home. This shows how happy he is because he refers France as the Promise Land he had been searching for. However, at the end of the chapter, the mood changes to despairing. On page 274, it says "Josef promised himself he would learn to speak Frech over the summer, or die trying. He never got the chance. Two months later, Germany invaded Poland, touching off a new world war. Eight months after that, Germany, invaded France, and Josef and his mother and sister were on the run again." This shows the mood being despairing because Josef never escaped the Nazis, losing hope to find freedom. This impacts the story because it gives the plot of the next chapter.
Vornay, France -1940
1 year, 1 month, and 10 days from home
(my last 5 markers)
When Josef, his mom, and his sister finally made it to France to escape the Nazis, only eight months later did they meet them again. Germany invaded France on May 10, 1940. The Vichy government deported many French Jews to detention camps or concentration camps. In the chapter, Josef, his mother, and his sister were hiding in an old schoolhouse, trying to escape the Nazis once again by fleeing France and take refugee in Switzerland. As Josef was looking out the window, he saw storm troopers making their way to the schoolhouse. The storm troopers were using the only door in the school
So Josef had find a new escape route. He tried to unlock a window in the room, only for it to be jammed. As the voices of the storm troopers grew louder, Josef slammed his elbow against the window, shattering it into pieces. They quickly jumped out of the window, running as fast as they can with the storm troopers right behind him. Josef eventually finds a home in the woods. He and his mom started to bang on the door, hoping someone in there will take them. Sadly, the storm troopers reach them before they could escape again, demanding for their papers. Josef's mother says they don't have their papers but one of the storm troopers easily found their papers on them. Josef's mother starts to beg them to let them go, giving up her money and jewelry. However, the storm trooper says she can only save one of her children. This chapter may have not happened to someone in real life but it was based on true events. On page 285, it says "Josef ducked back down inside, and his eyes fell on a map of Europe on the all, the various countries shaded different colors. How wrong was that map now, just a year after he and his family had come to France as refugees. Germany had absorbed Austria, and conquered Poland and Czechoslovakia soon after." This connects to history because this is something that actually happened.
Somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean - 1939 8 days from home
Today, I had gottenn a tour of the bridge and engine room. It wasn't what I expecting. The bridge tour was nice. The captain seemed welcoming and even shook our hands! Although, when I asked him if the reason the ship's engine speed is at the maxuim is because we're racing two other ships, his face changed and he seemed furious, but quickly changed back to his welcoming smile. I thought it was a little strange. It felt like the caption was hiding something from the jews. Was he? As we were getting closer to the engine room, the whole atmosphere started to change. The air was moist, I could almost see the fumes of burning cigarettes. It was also cramped. I'm not very scared of tight spaces, but in that moment, I felt so tense. This place is much different from above.
It felt the above world was just a facade to hide this. When we
were walking past a few drunk singing stewards, I could immediately recognize the song they were singing like it was engraved in my mind. It's called "The Horst Wessel Song", the Nazi Party anthem. One of the stewards suddenly stopped Petty Officer Jockl, blubbering some half-words and half-gibberish. After they were done talking, the steward went back to his friends and started singing even louder. I could my cheeks getting hot. Embarrased and mad on their behalf but also mad at myself for not doing anything. I wanted to get out of that place, I wanted to forget this whole place.
This chapters shows the real side of the MS St.Loius ship. It shows how the ship wasn't what Josef thought it was. The whole mood of this is more ominous and dark, showing that the outside of the ship was just a facade. This chapter was much different than when Josef first got on the ship. He described it like a paradise. But this chapter, he described the engine room is be disturbing and full of Jewish hatred. It shows a complete contrast and also starting to head toward the rising action of the story.
