First you will get some general information about violence, especially about violence against children. Violence can be executed in many different ways. It can be divided into physical violence, psychic violence, passive violence and neglect.
Physical violence is any deliberate action that directly impairs the victim's physical integrity. For example beating, pushing and choking. But physical violence also means sexual assault. This kind of violence often entails psychic consequences for the victim as well.
Psychic violence contains things like bullying, verbal violence (for example insult) and isolation. You can find this kind of violence in many parts of your live. It is often executed in school in the way of bullying and isolation but you can find it also at work and in your daily grind.
Passive violence is for example when your parents argue with each other, when they are alcoholics or when they beat each other. Children who must witness this every day get mentally disordered and scared, because they don´t know what is up with their parents.
The last type of violence is neglect. It describes a condition, in which the childlike needs aren´t fulfilled. These childlike needs are food, care and security. It is for example when parents left their children alone without food and money.
Now I tell you where violence against children often is executed. It is executed at school, in children´s homes and in the everyday life - you can say nearly everywhere. But the place where you can find this violence especially is at home and in the family.
Now I have some facts about violence in Germany and in the whole world:
- Every week two children in Germany die in consequence of maltreatment
- In the USA it´s even 27 per week
- Worldwide over 50.000 children die because of that reason every year
- Global 8 million children grow up in children´s homes, mostly because the family is broken
- Worldwide one million boys and girls are forced into prostitution
- Between 150 million and 275 million children and teenager are witnesses of violence in their family every year
- 150 million girls and 75 million boys under 18 years are forced to sexual intercourse
- In 106 states it isn´t really forbidden for the teacher to beat the children
- Germany is one of the few countries which have the right of a non violent education in the basic right

The relation to the book „Shadows“

Interpretation:

Jamie’s dad:

1. 
   beats Jamie -> bad childhood (parents dead), has to fend for himself, good in squash => never gets a winner (examples p. 44 l. 14- 16 / p. 44 l. 21- 23)
   -> wants Jamie to be a winner and to get the things he never had

2. beats Jamie’s mum -> can’t talk about feelings, many aggressions because of childhood
   -> only can solve problems with violence brings Jamie up with violence

The two men:

perhaps no good education in childhood


don’t know how to solve problems without violence


no conscience -> beat Jamie when he was alone and they were two


use methods like the mafia (psychic violence) (example: p.106 l.28- p.107 l.42)


exceeding potential of violence-> Vittorio kills Angelo to get his money

Bob Powell:

against Danny: forces him psychic that he wins ( squash court/ GYM)


against Abby: isn’t the child he wants-> ignores her, when she needs his help -> act like he doesn’t know her (“ I have no daughter”)

->
- violence most used aid to get what someone wants
- children could only be happy (without violence) when they behave like fathers want
- children (Jamie) only will not beat anymore when they come up the ideal parents (father) want
- violence is used close to reality -> reader understand the feelings of affected people of affected people

Our opinion on the subject:

nobody is deserving of being a victim of violence


parents should teach their children to handle problems or conflicts without violence


parents should be a role model for their children


home should be a place of security not of fear, violence and brutality


when teachers notice a signal for violence -> announce head, police and the youth welfare office


when friends notice a signal for violence -> they have to access, announce police and YWO


more appliances for children who need help


call center (anonymous)


hours in school which clear up the pupils what they can do when they have problems

 

 

For Addition/ Hinzufügung

additionally/ zusätzlich
again / außerdem, ferner, wiederum
also/ auch, ebenso, außerdem, ferner
and/ sowohl, und
besides / ansonsten, außer, außerdem, dazu, neben
further / ferner, vorher, weiter, weiterer
furthermore/ außerdem, darüber hinaus, ferner, des Weiteren, weiterhin
in addition/ außerdem, darüber hinaus, dazu, ferner, zudem, zusätzlich, des Weiteren
in the same way / ebenso
lastly / schließlich, zuletzt
likewise/ desgleichen, ebenfalls, gleichermaßen, gleichfalls
moreover / außerdem, darüber hinaus, ferner, zudem
similarly / ähnlich, auf gleiche Weise, ebenso
too/ auch, ebenfalls, überdies, zu

