Virginia+Lee

Return to 6Q home page __Chapter 1__ **

1. Briefly describe Annemarie and Ellen including a physical description of each girl and a brief description of each girl’s personality. Annemarie and Ellen are both ten years old and are very close friends; they could be sisters! Annemarie has longer legs and has silvery blond hair. She is kind and enjoys running. She is also determined. She is determined to win a race at school on Friday, and has been practiced every day. She is also scared of the German soldiers. Her friend Ellen is a stockier girl that has shorter legs than Annemarie. She has brown hair that is usually in pigtails. Ellen is also scared of German soldiers, and she does not like to make a scene of herself.

2. What is the De Frie Danske? Why does Mrs. Johansen believe the soldiers stopped the girls in the street? The //De Frie Danske// is an illegal newspaper, meaning //"The Free Danes."// Mrs. Johansen believes that the soldiers stopped the girls because she thinks they must be "edgy" because of the recent bombings. 3. What does Annemarie understand about the Resistance? What can the reader infer about Peter Neilsen from the information about him in this chapter? Annemarie knows that the resistance fighters are secret Danish people that try to bring harm to the Nazis in every way that they can. The reader can infer that Peter Neilsen is probably a risistance fighter.

4. Why do you suppose Mrs. Rosen cautions the children to “be one of the crowd, always.” Be one of the many. Be sure that they never have reason to remember your face”? I think Mrs. Rosen cautions the children to be one of the crowd and to never be able to be noticed by a soldier because she does not want the soldiers to remember who they are; this may lead to bad things later on.

-Virginia Lee #9

1. Papa tells Annemarie the story of the young boy who tells the German soldier that King Christian does not need special body guards because “all of Denmark is his bodyguard.” What does this story reveal to the reader about the Danish people. This reveals to the reader that the Danish people strongly believe in protecting the king. This also reveals that the Danish people know that they have a commitment to the king, even to the point of death. 2. Foreshadowing is the literary term for an author’s use of hints to suggest what action is to come. In what sense might this passage be an exaple of foreshadowing? “Yes,” (Papa) said at last. “It is true. Any Danish citizen would die for King Christian, to protect him.” “You too, Papa?” “Yes” “And Mama?” “Mama, too.” Annemarie shivered again. “Then I would too, Papa. If I had to.” I think this may be foreshadowing that Annemarie will somehow have to protect King Christian.
 * __Chapter 2__ **

3. For what reasons did King Christian surrender to the Nazis? King Christian surrendered to the Nazis because he did not want the many soldiers that would have fought to die, since Denmark is such a small country.

4. In what ways has Peter changed since Lise’s death? Peter used to be like a brother to Annemarie and Kirsti. He is still fun sometimes, and he smiles, but there has definately been a changed behavior toward them since Lise died.

-Virginia Lee #9


 * __Chapter 3__**

1. List at least three hardships the people of Copenhagen must endure because of the war. Because of the war, people of Copenhagen have to have soldiers at every street corner. Many times Jewish people's shops get shut down. Now the Nazis plan to arrest all of the Danish Jews.

2. Why is Mama “troubled” when Annemarie tells her the button shop is closed? Mama is troubled because the sign on the store was German. This means that the Germans shut down the store.

3. What information about the Germans in Denmark does Peter bring when he comes to visit? Peter tells the Johansens that the Germans are trying to torment Jews in other countries, and it seems to be starting there in Denmark. 4. Annemarie realizes that her friend Ellen is Jewish and is in danger. Worried about her friend, Annemarie says, “Now I think that all of Denmark must be a bodyguard for the Jews.” Later in her bed, Annemarie wonders if she would really be brave enough to risk her life for Denmark’s Jews. She thinks to herself that she was glad to be an ordinary person who would never be called upon for courage. What future event might this passage foreshadow? Is there a theme being expressed here and what is it? The future event that this passage may foreshadow is that Annemarie will be called upon for courage. The themes being expressed here are courage and bravery. ** -Virginia Lee #9 **

**__Chapter 4__**

1. For what reason does Kirsti mistakenly believe that she once saw the fireworks at the Tivoli Gardens? She thought that she once saw the fireworks in the Tivoli Gardens because she heard the noise and light in the sky like fireworks, but really they were really the sad sounds and sights of the Danes blowing up their own vessels. This was so that the Germans would not take the vessels over for their own use.