Just outside Havana Harbor-1939
17 days from home
Literary element: Symbolism
The literary element I want to focus on is symbolism. In this chapter one of the characters, Schiendick, represents the Nazis back in Germany or like a block stopping Josef and his family from freedom. Schiendick represents the Nazis because in the chapter, he had destroyed Josef and his family's cabin similar to first chapter where Josef's house was destroyed by Nazi troopers due Kristallnacht. He also represents a block stopping Josef and his family from freedom because he and his friends would torment Josef and his family. For example, Schiendick and his friend started the firemen patrols. On page 148, it says "For the safety of the Jews," Schiendick told them, the same way the Gestapo took Jews into "protective custody" This comparison shows that the firemen patrols weren't actually for the safety of the Jews, they just wanted an excuse to harass Josef's family and other Jews. This adds onto the story because Schiendick's actions, being similar to what happened in the beginning, foreshadows what happens in the next chapter.
Berlin, Germany - 1938
On November 9 and 10, 1938, the Nazis created a scheme called Kristallnacht or Night of the broken glass. Josef woke up the sounds fo cracks and bangs as if someone had kicked their house door open. Josef tried to stay calm but all of a sudden, arms grabbed him and his family and threw them into the living. They then took away Josef's father to a concentration camp for continuing to practice law even though Jews are prohibited from doing so. However, Josef's father got released but told he and his family must leave Germany in fourteen days. On page 5, it says "Other Jewih homes and buisinesses and synagogues were destroyed all over Germany, and tens of thousands of Jewish men were arrested ad sent to concertraction camps." This is related to history because if describes what Kristallnacht is. One of the reasons for Kristallancht is because a Polish Jew (Herschel Grynszpan) assisinated a German diplomat (Ernst Vom Rath)
Picture of a store during Kristallnacht
Somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean-1939
6 days from home
(my last 5 markers)
In this chapter, Josef talks about the MS St. Louis ship and how much of a paradise it was. On page 59, it says "Josef wished they could stay on board St. Louis forever". This relates to history because the MS St. Louis ship was actually a real ship that took 937 passengers to Cuba. The captain, Gustav Schroeder, greeted the Jewish passengers with hospitality and kindness. However, the Cuban government declined to take the refugees and only took a few who had valid US visas or were Cuban citizens. The rest were left to sail to America and request them to take the refugees. Again, the US declined. However, many Americans and journalists felt sympathy towards the Jewish passengers, spreading their stories to others. Fortunatly, Belgium, Holland, France, and England agreed to take the refugees. Sadly, the Jewish passengers that made it into the United Kingdom were the only survivors as Germany had invaded many Europe countries. The story of the MS St. Louis ship is told throughout museums, books, films, and through survivors.
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Transcript
Somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean -1939 8 days from home
Literary element: Mood/tone
The literary element I want to focus on in this chapter is the mood/tone. In the beginning of the chapter, the mood of the chapter is cheerful but clashes a little bit with fear. This is because this chapter is about Josef's mitzvah which he is very excited for. However, frantically was trying to tell his family that this is another one of the Nazi's trap. On page 75, it says ""No. It's a trap. Meant to lure us out. That's when they'll snatch us. A trap"" This shows fear because Josef's dad keeps thinking that the whole ship is just another trick by the Nazis. But in the middle of the chapter, it turns back to joyful and happiness. But this quickly changes again near the end where twostewards were talking about how if they aren't the first ship to Cuba, they won't be accepted. This changes the mood to a more suspenseful atmosphere. This impacts the story because it starts adding into the plot and climax of the story. On page 79, it says "Hadn't everyone on board already applied and pad for visas? Cuba couldn't turn them away. Could they?" This shows Josef starting to question if the ship being a paradise is a facade or not.
