Number the Stars Throughout the book-Number the Stars- AnneMarie, a 10 year old girl, was told some lies that would keep her safe. Each lie that she was told, effected her life in the story, her relationship to the adults in her life, and on her journey from girlhood to womanhood. In this story, the lies that AnneMarie was told effected her life. AnneMarie’s life before the lies was hard/joyful, but after the lies, she realized that they were to keep her safe. One of the lies that was told to AnneMarie was the lie about the death of Aunt Birte. When Annemarie asked Uncle Henrik about her, she became furious because he lied to her. Although later, Uncle Henrik explained, “It is much easier to be brave if you don’t know everything. And so your mama doesn’t know everything. Neither do I. We only know what we need to know.” (p. 65) The lie about Aunt Birte even affected her relationship to the adults in her life. Annemarie was losing her trust in the adults, but was also …show more content…
learning that you might have to lie about something just to keep someone safe. Even though she was losing her trust, she still appreciated and loved them. Annemarie appreciated them because of what they were doing for Ellen- Annemarie’s best friend. She loved all of them because they were her family and friends. Annemarie saw the adults as people who would risk their lives for others, stand up for others, and as superior people. “But even that was not to be for Peter. The Nazis refused to return the bodies of the young men they shot at Ryvangen. They simply buried them there where they were killed, and marked the graves only with numbers.”- Narrator. (p.129) These adults in her life showed her the meaning and the way of life. Even though the lie about Aunt Birte affected her relationship towards the adults in her life, it helped Annemarie learn that it would be easier to be brave and gallant in life if she didn’t know the truth.
“It is he who heals the broken in spirit/and binds up their wounds,/ he who numbers the stars one by one…” - Peter Neilson. (p.74) "Now I think that all of Denmark must be bodyguard for the Jews.” -Annemarie. (Ch.4, Par.53) She started lying to Ellen and to the soldiers to keep Ellen and the rest of the Jews safe. She took the responsibility to take the package to Uncle Henrik, to keep the Star of David until Ellen came back, and to not spill the beans about the whole thing. Doing all of that takes bravery and courage. Annemarie was taking her last steps towards womanhood at the age of 10. Annemarie's whole life circled around the lie about Aunt Birte, plus others. Her life changed, her relationship towards the adults changed, and last but not least, she learned the meaning and the way of
life.
with little to live for. Anne on the other hand was a person that fought hard to make a better life.
Frances Piper’s change in nature can be seen the day of Materia’s, her mother, funeral. She cannot control the laughter that escapes her while the funeral proceeding is happening. However she is amazed when James and Mercedes, her sister, think that she is crying. In that moment of her life, Frances learns something “. . . that will allow her to survive and function for the rest of her life. She finds out that one thing can look like another . . . Some would simply say Frances learned how to lie” (142)...
For example, when Uncle Henrik tells her that Great Aunt Birte died she doesn't quite understand. She later asks him what he meant because she knows there was no Great Aunt Birte in their family. He then asks her what it means to be brave. (pages 75-77). He is testing her to see if she is ready to hear the truth. He wants her to become the strongest, most courageous woman he knows she can be. He doesn't want her to be scared or afraid of this gruesome war. Uncle Henrik and Mrs. Johansen always does the right thing by telling Annemarie what she needs to hear. If she doesn't listen and believe them she wouldn’t be where she is. Annemarie now knows why her elders don't always tell the
The theme that has been attached to this story is directly relevant to it as depicted by the anonymous letters which the main character is busy writing secretly based on gossip and distributing them to the different houses. Considering that people have an impression of her being a good woman who is quiet and peaceful, it becomes completely unbecoming that she instead engages in very abnormal behavior. What makes it even more terrible is the fact that she uses gossip as the premise for her to propagate her hate messages not only in a single household but across the many different households in the estate where she stays.
