Thursday, October 16, 2008

Extended Ch. 2 Questions


1. What would you have done if you were on the train?

I probably would have just stood back and let the people do what they were doing. They didn’t really have a choice and I wouldn’t have stood in the way of a bunch of Jews whose lives were in danger. There wasn’t much else they could’ve done. I probably wouldn’t have changed what they were doing anyway. It was either beating one person just enough so that she’d be silent or risking the lives of a whole cattle car packed full of people.

2. When Mrs. Schachter saw the fire, was it a mental breakdown or was it a premonition? Defend your answer.

It was a premonition because she kept screaming that she saw a fire, that it was a furnace, so we think that it was a premonition more than a mental breakdown because she seemed to have a very vivid picture of the fire in her mind and it was as if she somehow knew what their future was.

3. What was going through the minds of the Jews when the doors of the train opened and they saw the flames from the crematorium? Were they in a state of mind to feel regret for their actions against Madame Schachter?

They were in a state of shock because what Mrs. Schachter was screaming was actually true. We don’t think that anyone really regretted what they had done to Mrs. Schachter. They needed her to be quiet and that is what mattered. They weren’t beating her because of what she was screaming, they beat her because she was screaming. So we don’t feel that anyone was in a state of regret. It was probably more like shock at what they saw and what she had been screaming.
-Natasha A., Shelby R., Seyd P., Wade T., Don P.

21 comments:

Mrs. Bethune said...

I would ask your group the same question as the previous one - how does your picture relate to your response?

Natasha said...

It is a crematorium from Auschwitz. When they arrived they saw the flames that were coming from the crematorium.

Mrs. Bethune said...

Thank you for defending your choice.

Katrina said...

Your answers are very good. You answered them well. I also like your picture, it does relate to the subject. good job.

Elizabeth said...

I agree that the people in the cattle car probably wouldn't have been too remorseful about the way they treated Mrs. Schacter. By the time they were sent into Auschwitz, they were more concerned about their fate. But, i do also think that Mrs. Schacter had a mental breakdown, as well as a premonition because obviously if she were in her right mind she would have been able to control herself better. She wouldn't have wanted to create a further nerve-wracking environment with all her crazy talk.

Darius said...

If it were me i would have tried to defend Mrs. Schachter. Even if i had to get a beating i would have changed something. though i wouldn't know what to do about risking the lives of others on the train, i wold probably have them help me come up with a plan or something. I wouldn't just stand there let my fate be decided for me. I like how you answer the questions given. You think thoroughly which is good. Just give a little more detail to help support your answers, good job.

Sam said...

Your group answers were really good. I thought you guys answered all the questions well. I also think that your picture fits Mean they did see that and i think that would of been very scary to see. So good job.

EndZoneFreenzy_CardinalFootball said...

I agree. I also believe in the heat of the situation I wouldn't really know what to do. On number two, do you really think that they were close enough to see the flames? I think they may have been a little to far away to see the flames from the first see cried out 'fire.' But no one really knows because the Jews really believed her at first, like they could have been close enough. Who knows??? Like the group above stated I think they were thinking death. They were probably really scared, I know I would have been.

Missouri State Single Season Strikeout King said...

I completely agree with your first answer. I would be doing the same as you. I like your second answer as well. You cannot really tell if it is a premonition or mental breakdown but you defended your choice well. Your third answer is best. They weren't beating her because of what she was saying, they just needed her to be quiet. It was either hurt her to get her to stop or get everyone else hurt or killed. Good job.

suzy said...

You did a really good job of defending your answers. I probly would have done the same thing and just tried to distance myself from the situation. Good job guys.

Samantha said...

If i were on the train with them i wouldn't have stood back and watched. At this point and time, i think it was very important for the jews to stay together. I don't think that they should have beat her, especially since she ended up being right. I don't think the only reason they beat her was because they wanted her quiet, that was only why they began to. I think they were mostly just taking out frustration and she seemed like the best target at the time. I would have tried to keep order on the train and explained that they were all in it together and they needed to not go against each other like the Germans were against them, not just been a coward and stood back and watched.
I like your answer to number two. I think it was more of a premonition also. It was just easier for them to blame it on her insanity at the time. Great Job!
I don't agree with your third answer. I think that if it were me, as soon as them cattle doors opened and i saw the fire, then i would have just started weaping. Weaping because once again i should have believed the warnings that were givin to me. I think that they felt regret. How could you not?

Natasha said...

In the book it says they arrived at the camp and they could see the flames.(in response to endzonefreenzy's comment)

Natasha said...

We say that we wouldn't feel regret because they succeeded in keeping her quiet, which is what they had intended...so regret, not so much; shock, absolutely.(in response to samantha)

donnie p. said...

Darius, you have to think about your mental strain, and then think if all of this bad stuff was happening don't you think that you would not try to help the spread of panic, Mrs Schacter was seriously going nuts and needed to be stopped.

Darius said...

Well yes i was thinking of the mental strain but that doesn't give the people the right to get their frustration out on another by beating them. Fighting will only cause more fighting, which will cause everyone to be more crazy.

donnie p. said...

How else were they going to get her to stop spreading panic? They had to do something to get her to stop screaming.

Natasha said...

They weren't beating her to get out their frustration. They were beating her to get her to be quiet...which I have mentioned several times. It was beat her to get her to be quiet, or let her keep screaming and risk all of their lives. It wasn't a matter of getting out their frustration. It was a matter of life and death.

Mrs. Bethune said...

If you are broken down, humiliated, hungry, thirsty, exhausted and in fear, how would your mental state be different? Was it the Nazi's plan to have the Jews turn on one another?

Natasha said...

I guess it wouldn't be much different. It was just the fact that Mrs. Schachter broke down where everyone could see it. Who are we to say the Jews weren't already just as mad, but just had more self-control. I don't think they Nazis had intended for them to turn on each other, but I bet they weren't disappointed that they did turn on each other.

Jackie G. said...

I think that is what the Nazi's were doing but I could be wrong to may be they weren't trying to so what they did

Mrs. Bethune said...

Jackie G. - it's fine to give your honest opinion and to be confident in it. Don't worry about others disagreeing with you! :)