Annemaries father definately thinks that the Jewish "relocation" is wrong, dangerous, and mostly needs to be stopped. It is made known that Papa knows that they are actually arresting all of the Danish Jews, but he doesn't know why.
 * 2. What does Annemarie’s father think about the Jewish “relocation”? **

**3. Why do you suppose Peter leaves Ellen with Annemarie’s family instead of including her when he helps her parents to go somewhere to hide?** I think this is because if they were to be found together, the soldiers would be suspicious. Ellen also has a better chance to hide and act as Annemarie's sister. He knows that if the Germans get suspicious, they will probably find out they are Danish Jews and take them away.

-Virginia Lee #9


 * __Chapter 5__

1. When Annemarie and Ellen talk about Lise’s accident, Annemarie remembers that her “Papa looked so angry. He made one hand into a fist, and he kept pounding it into the other hand.” What does this description of Papa’s reaction to Lise’s death suggest to the reader about the nature of her accident?** The description of Papa's reaction suggested to me that Papa must have been saddened beyond tears, and was obviously angry about what had happened.

**2. Ellen is worried that the Germans will come into the Johansen home and take her away. Annemarie reassures Ellen by telling her that she is safe. Why does Annemarie believe Ellen is safe?** Annemarie is very certain that Ellen will not be taken away; her parents either. She thinks this because her dad promised, and he never breaks his promises.

**3. Why does Pape tear the three photographs out of the album?** Papa __tears__ the three photographs out of the album because if he would have just showed the soldiers, they would have seen that there were dates of when they were born. The soldiers would have realized that the real Lise was born twenty-one years earlier.

-Virginia Lee #9


 * __Chapter 6__

1. What are Papa and Uncle Henrik talking about when they talk about “cigarettes”?** When Papa refers to the box of "cigarettes" while talking to Uncle Henrik, Papa is really saying that he is sending a guest (Ellen) with Inge and the children.

Uncle Henrik's house is a good place to take a Jewish refugee because it contains wooded area, and it stands in the country, so there aren't as many soldiers there.
 * 2. For what reason is Uncle Henrik’s home a good place to take a Jewish refugee? **

Virginia Lee #9


 * __Chapter 7__

1. Briefly describe Mama’s relationship with her brother Henrik.** Mama's relationship with her brother Henrik remains strong. It is described as being close enough to gently tease one another without it being taken personally. There are a few ways that this visit to Uncle Henrik's is different from the others. First, this time she has brought Ellen with her to Uncle Henrik's. Also, she is not allowed to make contact with anyone else or even talk to anyone, which is probably different from the other times she has been there. There was not the usual food that was probably there previously because of it being taken from the German army. Annemarie didn't know why, but this time there was no joy or laughter either.
 * 2. What is different about this visit to Uncle Henrik’s house from visits Annemarie has made there in times past? **

-Virginia Lee #9

**__Chapter 8__

1.Most of the day Annemarie and Ellen happily play until Uncle Henrik returns to the house. What two statements does he make that worry or puzzle Annemarie? How does she react when she hears these statements?** The first statement that Uncle Henrik made that confused her was when he said, "Tomorrow will be a day for fishing." Annemarie knew that her father had said something like that when he was on the phone with Uncle Henrik, but she couldn't figure out what that expression meant. But even if she didn't know what it meant, she knew it was a code for something because Uncle Henrik went fishing every day; rain or shine. She just sat silently listening, probably seeing if what he said next would help her determine what the code meant. Listening, though, set off the other statement made by Uncle Henrik, which made her even more confused about the situation. He asks Mama if she has prepared the living room. When Mama tells the three children that //"Great Aunt Birte"// died, Annemarie said nothing, although she thought about it, and out of all of the stories and other things that her mom had told her, she absolutely was sure that there was never a //"Great Aunt Birte."//

-Virginia Lee #9

**__Chapter 9__

1. Who do you think the ‘mourners” are?** The mourners are the Danish Jews that are trying to escape to Sweden.

He explains to Annemarie that he and Mama lied to her because sometimes it is easier to be brave if you do not know everything.
 * 2. How does Uncle Hunrik explain to Annemarie why he and Mama lied to her about Great –aunt Birte? **

//"She began to understand, just a little 'Yes,' she said to Uncle Henrik, 'I think I understand"//
 * 3. Find a line from this chapter that shows Annemarie is maturing. **

-Virginia Lee #9


 * __Chapter 10__

1. What familiar phrase is in the psalm that Peter reads to the “mourners”?** //"How good it is to sing psalms to our God!"\// What about the "He numbered the stars"?