Just outside Havana Harbor-1939
18 days from home
My father had jumped out into the ocean, rather wanting to die than be on the ship for another second. I yelled out for help, everyone gathered near the rails of ship but did nothing to help. I started to grow frantic, there wasn't much I could do besides watching my father flail around helplessly. Suddenly, a Cuban policeman leaped off the ship, going after my dad. My hands gripped on the rails of the ship, looking at the vast ocean, trying to find my father and the cuban policeman in the sea of darkness. It felt like hours before the police man rose back up to the surface. I felt more relieved than ever, but as if things couldn't have gotten worse, the fins of two fiesty sharks swam around them. I felt like I could've passed out right there. As the Cuban policeman grabbed hold of my father, he started thrashing at him, trying to escape his hold. But my father was much more weak and much more skinny than before and with the help of other policeman, the Cuban policeman and my father made it onto one of the motorboats. I felt overwhelmed with so many emotions. He would rather die than be with his family. And most of all, how would my family be able to get into Cuba after my father's stunt? How can we ever escape the Nazis?
This chapter was full of suspense and tension. From when Josef's father jumped out into the sea and when he got rescued. This chapter shows how far Josef's father would go to escape the Nazis, even willing to jump of a ship as a suicide attempt. It also shows the downfall of Josef's story. When Josef first got onto the ship, he felt like he was starting a new life, and that everything was going to get better. However, in this chapter, it shows how Josef's life is starting to break. On page 186, it says "Josef's father was gone. His mother was unconscious. His little sister was all by herself. And they would never let Josef's family into Cuba now, not after his father had gone mad." This shows how Josef's life is starting to fall apart and there may not be a way to fix that.
Just outside haana harbor-1939
19 days from home
Ever since my father had jumped off the ship, people have been coming left to right telling me how sorry they were and things will be all right again. But I find that hard to believe. I almost lost my father, how can things get better? The ship is surrounded by little boats and the security has tightened even more so, looking for any more suicide attempts. However, I was able to see the policeman that had saved my father. A flood of passengers were thanking him for his heoric actions. He was short with a wide face,olive skin, and a thick mustache. He was welcomed with claps, cheers, and even money. Me and my mother and my sister were able to push through the crowd to have a face to face talk with the policeman. My mother had asked what happened to my father and the policeman replied saying they took him to the hospital. I knew she blamed herself, but I blame myself too, if only I was there back in time. The policeman started playing around with Ruthie, playing pretend. He offered me to play aswell, but I'm too old for that.
This chapter starts to show the character development of Josef becoming the man of the family. With Josef's father not being with the family, Josef had to mature a lot to help his mother. This chapter shows the aftermath of Josef's father jumping out of the ship. Because of Josef's father jump, there were many Cuban police boats surrounding the ship, watching out for any more people jumping. In the chapter, a new character gets introduced, Officer Padron, who was the person who saved Josef's father. The mood seemed to change when he was introduced. Josef says that he feels a surge of affection to the policeman for saving his father and many other passengers agreed aswell, thanking him and cheering him on. However, at the end of the chapter, the when Cuban policeman mentions passengers asking him when they will leave the ship, the happy mood starts to fade away, giving off a more hopeless feeling.
Just outside Havana Harbor- 1939
18 days from home
LITERARY ELEMENT: Character development
The literary element I want to focus on for this chapter is character element. After Schiendick and his friends had destroyed Josef and his famiy's cabin, Josef's father has been acting very paranoid and even barricaded his door because he think's there're gonna come back and take him. Josef and his mother try to calm him down but that only made things worse. Josef's mom decided to go to the ship's doctor so she can get Josef's father a sleeping draught to calm him down. She told Ruthie to go the pool while she heads to the doctor, leaving Josef alone with his father. But when Josef's mother came back, she seemed to be dozed off. Josef's mother told Josef that she had taken the sleeping draught. She fell asleep before mumbling to Josef to get his sister. Josef started to feel like the world was on his shoulders. He knew he had to get his sister, but without his mom, who would watch his father? Josef realized he was the man of the house. He was the one who had to take care of his parents and his sister. In the beginning of the story, Josef also looked up to his father, wanting to be like him. But after his father gotten out of the concentration camp, he was nothing like the person Josef looked up to. This made Josef realize that he had to step up as the adult of the family because his father had stepped down from being the father. On page 167, it says "Suddenly, Josef was the man of the family-the only adult in the family-whether he wanted to be or not" This shows that Josef had to grow up quickly to be there for his family. This impacts the story because as he starts to change, his actions change aswell, driving the plot of the story.
Somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean-1939
14 days from home
Literary Element: theme
The literary element I want to focus on is theme. This chapters shows the theme of having to grow up too fast. This is because in the chapter, Josef's father was acting very scared during the medical examination. Josef knew that if the doctor thought something was wrong with Josef's father, they wouldn't let them into Cuba. There, Josef slapped his father and told him if he doesn't be quiet, they will take him back to Germany. Josef felt an immense load of guilt for treating his father that way, making him more scared than before. But he knew if he didn't anything, the doctor could've found his father suspicious. On page 134, it days "He felt terrible for scaring hisi father like that, for making Papa's fears worse instead of better. And he felt terrible for taking his father's place as the man in the family." This shows how Josef had to mature quickly, becoming the man of the family, and felt shame treating his father that way and taking his place in the family.
Just outside Havana Harbor -1939
18 days from home
(my last 5 markers)
in this chapter, Josef's father jumped off the ship. Josef's father, Aaron Landau, had been taken into a concentration camp and was released so he can leave Germany or else he would be taken back to the concentration camps. Throughout the whole trip to Cuba, Aaron Landau was acting very paranoid about the ship and that it was just a trick. However, the thing that set him off was when Schiendick destroyed him and his family's cabin. Aaron Landau then jumped off the ship but got safed and taken to the hospital in Cuba. Although Aaron Landau is a fictional character, he was based on a real Jewish person who jumped off a ship. On page 183, it says "Far below him, already a couple hundred yards away from the shi, Josef's father thrashed crazily in the water. He screamed incoherently, but he wasn't calling out for rescue." This ties to something that happened in history because Jewish man actually did jump off the MS St. Louis ship. This Jewish man's name is Max Loewe who was a Jewish lawyer. As he was stuck on the ship for many days outside of Havana, Cuba, he grew increasingly paranoid, believing that the Gestapo were gonna arrest him and take him back to the concentration camps. On May 30, Max Loewe slit his wrists and jumped off the ship as a suicide attempt. However he was rescued by a crew member, Heinrich Meier, and was sent to the hospital
Somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean -1939
22 days from home
(my last 5 markers)
literary element: conflict
The literary element I want to focus on inthis chapter is conflict. The conflict in the chapter was between Josef and the other passengers against the crewman. Recently Capatin Schroeder annoucned that the ship would be sailing back to Europe. This caused many of the passengers to be enraged. Ponzer had asked Josef to help him and the other passengers take over the ship since he had been in the engine room and the bridge. Josef agreed and led the group of men to the bridge. There, the men fought with the sailors to take over the bridge. On page 255, it says "The mutineers quickly surrounded he other sailors, threatening the with their makeshift clubs." This shows conflict because it talks about the mutineers and sailors fighting against each other. Another piece of evidence is on page 254, it says "He looked up from the map cabinet with surprise, but before he could do anything, Pozner and one of the other men grabbed him and pushed him through the door to the bridge." This also shows conflict because it also shows the men fighting with the sailors, causing conflict
On a train to Hamburg, Germany -1939
1 day from home
Every since Kristallnacht and my dad being taken to a concentration camp, my parents have been acting off. Especially my dad, he doesn't same the anymore since the nazis took him. He had both his thick hair and beard shaven and he was a lot thinner. He looked so unwell that even Rudi cried because he scared her. I wonder what must have happened at the concentration camp for him to end up like this. But when I entered the ship, it felt like entering a whole new world. The Germans didn't see me as dirt. Not like how the Hitler Youth treated me. They treated me like a real person.
