The+Silver+Sword

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 * __WRITTEN BY IAN SERRAILLIER__**

media type="file" key="VOICE002.WAV" width="264" height="22" __Summariser__ This story will be about a Polish family during WW2. They lived in the suburb of Warsaw and their father, Joseph, was the headmaster of a primary school. His wife was called Margrit and they had three children. Unfortunately, in 1940, Joseph was taken by the Nazi's to prison. The children were aged 13, 11 and 3 years old. Ruth, the eldest had a lot of responsibility when her father left. This chapter will outline what happened to Joseph in camp Zakyna. The Nazi's sent him to the mountains of South Poland. All day and night, the wind beat down on the little huts and pine trees. For five months, the snow was thick upon the ground, covering all the huts and fences. The was not any happiness in Zakyna. Poles, Czechs, Hungarians and Russians were crowded in the camp. There were too many people in the huts and had few activities to do. Their meals were the same each week. No one was brave enough to escape because there were too many German guards. Joseph was determined to escape but was too ill. He continued to think about his family and his job. It brought back many happy and sad memories. Joseph had decided to wait until early spring as it wouldn't be as cold. He disguised himself and snuck past the guards. But, there was a hut called the cooler. You would freeze to death in winter. Joseph hit the guard with a paper pellet and was sent to the cooler. He had two meals a day. He made a catapult out of pine twigs and elastic which he used to hit the guard with a rock. Joseph stole the uniform and the keys so he could escape the cooler. Joseph acted just like a German, even with an accent. __Literary Luminary__ Page Four, Paragraph 4. 'For two days he stamped up and down to keep himself warm. He clapped his arms against his sides. He dared not lie down for more than a few moments at a time in case he dropped off to sleep and never woke again.' This papragraph is very powerful because it shows how cold it is and how harsh it is in the cooler. __Vocabulay Enricher__ grim - harsh or formidable in manner or appearance bleak - exposed, barren, cold, raw loafing - to loiteror lounge around in an idle way solitary - experiencedor performed alone pellet - a small round ball grate - to scrape an object against something else, creating a harsh, rasping sound __Discussion Director__ Where did the family live? @ Warsaw What was the prison camp called? @Zakyna Where was the cooler? @ At the back of each block. Where did the guard keep his keys? @In his greatcoat pocket What did the soldiers call the night club? @ Shangri La __Travel Tracer__ The Nazis nearly overtook Warsaw, Poland. Joseph Balicki was imprisoned in the prison camp of Zakyna. This prison camp was in South Poland. For their supper they would huddle around tables eating their cabbage and potato soup. Joseph flicked a paper pellet at the guard and made him turn around. He walked towards Block E. One of the officers asks him where he is going and he says 'Shangri La' and walks off. Shangri La was a night-club in their village. __Connector__ In early 1940, the Nazis took Joseph away to prison. In World War 2, many people that were Polish were taken away to prison, because of the mean Nazis. The author explains how terrible the prison, that Joseph was in, was. Jails were a place that were uncomfortable, overcrowded, with a lack of shelter and food. No one enjoyed being in them.
 * __Chapter One__**

__Summariser__ Joseph was being followed by a drunk soldier that was yelling for cigarettes. He ran and ran until he saw a village. He hid behind a wall of snow. People were arguing about the cigarettes and yelling at each other and the drunk soldier was distracted. Then, everything started to move and Joseph was in the air. This transport was used for relocating goods. Joseph held a stick of chocolate, pretending it was a revolver. A crate fell on his feet, bruising them and making him groan. He lifted the tarpaulin as he watched how he got closer to the dark mountains. __Connector__ The drunk man was chasing Joseph and shouting out rude words. This is what drunk people do, as they completely lose their minds and act like idiots. __Vocabulary Enricher__ tottering - moving unsteadily as though about to fall plough - to begin or undertake a task jutted - to stick out or overhang a surface or main object tarpaulin - a heavy, waterproof fabric made of canvas or similar material coated with tar, wax or paint.
 * __Chapter Two__**