I think that most of the people at Uncle Henrik's house felt very tense, nervous, scared that the Nazis would find them, and sad about leaving their homes in which at least some of them probably lived in for most of their lives.
 * 2. How do you think most of the people at Uncle Henrik’s house felt during the wake?**

To keep the soldier from opening the casket, Mama uses reverse psychology. She makes the soldier feel like she is on their side, and says that they should open the casket, eventhough the doctor said not to because of typhus germs that may still be on the body.
 * 3. How does Mama keep the soldier from opening the casket?**

I think that the title of the book tries to tell me that it is good to praise God, even in the toughest times; he can do great things for people who praise him. He can do anything; even number the stars.
 * 4. Reread the psalm and Annemarie’s reaction to the reading of it. What do you think is the significance of the title of this book?**

-Virginia Lee #9

//**__Chapter 11__

1. What is in the casket?**// There is no body in the casket at all. There are only objects in the casket. These items include warm clothing and blankets that are handed out for the walk on the path.

//**2. Why did Peter insist upon giving the baby some medicine?**// Peter insisted on giving the baby some medacine because he didn't want the baby to awake and start to make noise; this may result in them being seen and captured.

//**3. One possible theme for this novel is that it is easier for people to be brave if they do not know everything. Use an incident that happened in this novel to prove this.**// A perfect example of this is when Annemarie took the basket with the mysterious package in it. Since she did not know what it was, it was easier to make the soldiers think so.

The part when she thinks about the word //pride// shows how she thinks of herself no longer carefree. She thinks about the theatre and other fun things that she did before the Germans came.
 * //4. Find a section of this chapter that shows Annemarie no longer thinks of herself as the carefree child she once was.//**

-Virginia Lee #9

__Chapter 12__ **

I think she will meet soldiers at the least expected moment.
 * 1. Do you think Annemarie will meet any soldiers on the way to Uncle Henrik’s boat? **

She observed that //it was harder for the ones who were waiting. Less danger, perhaps, but more fear.//
 * 2. What observations about waiting does Annemarie make in this chapter? **

Annemarie worries about her mother because she has no way of knowing if the group that she was taking to the boat was captured by soldiers.
 * 3. Why does Annemarie worry about her mother’s safety? **

-Virginia Lee #9

__Chapter 13__ **

**1. Why does Annemarie volunteer to take the packet to Uncle Henrik?** Annemarie volunteers to take the packet to Uncle Henrik because she does not want Mama to make her hurt ankle worse. She also knows that it is very important even though she doesn't know why.

Mama doesn't tell Annemarie what is in the basket beause she knows it will be easier for Annemarie to act careless. She also knows that if Annemarie happens to meet any soldiers along the way and she knows what is in the packet, it will probably be obvious that she knows. If this would happen, the soldiers would probably make Annemarie tell them what it is. -Virginia Lee #9
 * 2. Why doesn’t Mama tell Annemarie what is in the basket? **

Red Riding Hood would be like Annemarie, carrying the basket of food to Uncle Henrik. The wolf would represent the four soldiers and their dogs, mean and scary.
 * __Chapter 14__**
 * 1. There is a reference to the story of Little Red Riding Hood in this chapter. Which characters from story are like Red Riding Hood and the wolf?**

The reality that Annemarie is confronted with is the soldiers. She is awakened by the fact that reality is no little story that she would tell Kirsti. Is she also concerned that whatever she does will have a direct affect on the success of Ellen's escape? -Virginia Lee #9
 * 2. In this chapter we see that Annemarie is confronted with reality and begins to less of a child. What is the reality she confronts? **

1. What is your reaction to how the soldiers treated Annemarie?
 * __Chapter 15__**
 * I think the way the soldiers treated Annemarie was very rude and disrespectful. I also know, though, that the soldiers were known for their mean and bad behavior.**

2. List three times when the German soldiers are rude to Annemarie.
 * They were rude when...**


 * **they take the loaf of bread and feed it to the dogs.**
 * **they take the wedge of cheese out of the basket.**
 * **they call Annemarie an idiot and Mama stupid.**

3. Why does Annemarie act like Kirsti?
 * Annemarie acts like Kirsti because she doesn't want to seem like she is hiding something; she wants to act like a careless little girl taking her uncle his lunch.**

4. Did anything Uncle Henrik tell Annemarie surprise you? What?
 * Yes, I was surprised when Uncle Henrik said he would see them that night.**


 * -Virginia Lee #9**

**__Chapter 16.__** 1. How does Uncle Henrik define “brave” to Annemarie? Based on this definition, is Annnemarie be considered brave? Uncle Henrik defines 'brave' as not thinking about the dangers; only thinking about what you have to do.

