All the light we cannot see topics
How does Doerr disrupt and challenge simplistic notions of good and evil? (paragraph 1) - ANS -
Paragraph 1: Despite being a Nazi, and considered evil, there are good values there
We
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All the light we cannot see topics
How does Doerr disrupt and challenge simplistic notions of good and evil? (paragraph 1) - ANS -
Paragraph 1: Despite being a Nazi, and considered evil, there are good values there
Werner, saving Marie-Laure
Always had good values - "regularly appears in the kitchen with fresh milk for the babies"
"Nicht". "he feels he is betraying something"
Federick
He "memorized the [reading] charts' to get into Schulpforta, yet "I will not"
How does Doerr disrupt and challenge simplistic notions of good and evil? (paragraph 2) - ANS -
Paragraph 2: Simplistic notion of the Allies being good is disrupted
Russians
Jutta and friends were raped by them - left them "sobbing" and one "screamed"
Claude Livette
"admires their competence" (nazis)
All the Light We Cannot See presents readers with a detailed examination of personal and collective
responsibility. Discuss. (1) - ANS - Paragraph 1: Personal responsibility is examined
Volkhiemer
"what you could be" "they were just boys"
"The eyes of men who are about to die haunt him"
Werner
The symbol of the Viennese girl "Werner blinks up and sees the viennese girl in her cape"
Symbol of the guilt and responsibility Werner has for helping kill innocent people
How does Doerr disrupt and challenge simplistic notions of good and evil? (paragraph 3) - ANS -
Paragraph 3: However Doerr does present simple notion of good and evil in his text
Symbol of The Sea of Flames
It reflects the true values of the characters - Von Rumple is dogmatic in his pursuit of it and stops at
nothing to get it. Including threatening people's children. "Are our children safe?...If you wish them to
be". His evil nature is emphasised in him being a Nazi Sergent whom is never painted in a light, where
the readers sympathises in the novel
Contrasted to Marie-Laure - Places no real value on it and it the beginning asks "why not" just throw it
into the ocean. Demonstrating that she does not want anyone hurt by this diamond, emphasizing how she
understands the moral concern. Additionally she is on the "good" side of the war and is often
sympathised with due to her physical disability.
All the Light We Cannot See presents readers with a detailed examination of personal and collective
responsibility. Discuss. (2) - ANS - Paragraph 2: Collective responsibility
Jutta
"Our airplanes are bombing paris
"He'll say you did this to me"
"maybe she smells german"
Werner about Federick
"werner tells himself he tries' ' by cleaning Federick's boots so he doesnt get into more trouble. When
visiting Federick he thinks Federicks mother will "blame him" and think he is "partially responsible" to
the reasoning why Federick is the way he is.
All the Light We Cannot See presents readers with a detailed examination of personal and collective
responsibility. Discuss. (3) - ANS - Paragraph 3: How there is no responsibility when action is taken
Werener when he does action
"Jutta...i finally listened" ("is it right to do something because everyone else is doing it")
The positioning of Marie-laure contrasted to Werner in the climax of the novel
Marie Laure in an attic, Wener a basement. Demonstrates the moral high ground Marie-Laure has due to
taking part in the resistance and not having to feel guilt.
Doerr's novel demonstrates that resistance is always possible, and suggests that it has value. Discuss. (1)
- ANS - Paragraph 1: Resistance is always possible - French
Marie Laure and Ettiene
Both have disabilities - Marie Laure is blind and Etienne agoraphobia
"He feels unshakable; he feels alive"
Doerr's novel demonstrates that resistance is always possible, and suggests that it has value. Discuss. (2)
- ANS - Paragraph 2: Doerr further emphasizing resistance is possible by showing it in Germany
Jutta
She "asks questions that should not be asked"
Questions "is it right to do something because everyone else is doing it"
Her resistance resonates with Werner = value
Federick
"I will not"
However the value of this resistance is not entirely evident due to his outcome
Doerr's novel demonstrates that resistance is always possible, and suggests that it has value. Discuss. (3)
- ANS - Paragraph 3: Resistance is not always possible, however, it can be done
Werner
"never has he felt apart of something so single-minded" and sees the damage for Federick for speaking
out, hence he is reluctant to resist
Ultimately, Doerr suggests you can reisst. Telling Volkheimer he hears "nicht" and saving Marie-Laure.