__Summariser__ Joseph told the man in the cage to unload the crates. He forced the man to take him to his home. They arrived at the hut and there was an elderly lady sitting down near a fire. Joseph shared his chocolate with them and the couple were very suspicious of him. They asked why he had a German uniform on and why he spoke like a Pole. Joseph explained why he had to be hidden and proved it with his camp number. He slept in a warm bed for the first time in two years. In the morning, Joseph showed the old lady some photos of his family. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. It was a German guard. The old lady directed him up the chimney. The guards passed Joseph to make their way upstairs. The Germans suspected the chimney and shot their guns up there twice. There was no response so they left. The elderly lady helped Joseph wash his face as it was covered in soot. After that, the couple treated him like a son. Joseph ate and rested most of the time but decided to start on his journey home. The couple walked with him and said their goodbyes.
 * __Chapter Three__**

As the cage had banged to a stop there was man with a torch. This man was Polish and took Joseph up the mountain up to his large chalet. When they had come in there was an old woman sitting by the fire. __Connector__ The old man and woman kindly let Joseph stay with them in their house. Some people are really generous and they allow struggling people to live in their house for a short time or they donate money. __Vocabulary Enricher__ chalet - a type of woodenhouse of Swiss origin with wide protecting eaves. oatcakes - a crisp brittle unleavened biscuit made of oatmeal smouldering - burning slowly with no flame, usually emitting smoke astride - with the legs far apart homely - warm and domesticated coursed - to run race or flow brutality - harsh, severe, extreme media type="file" key="VOICE003.WAV" width="264" height="22" media type="file" key="VOICE004.WAV" width="264" height="22" media type="file" key="VOICE005.WAV" width="264" height="22" media type="file" key="VOICE006.WAV" width="264" height="22"

__**Chapter Four**__ __Summariser__ Joseph headed to Warsaw which took him four and a half weeks to arrive there.On his return he could barely recognize most streets. There was not an undamaged building anywhere. The place was most dismal and no hush and rush could be heard. the place was a dump, no houses could be seen standing full of pride, instead crumbling walls could be seen. The street looked like a pathway full of rubble leading through chains of mountains of bricks. Windows were glassless. Despite the harsh conditions, many still kept living on. Joseph saw many many wondering pale, dispirited and hungry as they turned into their own ways. Some made caves out of rubble whilst others made home from cellars. Joseph had realised the most livley place was the railway and the most lively living, were actually floweras growing in the mountains of rubble, who had no idea of what was going on.Many tried to make sunshine fill their eyes and delight in their blood yet they were hapless. He met an old friend called Mrs Krause and she used to have a child at his primary school. He asked about his wife and children. His wife was in Germany and the children hadn't been seen for ages. Joseph searched for his children but found another small boy instead. He also found a silver sword. The boy said it was his but Joseph would not return it. The boy offered food for it but Joseph still declined. He told the boy about his children and also described then to him.The boy hadn't seen them around and also didn't know them. Joseph let the boy in on a deal. If he gave the sword to the boy Joseph wanted him to look around for his children. Both agreed and they disappeared into the darkness. __Vocabulary Enricher__ gash - a long deep cut plunder - to steal valuables from a town especially during a time of war welfare - health happiness, prosperity and wellbeing in general shrewdly - piercingly peasent-a farmer greatcoat-A big heavy coat that is worn over your clothes carred- blackened and burned cellar-A place underground where wine is kept Nazi- A polictical group in Germany welfare-something to help people who are disadvantaged despair-sorrow brass- a type of metal jersey- a type of jumper or shirt appointment- a meeting

__Connector__ When Jan told Joseph his name, he asked Joseph not to tell anyone else because it was unsafe. In the time of the Holocaust and World War Two, many Lewish chlidrenlived openly on the streets by hiding their identity with a false name and date of birth. it made me wonder about the background of jan's life that he wouldn't tell Joseph
 * __Chapter Five__**

__Travel Tracer__ Joseph met the boy in the rubble the following day. He explained that he had to go to Switzerland and needed to jump a train. They went to the the railway and sat near a train shed. The boy had food which he had stolen from the Nazi Barracks in the bakehouse. The boy, Jan along with Joseph, hid behind an empty warehouse because the patrol was emerging. The warehouse was rained with glass and timber. The roof was damaged, letting the sky appear apart from one corner where the iron roof curled over. Joseph spotted a truck and it was empty. He said goodbye to Jan and the train clattered away.

__Literary Luminary__ What was his name? Where did he live? Were his parents still alive? These are all questions which people may have wondered in the same situation.