This chapter shows how much the concentration changes people, both physically and mentally. For example, the way Josef's father look before and after the concentration camp is crazy. He had his hair and beard shaven off and looked a lot thinner too. It also changes people mentally because the Josef's father acts after the concentration camp is very scared and jitterly. He says that the Nazis are gonna take him back and tries to convince his family that the ship is a trap. It seemed like he was convinced he was never really let out from the concentration camp
Berlin, Germany -1938
literary element: conflict
The literary element I wanna focus on for this chapter is conflict. In the Chapter, there was a lot of conflict. This conflict was between the Jews and the Nazis but more focus on Josef's family. On page 5, it says "The Nazis trashed the rest of Josef's house, breaking furniture and smashing plates and tearing curtains."This shows conflict because the nazis destroyed Josef's house and took his father away. This literary element impacts the story because it's the inciting incident to why Josef's family is leaving Germany and the reason for the whole plot of the story.
Antwerp, Belgium- 1939
36 days from home
(my last 5 markers)
literary element: Mood/tone
The literary element I want to focus on for this chapter is mood/tone. The mood of the chapter was hopeful. However, at the end of the chapter, the mood changed to despairing. This is because in the beggining of the chapter, it talks about Belgium, Holland, France, and England agreeing to take the refugees. Josef and his family were finally able to take refugee in France and start a new life. There was even a party on the ship, showing how happy the Jews were. On page 273, it says "Maybe this was the Promised Land after all." Josef refers to Moses in from the torah. He says he feels like Moses because he had gone through so much to find a safe place to call home. This shows how happy he is because he refers France as the Promise Land he had been searching for. However, at the end of the chapter, the mood changes to despairing. On page 274, it says "Josef promised himself he would learn to speak Frech over the summer, or die trying. He never got the chance. Two months later, Germany invaded Poland, touching off a new world war. Eight months after that, Germany, invaded France, and Josef and his mother and sister were on the run again." This shows the mood being despairing because Josef never escaped the Nazis, losing hope to find freedom. This impacts the story because it gives the plot of the next chapter.
Vornay, France -1940
1 year, 1 month, and 10 days from home
(my last 5 markers)
When Josef, his mom, and his sister finally made it to France to escape the Nazis, only eight months later did they meet them again. Germany invaded France on May 10, 1940. The Vichy government deported many French Jews to detention camps or concentration camps. In the chapter, Josef, his mother, and his sister were hiding in an old schoolhouse, trying to escape the Nazis once again by fleeing France and take refugee in Switzerland. As Josef was looking out the window, he saw storm troopers making their way to the schoolhouse. The storm troopers were using the only door in the school
So Josef had find a new escape route. He tried to unlock a window in the room, only for it to be jammed. As the voices of the storm troopers grew louder, Josef slammed his elbow against the window, shattering it into pieces. They quickly jumped out of the window, running as fast as they can with the storm troopers right behind him. Josef eventually finds a home in the woods. He and his mom started to bang on the door, hoping someone in there will take them. Sadly, the storm troopers reach them before they could escape again, demanding for their papers. Josef's mother says they don't have their papers but one of the storm troopers easily found their papers on them. Josef's mother starts to beg them to let them go, giving up her money and jewelry. However, the storm trooper says she can only save one of her children. This chapter may have not happened to someone in real life but it was based on true events. On page 285, it says "Josef ducked back down inside, and his eyes fell on a map of Europe on the all, the various countries shaded different colors. How wrong was that map now, just a year after he and his family had come to France as refugees. Germany had absorbed Austria, and conquered Poland and Czechoslovakia soon after." This connects to history because this is something that actually happened.
Somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean - 1939 8 days from home
Today, I had gottenn a tour of the bridge and engine room. It wasn't what I expecting. The bridge tour was nice. The captain seemed welcoming and even shook our hands! Although, when I asked him if the reason the ship's engine speed is at the maxuim is because we're racing two other ships, his face changed and he seemed furious, but quickly changed back to his welcoming smile. I thought it was a little strange. It felt like the caption was hiding something from the jews. Was he? As we were getting closer to the engine room, the whole atmosphere started to change. The air was moist, I could almost see the fumes of burning cigarettes. It was also cramped. I'm not very scared of tight spaces, but in that moment, I felt so tense. This place is much different from above.
