Die Andere Heimat

Question 1

Characters

Answer 1

Jakob Simon
Gustav Simon
Henrietta
Margarethe Simon
Johann Simon

Question 2

Background

Answer 2

-Based on the Heimat film series
-Focuses on the era between 1842 and 1845 and the wave of emigration from the Hunsrueck region to Brazil at that time.
-The film is set in the fictional village of Schabbach in the hilly Hunsrueck region of the Rhineland, West Germany.

-The film portrays the rural, traditional way of life
-The film is set in a time of economic hardship and poverty, as was the case in many rural areas in 19th century
-The economic hardship drives the characters to seek a better life elsewhere

Question 3

Summary

Answer 3

Jakob longs to leave the Hunsrueck village to live in Brazil like so many did during this time.
He flees to his sister in another village who has disowned by their father because she married a catholic
Henrietta comes to town and Jakob fancies her but Gustav takes her
There is a village festival and there is conflict as the local baron wants to force the villagers to only serve wine from his estate and at high prices for his own benefit. The people of the village see this as humiliation and coercion by the authorities. There are riots.

Jakob and Olm are taken to prison in Herrstein Castle for months.
His mother visits him.
Jakob is released and Gustav and Henrietta get married as she is pregnant. But the child dies during a long winter - so many children die in the region of this village
Henriettas father hangs himself

Jakob spends time with olm family and they plan to emigrate.
Gustav decides to emigrate so Jakob has to stay behind and mind the family and the farm.
Jakob and Henrietta sleep together in the forest the night before emigration.

Jakob marries Henriettas best friend. He overcomes his bitterness and comes to terms with the past and his new role.
He sets up the villages first steam engine

Father accepts sister back in to family.
Mother dies
Gets a letter from Gustav and Henrietta about their new life in Brazil and their new baby and Jakob brings the letter to his mothers grave

Question 3

Jakob Simon

Answer 3

Jakob Simon is the romantically inclined son of a village blacksmith in the Hunsrück village of”Schabbach”.
He dreams of a life in the jungles of Brazil. He is inspired by the many emigrants of his time who leave the Hunsrück for the South American continent. Jakob learns various languages, including that of the Indians of South America, and reads numerous books.
His mother encourages him, but his down-to-earth, practical father does not understand him, which also leads to physical confrontations.

He like Henrietta

Question 4

Margarethe Simon

Answer 4

Represents the new ways of the time
Kind caring
Visits Jakob in prison
Supports him to read and educate himself and learn languages
Wants him to leave the under developed poor village and make a happy life for himself
Brings fruit to Olm family eventhough she barely has enough for herself

Question 5

Johann simon

Answer 5

Old-fashioned
Traditional
Snatches books out of Jakobs hands
Only proud of his sons when they help him or on the farm, not when they do anything else like learn new languages
When he dies, Margarethe just washes her hands and says lets move on

Question 6

Henrietta

Answer 6

Never got her own independence

Question 7

Gustav

Answer 7

Returns from Prussian military service
Has relations with Henrietta - they get pregnant and married
Takes Jakobs woman and steals the chance to emigrate so Jakob has to stay behind and look after the family and farm - he betrays his brother

Question 8

Symbolism

Answer 8

The book that Jacob reads and writes in is a symbol of his curiosity, imagination and longing for another world. The book also symbolises Jacob’s rebellion against authority and conformity of his society, as he expresses himself and acquires knowledge in a forbidden language

Garden of Eden is a symbol for religion
Religion is important , sister was made an outcast because she married a catholic

Question 9

Theme

Answer 9

Desire and longing - There is a tension between the desire for new possibilities and the attachment to one’s roots and heritage
Jakob is longing to leave but he is too attached to his roots.
He dreams of going to Brazil or garden of Eden but something stops him - maybe his love for his mother.

Dreaming of change -
-How the poor suffer and how the rich live is very evident - no wonder Jakob dreams to leave
-Jakon looks for a change of culture - languages