For Cause and Effect/ Grund und Folge

accordingly / danach, demgemäß, entsprechend, folglich, dementsprechend
as a result/ demzufolge, als Folge, aufgrund, infolge, zufolge
because / da, denn, nachdem, weil
consequently/ folglich, somit, infolgedessen
hence / daher, daraus, deshalb, infolgedessen
for/ als, denn, für, nach, seit, zu
since/ da, seit, seitdem, weil
so/ also, damit, daher, so
therefore / daher, darum, deshalb, deswegen, folglich
thus / also, auf diese Weise, dadurch, daher, deshalb, folglich, so, somit

For Comparision/ Vergleich

after all / immerhin, schließlich
although / obgleich, wenngleich
analogously/ sinngemäß
conversely/ umgekehrt
but/ allerdings, sondern, jedoch
compared to/ im Gegensatz zu, im Vergleich zu, verglichen mit
for the same reason/ aus dem gleichen Grund
in like manner / in ähnlicher Weise
in the same way/ ebenso
likewise / desgleichen, gleichfalls, ähnlich, ebenso
on the contrary/ im Gegenteil
similarly / ähnlich, ebenso, ungefähr, auf die gleiche Weise
whereas / hingegen, während, wobei
yet/ sogar, dennoch, noch

For Concession / Zugeständnis

granted / gewährt
of course / natürlich
to be sure/ selbstverständlich, sicher sein, wohl

For Conclusion / Summarize// Folgerung/ Zusammenfassung

accordingly/ folglich, demgemäß, entsprechend
as a result of/ als Folge, aufgrund, infolge, zufolge, als Ergebnis von
as I have said/ wie ich gesagt habe
consequently/ folglich, infolgedessen, somit
fianally/ schließlich, endlich, letzlich, endgültig
in brief/ in Kürze, kurz dargestellt
in conclusion/ zum Schluss, schließlich
in short / kurzum
in summary/ zusammenfassend
on the whole/ im Ganzen, im Großen und Ganzen
summing up/ zusammenfassend, resümierend
therefore / daher, darum, deshalb, deswegen, folglich
thus / also, auf diese Weise, dadurch, daher, demnach, so, somit, folglich, deshalb
to conclude / beenden, abschließen, folgern, zum Schluss kommen
to review / überdenken, besprechen, zurückblicken

For Contrast / Gegenteil, Kontrast

alternatively/ anderenfalls, alternativ, beziehungsweise
although / obwohl, obgleich
but/ aber, allerdings, jedoch, nur, ohne dass, sondern
by contrast/ dagegen, demgegenüber, im Gegensatz, im Gegenteil
contrary to../ entgegen, gegen, im Gegensatz zu
conversely/ umgekehrt
despite / trotz
even so / selbst dann, trotzdem
even though/ auch wenn, obgleich, obwohl, selbst wenn, wenn auch
in contrast/ dito
instead / anstatt dessen, anstelle
however / aber, dennoch, doch, jedoch, wie auch immer
nevertheless/ demnach, trotzdem, nichtsdestoweniger
nonetheless/ trotzdem, nichtsdestoweniger
notwithstanding / trotz, ungeachtet
on the contrary / im Gegenteil
on the other hand / andererseits, demgegenüber, auf der anderen Seite
rather/ eigentlich, im Gegenteil, vielmehr, stattdessen
still yet/ noch nicht
though/ allerdings, obgleich, wenngleich
unlike/ im Gegensatz zu, nicht wie

For Emphasis / Nachdruck

above all / außerdem noch, darüber hinaus, vor allem, zumal
absolutely/ durchaus, wirlich, unumschränkt
always / allemal, schon immer, ständig, von jeher
as a matter of fact / in der Tat, tatsächlich
certainly / bestimmt, gewiss, sicher, sicherlich, zweifellos
chiefly / hauptsächlich
clearly/ deutlich, eindeutig
definitely / auf jeden Fall, sicherlich, bestimmt, eindeutig
forever / andauernd, unaufhörlich, ständig
in any case/ in jedem Fall, jedenfalls, wie dem auch sei
indeed/ allerdings, gewiss, in der Tat, zwar
in fact/ eigentlich, tatsächlich, und zwar, vielmehr
in particular/ besonders, im Besonderen, insbesondere, speziell, vornehmlich
naturally / natürlich, selbstverständlich, normalerweise
never / niemals, durchaus nicht
obviously / offensichtlich
of note / von Interesse
principally/ hauptsächlich, vornehmlich
still/ dennoch, doch, immer noch, nach wie vor, noch immer
surprisingly/ erstaunlicherweise, überraschend
undeniably/ unbestreitbar
without doubt/ ohne Zweifel, zweifellos

