Berlin, Winter 1996
1. Describe the opening of the text. Why do you think Funder opened the text like this?
2. How is the sense of smell used? What does it represent?
3. Describe 'Berliner Schnauze'? (p2)
4. In what way does Funder use places to evoke emotions?
5. What do we learn about Funder?
Miriam
1. Describe Funder's work.
2. Why is Funder so interested in meeting Miriam?
3. Summarise Miriam's experiences.
4. What does Miriam's story tell us about this society?
5. Based on her story, write a description of Miriam.
Bonholmer Bridge
1. Why was Miriam not able to escape?
2. How was she treated once in the hands of the Stasi?
3. What understanding do you have of the Stasi?
Charlie
1. How did the torture endured by Miriam in prison impact on her?
2. Who was Charlie? What happened to him?
3. Discuss the significance of Orwell's novel ANIMAL FARM?
4. Describe the fiasco of Charlie's funeral? What does this further tell us about the Stasi?
The Linoleum Palace
1. How does Miriam's story affect Funder?
2. What is the environment of East Germany like?
3. Why does Funder place an advertisement in the newspaper?
Stasi HQ
1. What is the response Funder received to her advertisement?
2. At the various museums, what sorts of items are on display? What is their purpose?
3. Why do you think so inuch man power was placed into spying and surveillance activities by the Stasi?
The Smell of Old Men
1. Discuss the meaning of this chapter title.
2. Why were shredders in such high demand at this time?
3. What is the role of the puzzle women?
Telephone Calls
1. Why was Miriam nervous about meeting with Funder another time?
2. What are Funder's first impressions of Herr Winz?
3. Describe the role of the 'Society for the Protection of Civil rights and the Dignity of Man'.
4. What is your response to the question 'Does telling your story mean you are free of it? Or that you go, unfettered, into your future'? (p87)
Julia Has No Story
1. How are people living in the East Germany of today? What issues are they confronted with?
2. Who was Julia? Describe her relationship with Funder?
3. Which defence mechanisms has Julia created in her life to survive? What are the consequences?
The Italian Boyfriend
1. Describe Julia's relationship with her Italian boyfriend.
2. What repercussions did they both face from the Stasi?
3. Discuss the comment 'By no fault of her own, Julia Behrend had fallen into the gap between the
GDR'S fiction and its reality.' (105)
4. In the end, how does Julia 'deal' with the way she was treated by the Stasi?
Major N
1. Describe the absurdity of Major N's interrogation about employment and unemployment.
2. What does Major N expect Julia to do? Why?
3. Do you agree with Funder's claim 'No one can tote up life's events and calculate the damages; a table of maims for the soul'. (117) Discuss.
The Lipsi
1. Why is the station where Funder works receiving hate mail?
2. Explain Funder's co-worker's attitudes towards the Stasi?
3. What is 'Ostalgiel?
4. Describe Frau Anderson.
Von Schni
1. What challenges does Funder face in her meeting with von Schnitzler?
2. Discuss the irony of his criticism of the reality television show, 'Big Brother'.
3. To what extent do you thick von Schnitzler is a bully?
4. Why does von Schnitzler defend the former regime, especially the Berlin Wall?
The Worse You Feel
1, Why is Julia's experience so important within the text?
2. To what extent is she 'healed' from her past? Discuss.
Herr Christian
1. How does Herr Christian differ from other Stasi men?
2. Herr Christian makes an absurd statement Yes, being a blind man is the best way to observe people'. (154) In what other ways were the Stasi absurd?
Socialist Man
1. To what extent has Hagen Koch been manipulated by the Stasi? Explain
2. How has blackmail been used against his family?
3. Discuss the quote 'This story - of insects and sweet and the making of an enemy-is the story of the making of a patriot.' (167)
Drawing the Line
1. What problems did Herr Koch throughout his career at the Ministry of StateSecurity?
2. On Sunday August 12, 1961, what did Berliners wake up to see had happened overnight?
The Plate
1. Why was Herr Koch transferred out of the Stasi?
2. How did Koch exact his revenge from the Stasis?
Klaus
1. Throughout the book, what impression do you have of Klaus?
2. How did Klaus try to protect himself against the government's attempt to shut him down as a musician?
3. Do you agree with Klaus' comment 'You can't let it eat you up, you know, make you bitter. You've got to laugh where you can' (193)
Herr Bock of Golm
1. What bizarre justification does Bock give for the importance of the role of the Stasi?
2. Given their need to know everything and control everyone, why did the Stasi not foresee they would last forever? 'It would not have occurred to anyone that our country could somehow cease to be. Just like that.' (202)
Frau Paul
1. Why does Frau Paul entitle her notes `The Wall Went Straight Through My Heart'?
2. Describe Funder's Apressions of Frau Paul?
The Deal
1. What tragic situation is Frau Paul put in by the Stasi?
2. Would do you think you would have chosen to do in Frau Paul's situation?
Hohenschonhausen
1. Describe Funder's descriptive writing and powers of observation throughout this section.
2. Why has Funder devoted so much space to this story?
Herr Bohnsack
1. What is unique about Bohnsack?
2. Why does Funder go back to Australia?
Berlin, Spring, 2000
1. For what reason are some people nostalgic about the past?
2. In what ways has Funder and the Berlin changed?
The Wall
1. How do Frau Paul and the others keep themselves busy?
2. Who was Mielke 'Most hated man'? Why was he referred to by this name?
Puzzlers
1. Describe the work of the Puzzle women (and men) and its importance. Miriam and Charlie
1. What annoys Funder about the new museum in Leipzig?
2. Does Miriam ever find out what really happened to Charlie?
3. How does Funder choose to end the book? in your opinion, what is the significance?
In Your Opinion...
1. How could something so bad have arisen from such an idealistic dream? What went wrong?
2. What can history tell us about human weaknesses and strengths?
3. Why is it so challenging to stand up for our beliefs or to be different?
4. Some victims in the text feel ashamed by their own behaviour rather than appalled and angry by the Stasi? Why?
5. Discuss the role our past plays in our present time?
6. Are people ever free from their past experiences? Discuss.
7. Ultimately, what do you think Funder has achieved in this text?