It felt the above world was just a facade to hide this. When we
were walking past a few drunk singing stewards, I could immediately recognize the song they were singing like it was engraved in my mind. It's called "The Horst Wessel Song", the Nazi Party anthem. One of the stewards suddenly stopped Petty Officer Jockl, blubbering some half-words and half-gibberish. After they were done talking, the steward went back to his friends and started singing even louder. I could my cheeks getting hot. Embarrased and mad on their behalf but also mad at myself for not doing anything. I wanted to get out of that place, I wanted to forget this whole place.
This chapters shows the real side of the MS St.Loius ship. It shows how the ship wasn't what Josef thought it was. The whole mood of this is more ominous and dark, showing that the outside of the ship was just a facade. This chapter was much different than when Josef first got on the ship. He described it like a paradise. But this chapter, he described the engine room is be disturbing and full of Jewish hatred. It shows a complete contrast and also starting to head toward the rising action of the story.
Just outside Havana Harbor-1939
17 days from home
Literary element: Symbolism
The literary element I want to focus on is symbolism. In this chapter one of the characters, Schiendick, represents the Nazis back in Germany or like a block stopping Josef and his family from freedom. Schiendick represents the Nazis because in the chapter, he had destroyed Josef and his family's cabin similar to first chapter where Josef's house was destroyed by Nazi troopers due Kristallnacht. He also represents a block stopping Josef and his family from freedom because he and his friends would torment Josef and his family. For example, Schiendick and his friend started the firemen patrols. On page 148, it says "For the safety of the Jews," Schiendick told them, the same way the Gestapo took Jews into "protective custody" This comparison shows that the firemen patrols weren't actually for the safety of the Jews, they just wanted an excuse to harass Josef's family and other Jews. This adds onto the story because Schiendick's actions, being similar to what happened in the beginning, foreshadows what happens in the next chapter.
Berlin, Germany - 1938
On November 9 and 10, 1938, the Nazis created a scheme called Kristallnacht or Night of the broken glass. Josef woke up the sounds fo cracks and bangs as if someone had kicked their house door open. Josef tried to stay calm but all of a sudden, arms grabbed him and his family and threw them into the living. They then took away Josef's father to a concentration camp for continuing to practice law even though Jews are prohibited from doing so. However, Josef's father got released but told he and his family must leave Germany in fourteen days. On page 5, it says "Other Jewih homes and buisinesses and synagogues were destroyed all over Germany, and tens of thousands of Jewish men were arrested ad sent to concertraction camps." This is related to history because if describes what Kristallnacht is. One of the reasons for Kristallancht is because a Polish Jew (Herschel Grynszpan) assisinated a German diplomat (Ernst Vom Rath)
Picture of a store during Kristallnacht
Somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean-1939
6 days from home
(my last 5 markers)
In this chapter, Josef talks about the MS St. Louis ship and how much of a paradise it was. On page 59, it says "Josef wished they could stay on board St. Louis forever". This relates to history because the MS St. Louis ship was actually a real ship that took 937 passengers to Cuba. The captain, Gustav Schroeder, greeted the Jewish passengers with hospitality and kindness. However, the Cuban government declined to take the refugees and only took a few who had valid US visas or were Cuban citizens. The rest were left to sail to America and request them to take the refugees. Again, the US declined. However, many Americans and journalists felt sympathy towards the Jewish passengers, spreading their stories to others. Fortunatly, Belgium, Holland, France, and England agreed to take the refugees. Sadly, the Jewish passengers that made it into the United Kingdom were the only survivors as Germany had invaded many Europe countries. The story of the MS St. Louis ship is told throughout museums, books, films, and through survivors.