2. What secret information does Uncle Henrik share with Annemarie about the Rosens? Uncle Henrik tells Annemarie that when she came to give him his lunch and the package, all of the "mourners" were in a special compartment under the boat, waiting to be shipped to Sweden. He says that many fishermen have created a secret compartment inside their boats to help the Jews escape to Sweden. The problem is that the soldiers did not knw how, but Jews were escaping. This resulted in them searching boats. However, the soldiers do not like getting their boots dirty, so they started using dogs as searching tools. Then he tells Annemarie what the handkerchief was for. He explains to her that Sweedish scientists came up with the answer to this problem. They used a certain kind of drug that they put on the handkerchief; it attracts the dog, but after they smell it, they lose their sense of smell and can't smell the people hidden on the boat. Thanks to Peter, every captain will have one and won't have to worry about being caught. He was the one that brought the problem to the scientists' attention.

3. Describe something funny that happens in this chapter. Amoung this chapter, it is mentioned that when Annemarie got home, there was a note that said Mama went to the hospital for her ankle and took Kirsti with her. Then hearing Blossom's cries of irritation from not being milked, Annemarie took it upon herself to help the poor cow. She did her best to milk Blossom, although it was not the most pleasant experience for either of the two. I think there was also a scene where the cat falls into the pail of milk.

-Virginia Lee #9

__Chapter 17__

1. This chapter takes place two years later after the war. How do the Danish people include their Jewish neighbors in the celebration? In the celebration of the end of war, the Danish people helped their Jewish neighbors by tending their friends plants, dusting their furniture, and polishing the candles. Didn't they also put something in their windows?

2. How did Peter die? How did Lise really die? The devastating death of Peter did eventually come. Peter had been captured and shot by the Germans in the public square at Ryvangen, in Copenhagen. Annemarie's brave almost-brother had not been scared, rather he was proud of what he had done to help Jewish people escape to freedom. Finally, Mama and Papa tell Annemarie the true story of Lise's death. Lise was actually a part of the resistance, too. One night, at a secret meeting in a cellar, the Nazis came and raided the place. Lise managed to get away; however, the Nazis in the military car saw her running and, chasing her down, ran her over with the car. 3. Where does Annemarie hide Ellen’s Star of David necklace? After hearing of and remembering Lise and her death, she also remembered Ellen's necklace. When she went to the blue trunk, she opened it. Annemarie unfolded the skirt of the dress and in the pocket, lay Ellen's beautiful Star of David necklace.

-Virginia Lee #9

Afterword

1. List three real historical events that were included in this novel.
 * 1) Denmark surrendered to Germany in 1940. The country was small and undefended, with no army of any size.
 * 2) After the Nazis began to use dogs to search for Jewish people hidden on fishing boats, the handkerchief __was__ used. The drug on the handkerchief was a mix of rabbits' blood, which attracted the dogs, and cocaine, which numbed the dogs' noses and temporarily destroyed their sense of smell.
 * 3) Also a part of reality were the resistance members. This group of young adults, as mentioned, did everything they could to hurt and/or destroy the Nazis.

- Virginia Lee #9

//__**Darkness Over Denmark- Questions**__//

__**Chapter 1**__

Denmark had railroads leading to sweden for materials, Denmark was a "stepping stone" to Norway, and had farmlands to feed millions. __**Chapter 2**__ King Christian X still took his morning rides through Copenhagen. During his rides he would only greet the Danes that came by, not the Nazis. The Danes made it known that they loved and protected their king, even to the point of death. Therefore, there was no need for a protection crew for the king; the Germans were confused because their country's ways were different.
 * Why did Germany want to take over Denmark? In other words, what benefits did Germany gain by occupying Denmark?
 * What did KIng Christian do to defy the Germans?
 * How did the Danes defy the Germans?