For Evaluation / Beurteilung, Einschätzung

allegedly / angeblich, vergeblich
arguably / wohl
fortunately/ erfreulicherweise, zum Glück, glücklicherweise
more important/ bedeutender, wichtiger
surprisingly/ überraschenderweise, erstaunlicherweise
unfortunately/ bedauerlicherweise, leider
unquestionably/ unbestreitbarerweise

For Examples / Beispiele

for example/ zum Beispiel, etwa, beispielsweise
for instance/ zum Beispiel, etwa, beipielsweise
in this case/ in diesem Fall, in dieser Sache
namely/ nämlich, und zwar
specifically/ besonders, speziell
that is / das heißt, natürlich, zumindest
to illustrate/ veranschaulichen, darstellen, erklären, erläutern, bildlich darstellen

For Opposite /Gegenteil

admittedly/ allerdings, zugegebenermaßen
although / obwohl
despite / trotz
even though/ auch wenn, obgleich, obwohl, selbst wenn, wenn auch
granted that/ angenommen, dass
it must be granted/ es muss gewährt sein, dass
it’s true / es ist wahr
no doubt / zweifellos

For Place / Ortsangabe

adjcent to/ angrenzend, benachbart an
beyond / jenseits, über, außerhalb
here / da, hier, hierbei
nearby / in der Nähe, nahe bei, nahegelegen
next to / bei, neben
opposite to/ gegenüber

For Restatement / Neudarstellung

in other words/ anders gesagt, mit anderen Worten
more simply/ einfacher
that is / zumindest, natürlich

For Resumption after a Concession/Wiederaufnahme nach Zugeständnis

all the same / dennoch, ganz gleich, trotzdem
even so / selbst dann, trotzdem
nevertheless/ dennoch, trotzdem
nonetheless/ nichtsdestoweniger, trotzdem
still / dennoch, doch, immer noch, nach wie vor, noch

For Sequence / Reihenfolge

final/ endgültig, letzte
finally/ schließlich, endlich, letztlich, endgültig
first, second, third / erstens, zweitens, drittens
former / erstere (r,s)
in the first place/ an erster Stelle, erstens, von vornherein
later/ nachher, später
latter/ letztere (r,s)
next/ zunächst, nächste (r,s)
primary / grundlegend, anfänglich, hauptsächlich, ursprünglich
secondary/ zusätzlich, zweitrangig
then dann, dann also

For Time / Zeit afterwards/ anschließend, danach, hinterher, nachher, später
at / um (Zeit)
at the time/ derzeitig, zu der Zeit, innerhalb der Frist
by the time/ bis zu dem Zeitpunkt, wenn
earlier / früher
eventually/ endlich, letztendlich, schließlich
formerly / ehemals, früher
initally / anfangs, zunächst
later/ nachher, später
meanwhile/ mittlerweile, indessen, währenddessen, zwischenzeitlich
on/ am (Datum)
recently/ unlängst, kürzlich, neulich, vor kurzem, in letzter Zeit
shortly/ bald, in kurzer Zeit,
shortly after/ bald danach
simultaneously / gleichzeitig
since / da, seit, seitdem, weil
subsequently/ danach, anschließend
thereafter/ danach
until now / bis jetzt

 

Jamie is a teenager in the ages of 15- 17. His social life is distraught by his father’s will of him playing squash. He only has one good friend. This is Spider a neighbor of his.
Jamie always feels that he cannot live up to his father’s expectations. This puts him under pressure and causes him to think a lot about his life. Squash is not fun anymore, but much more a pain for him.
In the beginning of the novel Jamie doesn’t have a lot of self confidence. He can’t stand up to his father and his anger eats itself in his mind.
Things change, when Jamie meets Abby. She is something new for him. He hasn’t had any contact to other girls his entire life, or at least not as close as this. Even though Abby is pregnant and not at all kind to him Jamie falls in love with her. His character changes in this proceeding as well. His self assurance is much higher than before and his self doubts begin to fade. He tells his father about his lack of ambition in playing squash and that he wants himself to be felt accepted by his father.
Jamie’s love to Abby causes him to go through an identity crisis. His thoughts about future start to develop. His focus is on cleansing his old life of things he disliked and in helping Abby in every way he can. He starts to realize his full potential and have a positive outlook on life.
All in all I would characterize Jamie as a dynamic character who goes through several changes from a very scared character to a strong and determined one.

