Behind the Bedroom Wall

What moments contribute most strongly toward Korinna’s transformation into a mature, compassionate and brave character through the course of Behind the Bedroom Wall?

Consider these points as you reflect on the text to answer the question:

• What injustices are faced by Jewish characters and Jewish sympathizers throughout the novel? 
• How do these injustices foster disillusionment in Korinna regarding the ideas she has been taught?
• When does Korinna start to question antisemitic beliefs, rather than blindly accepting what she is taught at school and at her Nazi youth group?
• How does Korinna’s relationship with Rachel put a face to the “Jewish problem,” and result in growing compassion for the plight of Jewish people?
• Korinna ends up in a similar situation as the Krugmanns; how does this further foster her sympathy and understanding?

Teaching Suggestion: For the first point (what injustices are faced by Jewish characters throughout the novel), it might be helpful for the class to recall as a group various textual examples. These might include Herr Haase being beaten and arrested, the Jewish children being spat at on the street, the girls’ school friend Anita being excluded, and the Krugmanns being forced into hiding.

Differentiation Suggestion: Students who might benefit from additional scaffolding could include these instances (listed above) in a tabular format, and use an adjacent column to assess Korinna’s feelings about the instances at various points in the novel; this will enable students to use textual evidence to track her maturation.