The Tattooist of Auschwitz

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the bulleted outlines below. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Lale and the other victims of Birkenau must bend their morals to survive their ordeal in the camps.

• Why does morality have a different value in a situation like a concentration camp? (topic sentence)
• What are at least three notable examples from the text when a character must compromise one of their core values? Explain each value and describe how it is compromised.
• In your conclusion, describe how compromising their morality is one of many Costs of Survival that the prisoners must pay to avoid slaughter by the Nazis.

2. In The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Cilka suffers sexual and emotional abuse during her time in Auschwitz.

• What does Lale mean when he refers to Cilka as a “hero”? (topic sentence)
• Do you agree with Lale’s assessment of Cilka as a hero, or do you think she is simply a victim of Nazi cruelty? Support your answer with at least three compelling reasons.
• In your conclusion, explain how the heroism Lale sees in Cilka is related to the theme of Trauma in the novel.

3. The black market is central to Lale’s life and livelihood in Auschwitz.

• What role does the black market play for Lale and other characters in the novel? (topic sentence)
• Considering the nature of goods exchanged, who is the biggest beneficiary of this trade? Cite moments in the text when an outsider—that is, someone who is not a prisoner in the camp—is the beneficiary, and compare those instances with moments when prisoners seem to benefit.
• In your conclusion, explain whether you believe the outsiders take advantage of the prisoners’ situation in Auschwitz, and connect this to the theme of The Cost of Survival.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. Men and women are treated differently by the SS officers in the concentration camps. What extra dangers are posed to female prisoners in Auschwitz and Birkenau? Analyze the problems faced by Gita, Dana, and Cilka. How are they different than what Lale faces? Cite examples of various forms of dangers unique to women in Auschwitz and Birkenau and describe how it is symptomatic of the large-scale Trauma that was inflicted upon women in the camps. Describe in terms of The Cost of Survival how women paid a different price than men to stay alive.

2. Analyze the relationship between Lale and Baretski. Does Baretski care about Lale? Why does the SS officer frequently help him? Explore the relationship by citing moments in the text when Baretski appears to be Lale’s friend and confidant, as well as moments when Baretski is Lale’s torturer. Consider how Lale must strike a balance in his relationship with Baretski and what sort of price he pays in this relationship as his Cost of Survival.

3. When he hears Aron that sacrificed himself to save Lale, Lale reflects that Aron believed in the principle To Save One Is to Save the World. Analyze this theme. Where does it come up in the text? How is it expressed though the actions of various characters in The Tattooist of Auschwitz? Analyze the novel’s main characters (particularly Lale, Victor, Jakub, and Pepan), and select a single deed done by each of these characters that has a ripple effect on the community.