The Reader Part 2 chapters 5/6

1. The ReaderPart 2 chapters 5/6 April Booij

2. PLOT • The women are charged with punishments for their crimes – indictment read • Mother and daughter who survived the bombing are introduced • Recollection of the actual night the bombing took place • Hanna contradicts charges that aren’t correct • Hanna questions the judge on what he would have done

3. Characterization • ‘she is alleged to have acted illegally and culpably’ (page 103) • ‘she asked why they were trying to pin something on her’ (page 108) – unsure and makes her appear innocent • ‘Hanna had to be argued into it by her lawyer’ (page 108) – very stubborn and not willing to give in easily

4. ‘Hanna wanted to do the right thing’ (108) – deep down still a moral person • ‘When she thought she was being done an injustice, she contradicted it’ (page 108) – fair person • ‘She took on responsibility’ (page 109) • ‘she was obviously withholding her trust from him’ (page 109) issues with trusting people • ‘I … I mean … so what would you have done?’ (page 110) brave and daring to question the judge

5. Setting • The whole novel is set in Berlin – which represents the conflict forces between World War 2 • Chapters 5/6 are set in a court room – this setting is built up in the previous chapters • Trial

6. Style • Key – ability to let people in and out, open doorways – they did have a choice • Church – contrast between the spiritual and holiness of a church in comparison with the act committed • Ellipses – build tension within the chapters, show the uneasiness and how unsure everyone is