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Post-War Survival and Morality: A Study of Morris Gleitzman's 'Soon', Assignments of History

La Trobe University (LTU)History

Morris Gleitzman's 'Soon' continues the story of Felix, a Jewish boy struggling to survive in the aftermath of the liberation of Poland during the end of World War Two. The novel explores the physical and emotional challenges of post-war society, including changes in morality, family dynamics, and survival strategies. Readers will be intrigued by Felix's journey as he navigates a world where the rules have changed, and the line between good and evil becomes blurred.

Typology: Assignments

2021/2022

Uploaded on 07/05/2022

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Morris Gleitzman
SYNOPSIS:
After the Nazis took my parents I was scared. After they killed my best friend I was angry. After
I joined the partisans and helped defeat the Nazis I was hopeful. Soon, I said, we'll be safe. I was
wrong.
Soon continues the incredibly moving story of Felix, a Jewish boy still struggling to survive in
the wake of the liberation of Poland after the end of World War Two.
WRITING STYLE / EDITORIAL COMMENTS:
Readers who have come to know and love Felix in the novels Once, Then, After and Now will be
very excited to continue the story of what happens to Felix between After and Now.
A note from the editor
Morris is such a master storyteller who is incredibly dedicated to his craft - from the words he
chooses so carefully, the characters who are drawn into our hearts, to the places in the world and
history that come alive in his stories. Not only that, he is a delight to work with!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Morris Gleitzman grew up in England and came to Australia when he was sixteen. After
university he worked for ten years as a screenwriter. Then he had a wonderful experience. He
wrote a novel for young people. Now, after 36 books, he's one of Australia's most popular
children's authors. Visit Morris at his website: morrisgleitzman.com
Soon
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Partial preview of the text

Download Post-War Survival and Morality: A Study of Morris Gleitzman's 'Soon' and more Assignments History in PDF only on Docsity!

Morris Gleitzman

SYNOPSIS:

After the Nazis took my parents I was scared. After they killed my best friend I was angry. After I joined the partisans and helped defeat the Nazis I was hopeful. Soon, I said, we'll be safe. I was

wrong.

Soon continues the incredibly moving story of Felix, a Jewish boy still struggling to survive in

the wake of the liberation of Poland after the end of World War Two.

WRITING STYLE / EDITORIAL COMMENTS:

Readers who have come to know and love Felix in the novels Once, Then, After and Now will be very excited to continue the story of what happens to Felix between After and Now.

A note from the editor

Morris is such a master storyteller who is incredibly dedicated to his craft - from the words he

chooses so carefully, the characters who are drawn into our hearts, to the places in the world and history that come alive in his stories. Not only that, he is a delight to work with!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Morris Gleitzman grew up in England and came to Australia when he was sixteen. After

university he worked for ten years as a screenwriter. Then he had a wonderful experience. He wrote a novel for young people. Now, after 36 books, he's one of Australia's most popular

children's authors. Visit Morris at his website: morrisgleitzman.com

Soon

  • In 2006, Once was named an honour book in the Children's Book Council Book of the Year Awards, it was a nominee for the 2010 German Youth Literature Prize, and in 2011 won an Australian Book Industry Award for International Success.
  • Then was an Honour Book in the CBC awards, 2009 and won a UK Literacy Association Book Award in 2010.
  • In 2011, Now won the YABBA & COOL awards and the Best Book for Language in the Speech Pathology Awards. It has been shortlisted for many awards including the UK Guardian Award in 2010 and the Australian Prime Minister's Literary Award in 2011.
  • In 2013, After was a Notable Book in the CBCA awards and won a Speech Pathology Australia and a KROC award, as well as being shortlisted for a number of other awards including an Australian Book Industry Award for Older Readers.

THEMES / TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION:

Aftermath of war

  • The world that Felix finds himself in immediately after the war is very different from the society he lived in before the war.
  • As you read, make a list of all the changes that have occurred as a result of the war.

CHANGE EVIDENCE / QUOTE

PHYSICAL

ENVIRONMENT

FAMILIES

MORALITY

ATTITUDES

SENSE OF

SECURITY

SENSE OF

BELONGING

WEALTH /

SURVIVAL

  • Consider what the orphanage looks like: The floor and walls are covered with gleaming white tiles. They go up twice as high as me. All around are sinks with no cracks. And taps with no rust. Peeing troughs, completely unstained, that are actually attached to the walls. Cubicles, each one with a door (p48). What does this suggest about Dr Lipzyk?
  • How can places such as this still exist in the midst of such poverty and destruction?
  • Is it really possible to ever fully recover from war? How does it change people and society?
  • Should actions performed during warfare be judged the same way as those in peacetime?
  • Is it ok to go against your morals if it will ensure your (or another’s) survival?
  • Stage a debate on the issue of whether or not rules should change during times of war.

Parental influence

  • Despite the fact that he lost his parents years earlier, Felix is still very much influenced by the lessons they taught him.
  • How can his attitudes be seen to have been shaped by his parents? Why do they still serve as his moral compass even after they have gone?
  • What can you tell about Felix’s parents from this?
  • Felix’s parents were Jewish. What is ironic about the sort of values they taught their son and society’s attitudes towards Jews?