"Goodbye Jan. Remember your promise. Whatever happens, I shall not forget you. God bless you." This shows how people try to fit in a lot of stuff in little time. __Connector__ In Ruth Edek and Bronia's house, they have an attic above Edek's bedroom, where he kept his rifle. Some people have attics in the homes and use them for storage space. In World War Two, the Nazis arrested many people from their homes, alot like the children's parents. Some people did not survive the punishments they were given.
 * __Chapter Six__**

__Travel Tracer__ This is Joseph's children's story. They were in Warsaw and the roof was covered with a layer of snow. They were all asleep in their bedrooms. Edek slept on the top floor in the attic and Bronia and Ruth slept next to their mother's room.In the ceiling, there was a trapdoor in which Edek had to use because the Nazi soldiers were breaking in. He opened it a went up. Edek burst his sister's door open and told them what was happening. They decided to go up onto the roof so Edek had to smash the skylight in the attic. They climbed through it, making their way to the chimney and the roof bridge. The children hurried along the rooftops, trying to escape. __**Chapter Seven**__ __Connector__ Ruth saw that Edek was cheerful because he was busy. I can relate to this, because when I am grumpy, I go and play my violin to take my mind of it and after about ten minutes I am happy again. Bronia loves to draw, like most young children.It is good that Bronia can still do what she loves, and that she can use it to escape the situation they are in. __Travel Tracer__ The three children had a home in a cellar at one end of the city. It looked like a rabbit's burrow from the street's view. There was a hole in the lower part of the wall that let in rain and air. Edek climbed through storeys of building, trying to find a mattress and curtains. He divided the cellar into two rooms for different uses. The children lived there for winter and spring. Ruth would tell stories that she had learnt from school to Bronia and Edek. They left the cellar in summer and went to live in the woods. The children huddled together under an oak tree. In August, Edek was looking for food but didn't return back to their home. Ruth had to try and survive together. __Connector__ When Ruth and Bronia returned to Warsaw, it was in ruins. During the war many places were deatroyed, especially Warsaw. During the war, lots of children liked to to play war games like Air Raid Alert, as they think that the war is a test of courage.
 * __Chapter Eight__**

__Travel Tracer__ Edek hadn't returned for two years. The remaining children switched between the city and the woods. Bronia and Ruth had put off moving to the city until winter because of the war. The old town had been destroyed and left them with no streets. The children found their way to the cellar but everything had been stolen. Children from Ruth's school helped repair the broken furniture for the two sisters. All of the children were playing a game when they came across a 9-13 year old boy. He looked very ill so they went to get some food for him. The boy was Jan. The boy that Ruth and Bronia's father, Joseph had met previously. __Discussion Director__ 1. What did Ivan give Ruth for her birthday? @ A bar of chocolate 2. Why did Jan attack Ivan? @ Because he thought Ivan was a Nazi soldier 3. Where was Edek at the time? @ At a transit camp at Posen media type="file" key="Movie_0002.wmv" width="300" height="300" __Vocabulary Enricher__ scrounged- to flog with a whip burly- a strong sturdy body sentry- a soldier guarding something particulars- of one and no other hussy- an impudent or immoral girl or woman offending- hurt someone's pride transit- the process of travelling across or through vaguely- not clear or definite hilt- the handle of a sword lieutenant- an officer in the army or navy __Discussion Director__ 1. What were jan's two presents from Ivan? @ A chocolate bar and a new wooden box 2. Why didn't Ruth let Jan have shoes? @ Because he didn't apologize to Ivan for picking his pockets
 * __Chapter Nine__**
 * __Chapter Ten__**

__Vocabulary Enricher__ strain- to stretch tightly blotted- to make a flaw or fault lorry- a truck ragamuffin- a person in raggy or dirty clothing indignantly- angry at something that seems unfair or wicked mangle- damage something by crushing or cutting roughly endured- suffer or put up with pain repentant- be sorry for what you have done stringy- containing rough fibres bound- jump or spring

__**Chapter 11**__ __Vocabulary Enricher__ handcart- a small cart pushed or drawn by hand bedstead- the framework of a bed rubble- broken pieces of brick or stone haggard- looking ill or very tired derelict- abandoned and left to form in ruin cultivation- use land to grow crops barracks- a large building for soldiers to live in sprawling- spread out loosely or untidily

__**Chapter 12**__ __Vocabulary Enricher__ scrum- a group of players who push against each other onrush- a surging rush forward mercifully- to show kindness or pity shepherded- guide or direct people foundations- the base or basis

__**Chapter 13**__ __Connector__ When Bronia was dreaming, Ruth predicted and described the princess from the Brazen Mountains to be her little sister. Ruth was happy that Bronia was still young enough to believe in fairy stories. When younger children are in a bad place or situation, their broad imagination can comfort them in their dreams.

