Post Holocaust Jewish Literature (Week 7)

This week’s literature is more somber as presented in the context of post-Holocaust Jewish short stories and poetry. Authors Taduesz Borowski, Paul Celan, Yehuda Amichai, and Clarice Lispector provided narratives around the theme of identity. In the most notable work, Borowski painfully examines a glimpse into the private hell of a concentration camp prisoner turned forced worker in “This Way for the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen.” Through his eyes and heart, we learn of the physical and mental torture that is imposed on Jews. Borowski himself is a survivor of Auschwitz and Dachau and has a collection of stories to tell. What we learn from this sad story is the first hand account of how millions had their identity stripped away from them and suffered deep humiliation before ultimately losing their lives. The question must be asked, how does a survivor like Borowski regain his own identity and heal?   

            The Holocaust can sometimes be a difficult conversation to have with high schoolers. For many it is the first time they have heard about and seen images of what happened. It is not a part of history to be brushed over, but it also should be handled confidently and with dignity. Teachers should try to make connections between the global event and the individuals who suffered. In order to focus on the theme of identity, students would spend time examining names and faces of those who died in a Holocaust Database. This way they could see the faces of unique individuals. Then as a follow up assignment, they should write an essay about what makes them exceptional individuals.

References

Amichai, Yehuda. “An Arab Shepherd Is Searching for His Goat on Mount Zion.” The Norton

            Anthology of World Literature. Volume F. W.W. Norton & Co., 2012.

Amichai, Yehuda. “God Has Pity on Kindergarten Children.” The Norton Anthology of World

            Literature. Volume F. W.W. Norton & Co., 2012.

Amichai, Yehuda. “Jerusalem.” The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Volume F. W.W.

            Norton & Co., 2012.

Amichai, Yehuda. “Tourists.” The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Volume F. W.W.

            Norton & Co., 2012.

Borowski, Taduesz. “This Way for the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen.”

            The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Volume F. W.W. Norton & Co., 2012.

Celan, Paul. “Aspen Tree.” The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Volume F. W.W. Norton & Co., 2012.

Celan, Paul. “Deathfugue.” The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Volume F. W.W. Norton & Co., 2012.

Celan, Paul. “Shibboleth.” The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Volume F. W.W. Norton & Co., 2012.

Lispector, Clarice. “The Daydreams of a Drunk Woman,” The Norton Anthology of World

           

            Literature. Volume F. W.W. Norton & Co., 2012.