The story of Anne's childhood must be appreciated in order to understand where her drive, inspiration, and motivation were born. As Anne watches her parents go through the tough times in the South, Anne doesn't understand the reasons as to why their life must this way. In the 1940's, at the time of her youth, Mississippi built on the foundations of segregation. Her mother and father would work out in the fields leaving Anne and her siblings home to raise themselves. Their home consisted of one room and was in no comparison to their white neighbors, bosses. At a very young age Anne began to notice the differences in the ways that they were treated versus ...
As a young girl, Anne’s first “teacher” was her very own mother. Anne was a curious little girl. With her curious ways and always wanting to find out what is happening around her, her mother wouldn’t give her any information. Her mother mostly told her to keep quiet and act like she doesn’t know what is happening. Besides
Beginning in Act II, Anne is mature and caring. She begins to look out for others instead of just herself. She shows her maturity when she says, "I wish you had a religion, Peter." This shows that she cares for Peter and wants him to have as much hope as she does.
Her family life is depicted with contradictions of order and chaos, love and animosity, conventionality and avant-garde. Although the underlying story of her father’s dark secret was troubling, it lends itself to a better understanding of the family dynamics and what was normal for her family. The author doesn’t seem to suggest that her father’s behavior was acceptable or even tolerable. However, the ending of this excerpt leaves the reader with an undeniable sense that the author felt a connection to her father even if it wasn’t one that was desirable. This is best understood with her reaction to his suicide when she states, “But his absence resonated retroactively, echoing back through all the time I knew him. Maybe it was the converse of the way amputees feel pain in a missing limb.” (pg. 399)
Character analysis Annemarie is a normal young girl, ten years old, she has normal difficulties and duties like any other girl. but these difficulties aren’t normal ones, she’s faced with the difficulties of war. This war has made Annemarie into a very smart girl, she spends most of her time thinking about how to be safe at all times “Annemarie admitted to herself,snuggling there in the quiet dark, that she was glad to be an ordinary person who would never be called upon for courage.” (4.60) even though shes going through a lot she still controls it very well.
Growing up in rural mississippi, Anne’s family was very poor and surrounded by extreme racism. A few traumatic events near the beginning of the story seem to set a tone for the rest of the tale. In the first chapter, Anne’s house is burned to the ground. This is done by her cousin George, but Anne ends up with the blame. Anne is then punished for something that was not her fault. This is almost a recurring theme in the book, as Anne is continuously being punished or tormented throughout her life for having a darker skin color. Soon after this, Anne’s family is devastated when their father abandons them to run away with another woman. Anne’s mother, pregnant at the time, remains strong and finds a job in the city to support her children. Anne’s mother demonstrates determination and independence, and acts as a role model for Anne so that she too will not give up in the face of conflict and struggle.
The Danish people always had struggles, but they were always loyal to their great nation. They showed their loyalty by declaring to save their beloved king, by having resistance meetings, and by saving the Jews from being relocated. In the book the families have to work together to save their fellow citizens and save the great country of Denmark.
As a small child, about two years old, Lizzie's mother died. Her father, Andrew, married again. Lizzie did not like her stepmother even though she did not really remember her real mother at all. She never really accepted her stepmother as the person who raised her. And then one afternoon they were robber sunk in the house a...
...ey have surrounded her with. She longs for a deeper connection with her past, but she realizes this is not to be, at least not as far as her family is concerned. She must adhere to the role of the loyal daughter as it has been established through many generations, and strive not to shame the family as her aunt did many years ago.
Their spirits were low, especially when they found out they were running low on resources. Anne lifted sorrows and brought joy back when it was desperately needed. She wanted to help relationships that she had with others like Mrs. Van Daan when she spilled milk on her special coat. Anne’s gesture of kindness repaired relationships. Anne made sure that each present was meaningful to that person. She overall wanted to have a normal celebration even when they were in hiding and wanted to bring joy to everyone. This clearly shows that Anne has a good heart.
lot of things in her childhood.Her father wasn't that nice to her.He used to dress Anne up as a boy