Ruth grabbed Edek's hand tightly as though she would never let go because she hadn't seen him in an extremely long time. I think everyone can relate to this because whenever a loved one has gone away for a while and has come back, they are always loved and cared for. __**Chapter 13-15**__ __Vocab Enricher__ jolt- to jar,shakeor cause to move by a sudden roughthrust; shake up roughly dope-any thick liquid or pastry preperation, as a lubricant, used in preparing a surface stirring- rousing, **2** moving, active, busting or lively scrum- a place or situation of confusion and racket eg. a fight detain- to keep away from proceeding; keep waiting, **2** to keep under restraint or custody, **3** obslete footboards-a board or small platform on which to support the foot, **2** an uprighrt piece across the foot or bedstead shunted- to shove or turn side something out fo the way, **2** to sidetrack;divert, **3** to divert by connecting an electric circuit in parralel with another kindled- to start a fire, **2** to set fire or ignite (fuel or any combustible matter), **3** to excite; stirr up or set going storks- any of several wading birds of the family //Ciconiidae//, having long legs and a long neck and bill, **2** a mythical symbolisation of a delivery of a baby unnerved- to deprive of courage, strength, dtermination or confidence ungrudgingly- willingly clasping (of a leaf) partly or wholely surrounding the stem //**Origin 1870-75**//, **2** a device usually of metal for fastening two things together blows- a sudden, hard stroke with a hard hand, fist or weapon, **2** a sudden, shock, calamity reversal printer- a person or thing that prints, **2** computer printing, **3** to produce a form of writing with ink via mechanisms monotonous- lacking in variety, **2** characterising a sound continuing on a note, **3** having very little inflection thaw- to pass or change from a frozen state to a semi-liquid state, **2** to be freed form the physical effect of frost or cold frontier- the part of a country that borders another country, **2** the land or territory that forms the furthest extent of a country's settled or uninhabitated regions shambles- ruins, dilapidated buildings ladling-to dip in with or as if a ladle batter- to beat persistently or hard, **2** a damaged area on the face of a type of plate, **3** a mixture of milk or water, flour and eggs sleight- skill; dexterity, **2** sleight of a hand (pickpocketing), a trick or strategism blaring- to emit a loud, racous sound, **2** to sound loudly, **3** glaring intensity of light or colour, **4** fanfare; flourish transit- the act or fact of passing across or through, **2** the passage of conveyance of goods or people seedy-looking- shabby looking, **2** not physically fit ushered- to act as an usher, to attend or bring, **2** a person who escorts people to seats in a theatre/church content- happy, **2** something that is contained, **3** the subjects or topics covered in a book or document, **4** significance or profundity smother- to stifle or suffocate, **2** to extinguish or deaden, **3** dense stifling, smoke, **4** dust, fog, spray, etc. forming a cloud breathlessly- without breath or breathing with difficulty, **2** with the breath held, **3** causing loss of breath from joy, etc. Tiergarten- not found in dictionary antics- a playful trick or prank, **2** a grotesque, fantastic or ludicrous presentation, **3** a buffoon or clown dispersed- to drive or send off a crowd in various directions, **2** to spread quite widely, **3** to dispel carpeted- to cover or furnish with, **2** covering of material, **3** to supress curbor withold, **4** kill by impeding respiration stifled- to quell, crush or end by force commandeered- to order a force into active millitary service, **2** to seize for millitary service or other public use blitzed- drunk or stored, **2** extremely tired to attack with or as if blitz unter- not found in dictionary linden- any tree of the genus, **2** the soft light, white wood of any of these trees, used for making furniture tweaked- to pinch and pull with a jerk and twist, **2** to pull or pinch the nose, especially gently goodish, fairly good, worth of doing plank- a long, flat piece of timber, thicker than a board, **2** something to stand on or cling for support urchin- any small boy or youngster, **2** a mischievous boy usually a pickpocket, **3** sea urchin abound- to occur or exist in great quantities of numbers pantomime- the art or technique of conveying emotions to **2** a play or entertainment in which they express emotions without speech far-sighted- able to see better at far distance rather form short distance almighty- having unlimited power agitation- the act or process of agitation, **2** persistently urging of a political or social cause of theory cloudburst- heavy or sudden rainfall lodgings- a temporarily place to stay, **2** a small, makeshift or crude shelter or habitalation as of skins, earth slag- heap- a pile of waste-matter from coal mining moral- of, pertaining to, or concerned with the principles or rules of right conduct or the distinction between right or wrong creased- to wound or stun by a furrowing or superficial shot, **2** to make a crease or crease in or on __**Chapter 14**__ __Connector__ Bronia felt safe in there home in Berlin. She loved to hear Polish voices and it was warm, dry and comfortable. Bronia is lucky to have a brother and a sister to care for us like us with our siblings and parents. Edek tried to hide his coughing while he was in bed because he was worried that he would wake the people who were asleep. Although a cough that we may have in our world wouldn't be as bad Edek's I can definitely relate to this passage in the same way. media type="file" key="Movie_0001.wmv" width="300" height="300" media type="file" key="Movie.wmv" width="300" height="300" __**Chapter 15**__ __Connector__ Bistro, the chimp was smoking cigarettes, he was jumping, he can change his expression and he actually bit Jan's finger! All of the things that Bistro did in this part, we can all do [apart from smoking] in our world. Chimps are just like humans in a way. media type="file" key="Movie.wmv" width="300" height="300" media type="file" key="Movie_0001.wmv" width="300" height="300" __**Chapter 16**__ __Connector__ Whenever Jan wanted to linger, one glimpse at the silver sword was enough for him to keep going. We can connect to this because if we do something enjoyable before a boring or uninteresting thing, it brightens our spirits and encourages us.

