Genesis & Catastrophe

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

Genesis & Catastrophe

Literature

Let's read the text together

While reading think of the following:
Describe Graham. (paragraph 1)

What is wrong with Harry (paragraph 2)

Describe Niemand (paragraph 3)

How come Graham knows that Niemand knows what is wrong with Harry (paragraphs 3/4)

What is the ultimate weapon? (paragraph 5)

Why would Niemand suddenly want a drink (paragraph 6)

What could have happened in Harry's bedroom? (paragraph 7)

After you finished reading, answer the questions in your group.

Let's continue

By answering the questions

What is the setting (place) of this story?

What is the setting (time) of this story?

Answer:

1889 in Braunau (Austria)

Who is the main character and what is her 'problem'?

Class discussion

Answer:

• Frau Hitler / Klara Hitler
• She has lost three children.

What does the word Genesis and Catastrophe mean?

Answer:

• Genesis = the origin of something
• Catastrophe = a disaster

Explain the title with help of these definitions.

Class discussion

Answer:

It is the origin of Hitler. His survival as a baby can be seen as a disaster due to what he did in his later life.

Can you give some examples of irony in the text and explain why they are ironic?

Class discussion

Hint

Try to think about what Hitler did when he was older.

Answer:

• “You have a fine son” > Adolf was not such a nice man
  
  
  
• “he has the most marvellous pair of lungs” > Hitler never stopped screaming, he was always screaming in his speeches
  
  
  
• The fact that his mum is so happy with her son, when we know that the world wouldn’t be so happy with him at all at a later stage.
  

4. What does the gun symbolise in the story?

Is the irony verbal or dramatic?

1. verbal
2. dramatic

Explain

Class discussion

Answer:

dramatic irony: we know more about Hitler than the people in the story.

Would your response to the story be the same if you didn't know a thing about 20th-century history?

Yes

No

Why?

Class discussion

For what reason does the author disclose the identity of the baby in the middle of the story and not at the end?

Class discussion

Answer:

• It brings more tension to the story.
  
• You might wonder whether the author will let Adolf live or die, just like the other children.

The original title of the story was 'A Fine Son'. Which title is more ironic?

1. Genesis and Catastrophe
2. A Fine Son

Why?

Class discussion

Answer

• A Fine Son, because Adolf wasn't a fine son after all.
• Genesis and Catastrophe described what the story is about, without any irony.

Describe Herr Hitler and Frau Hitler, both their character and appearance.

Groups

Answer

• Frau Hitler: pale, exhausted face. Depressed and anxious.
• Herr Hitler: small man with hiskers. Arrogant and overbearing.

I think I understand this text well enough for the test.

Yes

No

Continue

If you have answered yes, focus on your week task.

If you have answered no, please let me know what you do not understand (yet).