Stasiland Essay Help Flashcards
(31 cards)
How does Funder Structure Miriam? (Literary techniques)
Funder Structures Miriam as a literary device. Funder introduces the reader to the most severe case of GDR oppression under the Wall and also finishes the text with Miriam. So as to compare and contrast during and after the Wall.
What do is the purpose of Miriam?
Miriam’s purpose within the investigative narrative “Stasiland” is too emotionally engage the audience from the begging, so as to illicit sympathy and interest. The other purpose of Miriam is too present her as a victim and introduce themes of justice.
Themes of Stasiland.
Surveillance vs Privacy Propaganda Truth Guilt Political Ideology Victims Justice Living with the past Individual conscience and courage Stories Love Oppression and Control The Physical Environment
What Values are associated with Miriam?
Values represented within Miriam are contrasted with the GDR values of control, power and ideology. Miriam also shows values of justice and family.
Interpretations of Miriam.
Miriam’s story could be interpreted into a quest for justice, very similar to what Funders story is like. Miriam could be interpreted into a puzzle woman like Funder.
Miriam quotes.
“Miriam is upset. Her voice is stretched and I can’t look at her. Perhaps they beat something out of her she didn’t get back”
“When I got out of prison, I was basically no longer human”.
“A small still woman”
“10 years to late and 6 months too early”.
“They break you, just like fiction.”
“She is so slight that the voice co,Es from nowhere and everywhere at one…it wraps us up.”
How does Funder structure Hagen Koch? (Literary techniques)
Funder Structures Hagen Koch as a representation of the dualistic view of the Wall. A juxtaposition of victim and stasi views.
What is the purpose of Hagen Koch?
Hagen Koch is used to indicate the disruption of personal identity that the wall cause.
What values does Hagen Koch represents?
Hagen Koch has family values, which are contrasted against the way that the GDR treats families. Hagen Koch also has a deep value of reconciliation.
What ways may Hagen Koch be interpreted?
Hagen Koch gives a balance of perspectives, from both a male perspective and a dualistic perspective of both Stasi and victim. Koch also shows the ability to recover from indoctrination.
Hagen Koch quotes.
“I had my left leg in the East, my right leg in the West, and I drew my white line across the street. I concentrated on the line, and not what was happening around me.”
Koch says he is “the only person alive who can represent…the Wall from the Eastern side. Perhaps this is because most people on that side want to forget it.”
“Koch is talking, dipping into his document box, talking.”
“I am the only person who is keeping alive the sense of the Wall from the Easter side.”
“He is once more, a true believer: the Wall is the thing that defined him, and he will not let it go.”
“Lone crusader against forgetting.”
How does Funder structure Julia? (Literary devices)
Funder structures Julia in a very metaphor rich way. Life in a box, “fading person”, colours of her flat indicate death and decay, plastic is representing the lies and fabrication of GDR are still present.
What is the purpose of Julia?
The purpose of Julia is to emotionally connect the reader to the injustice and to explore ideas of identity. Julia is also used to show truth and lies, and the possibility of redemption.
What does Julia value?
Julia values truth and justice, very similar to what Funder values. These values are contrasted against the events that are portrayed.
Interpretations of Julia?
Julia offers alternative views, she doesn’t appear bitter toward the GDR and even expresses nostalgia for it, this is very different from how the other victims have expressed their views about the GDR.
Julia quotes.
“Julia and her family, like many others in the GDR , trod this line between the seeing things for what they were in the GDR, and ignoring those realities in order to steal sane.”
“I don’t think I’ll be able to remember this. I haven’t remembered this.”
“I look at the box in her arms and know that you cannot destroy your past, nor what it does to you. It’s not ever, really, over.”
“Julia had fallen into the gap between the the GDR fiction and its reality. She no longer conformed to the fiction.”
How does Funder structure Von Schnitzler? (Literary techniques)
Funder uses Von Schnitzler to present the obstruction between last and present. This contrast against the victims with a negative portrayal depicted as a caricature.
What is the purpose of Von Schnitzler?
The purpose of Von Schnitzler is too show the negative effects of being forever locked in the past, looking to relive it at any opportunity.
What Values does Von Schnitzler represent?
Von Schnitzler is captive to the ideology of the dismantled regime. He has a strong belief in all things that the GDR valued, particularly Communism.
Interpretations of Von Schnitzler.
Von Schnitzler could be interpreted as a comparison and contrast with the other victims. A physical manifestation of the indoctrination that the Communist regime forced. Von Schnitzler also serves as a literary device to provide a semblance of non bias and balance to the text.
Von Schnitzler quotes.
“He is incandescent with rage.”
“This man who could turn inhumanity into humanity.”
“This is so mad that I can’t think of a question immediately.”
“A sign of being accustomed to such power that the truth does not matter because you can not be contradicted.”
“He spoke in authoritative barks.”
“He has slipped img a practised authoritarian speech rhythm with occasional startling emphasis.”
How does Funder structure Frau Paul? (Literary devices)
Frau Paul is used as a juxtaposition the the theme of memory and past as she ‘forgets’ part of her story. Funder makes the reader consider how being selective about what we remember helps us to maintain a sense of who we think we are. Funder highlights this to explore how both victims and perpetrators choose how much they want to remember in order to make sense of their lives.
What is the purpose of Frau Paul?
The purpose of Frau Paul is to explore the ideas of past and present and the impact of choices.
What does Frau Paul value?
Frau Pauls values of family are used to present the contrast between her own values and the GDR values of control and oppression. Frau Paul also values personal integrity in contrast to the amorality that was running rampant in the GDR.