The children didn't realise that they had reached the American zone until they saw the uniforms of soldiers and the queer language. Sometimes our senses can help us determine where we are and what is happening if we are unsure.

__**Chapter 17**__ __Discussion Director__ What colour was Jan's face when the train was approaching? @Purple with fury What type of train was it? @A goods train What was the American military policeman pointing at Edek? @A revolver

__**Chapter 18**__ __Discussion Director__ How old was Captain Greenwood? @42 What did Ruth have hidden behind her back? @A stick What food did Bronia say made them all sick? @Fat ham

__**Chapter 19**__ __Discussion Director__ What vegetable came flying towards the farmer? @A turnip What did the farmer call Edek? @Mr Interpreter What was the farmer and his wife's name? @Kurt and Frau Wolff

__**Chapter 20**__ __Discussion Director__ Where was Kurt's farm? @Barvarian Hills What did Kurt refer Jan to? @The ex-convict What was the dog's name? @Ludwig

__**Chapter 25**__ __Literary Luminary__ Page 153,Paragraph 3 Ruth gasped. The mountains were more beautiful than anything she had ever imagined. They looked so near that she could almost reach out and touch them. I enjoyed reading this part of the chapter because I think Ruth expressed how amazing she thought the landmarks of Switzerland were.

Page 150, Paragraph 1 After her almost sleepless night, she was too tired to do anything but lie back with her head against the top of the seat. In spite of their good luck in securing a lift, she could not shake of her anxiety for Edek. I think that Ruth was very caring in this passage because although she was so exhausted, she was also very aware of her brother being sick.

__**Chapter 26**__ __Literary Luminary__ Page 155, Paragraph 5 One by one, the hot stifling days dragged by. There was thunder in the air, but the black clouds held back their rain. They seemed to be saving it up for some grand and terrible occasion. This paragraph included great description which we could have put into our "Write On Competion" paper.

Page 158, Paragraph 6 The family, as they laughed and danced for joy on the shore thought it was. They did not know that what was in some ways their most dangerous ordeal still lay ahead. At the end of the chapter, this is a great way to keep the reader to continue to read. This type of writing could be used to finish a book to go onto a sequel.

__**Chapter 27**__ __Literary Luminary__ Page 162, Paragraph 8-1 A sudden pang of anxiety hit her. This raging river was the little trickle of stream they has crossed effortlessly an hour ago. Edek must be on the other side. Ruth must have panicked during this time because she had lost sight and knowledge of where Edek was exactly.

Page 165, Paragraph 2 It was a bitter moment for Jan. More than anything in the world he wanted to go after Ludwig. But Ruth's words had hurt him. They had stirred something deep down in his heart, and he hesitated. I think Jan had finally realised how much he loved his new friends in this part because he chose to help them instead.media type="file" key="fb1.WAV" width="300" height="50"media type="file" key="Movie.wmv" width="300" height="300"