__**Chapter 3**__ Unlike in other countries, Jews were treated with the same respect and dignity as any other person in Denmark.
 * Briefly describe the different groups of Jews in Denmark. Use bullet points.
 * 1) Viking Jews- Jews who's families had lived in Denmark for centuries.
 * 2) Russian Jews- Fled Pogroms
 * 3) Jewish Refugees- from several European countries and came after WWI
 * 4) Jewish Immigrants- from Germany, Australia, Czechoslovakia,and Poland
 * How did Denmark treat its Jewish residents differently than other countries?

__**Chapter 4**__ The Resistance grew using newspapers because the people would get the illegal pamphlets and newspapers and want to take action in helping their fellow citizens. The Churchill Club was a sabotage group of eleven boys fourteen to seventeen years of age. They did as many small things to the Germans that they could think of. They were arrested in the spring of 1942.
 * Describe how the Resistance grew using newspapers in Denmark.
 * What was the Churchill Club?

__**Chapter 5**__ The Resistance got guns through secretly bringing them in from other countries, steeling them, or even making them by themselves.
 * In what ways did the Resistance get guns?

__**Chapter 6**__ Dora Thing resisted the Nazis through helping her husband, a saboteur, escape prison. Jorjen Kieler first resisted the Nazis by printing an illegal newspaper called //"Frit// //Danmark"// or //"Free Denmark."// Later on, he decided to resist the Nazis by joining with his friend, Peer Borup, and then becoming part of the Resistance.
 * Describe what two of the people mentioned in this chapter did to resist the Nazis.

__**Chapter 7**__ Thanks goes to a German, named Georg F. Duckwitz, who spread the news of the round upthat Werner Best planned. It spread to 95% of the Jews in Denmark, and very few Jews were captured.
 * How did Werner Best manage to keep many of the Jews in Denmark?

__**Chapter 8**__ Niels Bohr is a Jewish world renowned nuclear physicist that lived in Denmark. Hearing that the roundup was confirmed, he traveled to Sweden. From there, he traveled to London, England. But before he left Sweden, he requested and made sure that Sweden would be a safe haven for the Danish Jews. Ben's family is like Ellen's family because both families temporarily split up and went to different places before the raid, then reunited elsewhere. Finally, they cross over the water to Sweden.
 * Who is Niels Bohr, and how did he help the Jews in Denmark?
 * Is there any part of the description of Ben Bogratschew's escape to Sweded that reminds you of details from //Number the Stars?//

__**Chapter 9**__ The persecution and roundup of Danish Jews affected other Danish citizens because the Jews needed a place to stay, and the jobs that the Jews had would need to be taken over. This probably put hard work on Danish people's shoulders. Bobs Peschke-Koedt helped the Resistance by taking photos for false identity cards, and getting to the courrier. The Shell House was the Gestapo headquarters located in Copenhagen. There, Germans retained important Danish prisoners, and also contained the largest collection of Nazi files on resistance activists. Therefore, these files dangered the Resistance fighters, especially those of the Danish underground. Although the bombing killed the prisoners, it would set free even more resistance fighters within the files.
 * What affect did the persecution and round up of Danish Jews have on other Danish citizens?
 * Explain what Bobs Peschcke-Koedt did to help the Resistance.
 * Why was the bombing of the Shell House so important?

__**Chapter 12**__ While in Denmark, Dr. Holm filled his car with "Danish delicacies- sausage, pate, beer, schnapps, butter, and pastries. Then he held a private party for the Gestapo officer who was the German liaison with Bernadotte's headquarters. After a while, when they had a few things to drink, Dr. Holm got the officer to sign a piece of paper that the German Gestapo officer probably didn't know was the aggrement paper to release the prisoners in Theresienstadt Concentration Camp.
 * How did Dr. Holm convince the Nazis to release Danish Jews?

__**Chapter 13**__ The Germans did surrender and march away, but what closed the book was that Werner Best had been arrested. When some of them came back, they were in need of new homes because of others who wouldn't leave them. Most, however, were greeted with a warm welcome, and even others a gift, from their neighbors. They also found their belongings intact and well cared for.
 * What action officially closed the books on the German occupation of Denmark?
 * When many of the Danish Jews returned to Denmark, what did they find?