"finally listened" to Jutta
The symbol of birds
Represent freedom. In the book we hear of boys seeing "how many birds they can hit", Frederick says "I
hate them" for doing that. Hence, the symbol of freedom, being killed, demonstrates the lack of freedom
in Schukoforta Werner is exposed to.
All the Light We Cannot See examines the compromises individuals make in pursuing their ambitions.
Discuss. (1) - ANS - Paragraph 1: Compromises made for good ambition which force someone to join
side they don't agree with
Werner
Goes to Schulpforta - leaves his sister and joins something despite how "doubts turn up regularly"
"Why else do this if not to become who we want to be", "Learn to fly" planes
Fedrerick
"squint" and "peer", "memorized the charts" to gain entry into Schulpforta and gain an education. Yet
does not agree with principles of school.."i will not"
All the Light We Cannot See examines the compromises individuals make in pursuing their ambitions.
Discuss. (2) - ANS - Paragraph 2: Additionally, compromise such as putting family in danger for
ambition
Madame Menec
Marie-Laure asks "are we safe", Madame Menec through taking part in the resistance, feels like "a little
girl with stars in her eyes" - her ambition is to be free, however, the meetings take part in her house,
compromising safety
Marie Laure
Compromises safety by broadcasting on the radio and using it to ask for help.
All the Light We Cannot See examines the compromises individuals make in pursuing their ambitions.
Discuss. (3) - ANS - Paragraph 3: Doerr also explores the compromises people make for evil ambition
Von Rumple
children he has not seen in "nine months"
"he tells himself himself if he occansiona;y cheated a customer, it was part of the job"
Despite its tragedies, ATLWCS is ultimately a hopeful novel. Do you agree? (1) - ANS - Paragraph 1: It
is a hopeful novel
Marie-Laure
Blind girl told that the Nazis will "get the blind first", seriously disadvantages, end sup surviving the war
by herself, taking part in the resistance, having a family and a "grandson"
Structure
The beginning Vs End of the novel. "bombs dropping", "the underside of the sky goes black' - dark
imagery. Vs "the wind sings" "we rise again the grass and the flowers"
Despite its tragedies, ATLWCS is ultimately a hopeful novel. Do you agree? (2) - ANS - Paragraph 2:
Not a hopeful novel
Federick
Stands up for what is right "I will not", yet has a tragic ending of relying on other people to do things for
him. Does not remember people "he wont know you" "drool" from mouth
Spirals. Symbol for harm penetrated by the Nazi regime. Is drawing them when Werner visits him,
alluding to the facts that Federick has been traumatised = not hopeful.
Despite its tragedies, ATLWCS is ultimately a hopeful novel. Do you agree? (3) - ANS - Paragraph 3:
Doerr demonstrates characters to be hopeful/optimistic in the future, but shows this failing, hence, a
somewhat hopeful novel.
Werner
Does not want to end up in the mines, but has a bright mind and is good at radio, makes Hauptmans eyes
"glitter", "flushed" = hopeful. Yet at the end, he ends up stepping on landmine = tragic outcome and
despite all the positive things that could come out of his mind, he ends up dying
Volkhiemer
Descried as a "giant", yet the reader is encouraged to like him and want the best for him as he "always
make sure there is food for Werner" and "wraps [a blanket] around Werner"
Yet his outcome is tragic. "haunted by the eyes of the men he has killed", "feels loneliness on him like a
disease"
All the Light We Cannot See examines the way in which flawed individuals may nonetheless be capable
of achieving great things. Discuss. (1) - ANS - Paragraph 1: Physically flawed
Marie-Laure
Federick
All the Light We Cannot See examines the way in which flawed individuals may nonetheless be capable
of achieving great things. Discuss. (2) - ANS - Paragraph 2: Morally Flawed
Werner
Madame Mened
All the Light We Cannot See examines the way in which flawed individuals may nonetheless be capable
of achieving great things. Discuss. (3) - ANS - Paragraph 3: Flawed individually capable of achieving
great bad things
Von Rumple (include symbol of the model of Saint-Malo)
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