Resistance

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. What do you know of the German invasion of Poland in 1939? What significance did this event have for the world at large?

Teaching Suggestion: Resistance is set in the historical context of World War II and specifically in Nazi-occupied Poland; the novel mentions the blitzkrieg of Warsaw as a significant event that sets the rest of the story in motion. Considering that the invasion of Poland launched WWII, it may be helpful to have students read about this event and discuss its significance on the world stage, as well as to the book’s particular historical and geographical contexts.

• This Vox article covers the background of Hitler’s invasion of Poland, some details of the event, the impact that it had, and the international responses that followed.
• This Britannica video of the invasion can give students a sense of the scale and impact of the event. The video also contains snippets from those who lived through the invasion.

2. What do you know of the Jewish people’s responses to Nazi atrocities and cruelties during WWII?

Teaching Suggestion: The protagonist of Resistance is a 16-year-old girl, Chaya Lindner, who works as a courier for the Jewish resistance. Often, the Jewish resistance and its different forms are not discussed widely in the context of WWII, though records exist of multiple groups rising up against the Nazis in various ways (highlighting the theme of Varying Responses to Oppression). One major event was the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, which features heavily in the second part of the book. Consider introducing students to this background before they begin reading.

• This article details a 2020 Smithsonian exhibit on the Jewish resistance and can introduce students to the subject.
• Additionally, consider watching this video produced by the Wiener Holocaust Library (also mentioned in the article linked above), which provides a visual guide to the exhibit.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the novel.

Think back to a time in your life when you were either at the receiving end of an injustice or witnessed injustice happen to someone else. How did you feel in the moment? How did you respond, and why? In retrospect, is there a different way you could have handled the situation? Did you learn anything from the experience?

Teaching Suggestion: This prompt orients students towards the idea of Varying Responses to Oppression, which is one of the book’s central themes. Opening the discussion to include instances in which one was a bystander can help students think about and understand the different responses of the book’s non-Jewish characters to Nazi activity; it may also be an easier question for students who find it difficult to discuss their personal experiences of injustice.

Differentiation Suggestion: Visual learners may depict their experiences and thoughts through posters, comic strips, or any other medium that allows them to present their story.