Family

  • What relationship do Felix and Gabriek share? From your reading, can you tell how they came to be together?
  • Why in difficult times might people form family units with people to whom they are not related?
  • It’s a baby cot, beautifully built by Gabriek from bits of wood. But it’s not like any baby cot I’ve ever seen. For a start it’s on cleverly designed wooden rockers. And it’s got a roof that slides shut with little wooden animals dangling from it (p109).
  • Why does Gabriek build a cot for the baby?
  • Brilliant,’ I say, trying not to let Gabriek see how emotional I feel at the sight of it. Gabriek is so kind and loving, it would be a crime to do anything to hurt him (p109).
  • How does their relationship help both Felix and Gabriek?
  • Maybe I should have lied when he asked me where I’d been and what I’d been doing. But Gabriek and I have never lied to each other. So I told him about the art theft (p125) Why does Felix never lie to Gabriek? What does this suggest about their relationship?
  • Gabriek and Felix have an unusual relationship. Which do you think is the more mature or responsible? Why might this be the case?
  • ‘I remember when I first saw you and Pavlo,’ says Anya quietly. ‘I thought to myself, I wish I was in that family’ (p148) Why would the idea of a family be so appealing for Anya?
  • Do you think Felix is safer or in more danger by being part of a ‘family’ unit?
  • How does Felix know that Anya is his friend and able to be trusted? (p130)

Grief

  • How does the loss of his loved ones affect Felix?
  • How does it affect Gabriek?
  • Why might they react differently?
  • Do you think it is possible to ever recover from grief?
  • How can grief be seen to be a motivating factor for Felix?
  • ‘Oh, Gabriek,’ I sob. Gabriek can’t either when I tell him. We hold each other. Sometimes in life it’s all you can do. Wait for the sadness to be over. Hope one day it will be (p178) How has loss affected Felix’s personality and behaviour? Do you think he would be as mature without these experiences? Find some examples in the novel of his language or behaviour that suggest he is mature beyond his years.

Treatment of Jews

  • How were the Jews treated during WWII?
  • Why were they so detested?
  • Despite his strong moral compass, Felix is prepared to kill Nazis. Why would he feel this way?
  • There weren’t just paintings in Dimmi’s flat. There was a photo with a very sad inscription on the frame. Dimmi’s Jewish mother, killed by the Nazis (p172). What does this reveal about how the Nazis treated the Jews?
  • ‘You children,’ he hisses. ‘You couldn’t possibly know the opportunities such a unique time gave to medical science. The discoveries that were made that will benefit humankind for ever’ (p171) Why did the Nazis perform medical experiments on Jewish people? What does this suggest about their attitudes towards the Jews?
  • Do you agree with Dr Lipzyk that it was too good an opportunity for medical science to resist? Can experimentation of this sort ever be justifiable?
  • ‘The world is a broken and miserable place,’ says Doctor Lipzyk. ‘Disease all around us. In this syringe is what’s called a vaccination. One little jab, and both of you will be free of disease for ever.’ I glance at Anya. She looks like she’s thinking the same as me. For Doctor Lipzyk, we’re the disease. So whatever is in that syringe definitely isn’t good protection (p170). In what way might Dr Lipzyk have seen Felix and Anya as a disease?

History

  • ‘A photo,’ he says. ‘A photo proves nothing. It doesn’t begin to tell the whole story.’ (p171) Dr Lipzyk argues that you can’t tell the truth from a photograph. Do you agree with him?
  • History is usually written by the victors. What does this suggest about history as we know it? Can we really believe everything that we read, see or hear about events in history?
  • How can history be manipulated or controlled by those in power?
  • Is it possible or fair for those not present at the time to pass valid judgement on the actions of those who were?
  • Why are books so significant to Felix?
  • Why are they important in society?
  • Why did the Nazis burn books? What does this do to a civilization?

Beauty

Corruption

  • What is meant by the term ‘black market’?
  • Why did black markets emerge during and after the war? What would motivate people to use them?
  • What does this suggest about human nature?
  • ‘It’s a simple swap,’ says Anya. ‘The paintings go to Doctor Lipzyk’s place, the penicillin goes to Gogol, you and the baby go around the city unharmed. With all the milk powder you want.’ ‘But only if I break into that apartment for you,’ I say. ‘Only if I get the lock open.’ (p106) Do you agree with Anya that these sorts of deals were legitimate?
  • Why would Dr Lipzyk sell Gogol fake penicillin?
  • What does this suggest about the dangers of black markets?
  • How can they be manipulated by those who are particularly corrupt?

Sacrifice

  • I’m proud of Gabriek too. It’s not easy saying goodbye when most of the people in your life have already gone (p136). Why do Gabriek and Felix give Pavlo away to another home?
  • What is the motivation for this decision?
  • Do you think they did the right thing in doing this?
  • What other sacrifices do people make in this story?
  • What sort of character does it take to be prepared to make a sacrifice such as this?
  • What sort of sacrifices do people make in extreme circumstances?

Hope vs Hopelessness

  • Soon, I hope, I’ll get used to it this way. Not getting involved in other people’s business. Not taking unnecessary risks. Accepting the world the way it is and probably always has been (p160). Do you think Felix will ever really get used to having to live this way? Do you think society has always been this way, that you need to stop yourself from getting involved in other people’s business and not take risks?
  • How would this sort of behaviour affect a society?
  • Would there be any hope of things improving if we all behaved in this way?
  • How does the word soon at the start if each chapter suggest the idea of hope?
  • Do you think this is a story of hope or hopelessness? Why?