Characterization of Boxer (Animal Farm, by George Orwell)

Boxer is the pure embodiment of the idol worker on animal farm. “I will work harder” is the slogan with which he answers to every problem. With his physical strength he carries his comrades through the tough life on the farm. They are amazed by his pure will of determination. Boxer is the kind of character, who never gives up, even when the windmill is destroyed. This also shows, that Boxer never complains, even in the most severe of times.
The horse is very honest, but not the cleverest. In fact he is a bit stupid, as he can only remember the two first letters of the alphabet. Boxer accepts animalism, albeit he can hardly understand them. The animals, but especially the pigs profit from his hard work. His loyalty to the pigs is very important for their ruling, as he resembles the unofficial leader of the animals. The only time when Boxer contradicts is, when Snowball is spoken of as a traitor. He is however convinced as soon as he hears, that comrade Napoleon has stated this.
In the Battle of the Cowshed Boxer is a vital warrior, knocking out a human. At this point one can notice his sensitivity, as he is very sorry, for he thinks, he killed the human.

Characterization of Squealer (Animal Farm, by George Orwell)

Squealer is a very clever pig and the right hand of Napoleon. He is his speaker and is also in charge for the manipulation of the animals. Whenever a problem occurs he is there to tell the animals one of his made up excuses. He also holds a very important speech, which arouses the animals against Snowball. His speeches are very convincing and he catches the dumber animals, when he asks questions, such as “Do you not remember?”. Obviously they can’t, so they believe, what Squealer tells them.
Squealer is there to help Napoleon, whenever he is needed. At the point, when the hens have to give up some of their eggs and the other animals sense the unfairness, he immediately jumps in and asks “Are you certain that this is not something that you have dreamed, comrades?”
One incident, which nearly cost Squealer his authority, was, when he was changing the commandments at night and fell off the ladder.

Characterization of the hens (Animal Farm, by George Orwell)

The hens play an important role in the development of animal farm, for they are the only ones, who protest against the obvious unfairness and breaking of the commandments by the pigs. When it was announced, that they had to give up 400 eggs every week, they gave an outcry. Lead by the black Minorca pullets, the hens decided to thwart back Napoleons wishes. They threw their eggs to ground, so they were useless for Napoleon. As a result the rations were stopped. It was ordered, that no animal should give any food to the hens. If the rule was broken, it was punished by death. The hens held out for five days, by which time nine of them had died.

Characterization of Mr. Whymper (Animal Farm, by George Orwell)

Mr. Whymper plays the role of the interpreter between the outside world and Animal Farm. He is the eyes of the humans, as no other human being ever visits the farm. Accordingly the pigs want to give Mr. Whymper a positive impression of the farm. One example is, when they fill the food storage with sand, to pretend it was full.

Characterization of Snowball (Animal Farm, by George Orwell)

Snowball is a very clever pig and would have fought more for the benefit of the animals. He was the thinker and made the plans for the windmill. Developing his knowledge, Snowball is always on the verge of finding new necessary changes for the farm. But nevertheless Snowball is a realist.
Snowball is also friendlier than Napoleon, as he wants to spread the word about the farm through pigeons. One aspect important throughout the book is his winning over the sheep. They remember his phrase “for legs good, two legs bad”.
Snowball is a brave fighter, as he showed in the battle of the cowshed. Without him, the animals would have lost the battle, for he was also the one, who had made the strategy for the battle. He had obtained his knowledge by reading a book about the old campaigns by Julius Caesar.
After his expulsion by Napoleon Snowball is always regarded as the “traitor” and if ever something went wrong on the farm it was he, who was blamed. Napoleon needed to do this to strengthen his support.

Characterization of Napoleon (Animal Farm, by George Orwell)

Napoleon, or leader as he names himself later, is a selfish and brutal leader. He is against Snowball from the beginning and even goes on to use force against him. His obtaining of the young puppies is vital for his power. Without them he would have been unable to do anything. Napoleon threatens, lies and changes his opinions according to the circumstances.
Nevertheless he is brilliant in a way. He manages to manipulate the other animals. His plans are quickly put through by Squealer, who later goes on to manage nearly everything for him. Napoleon gets himself every advantage he can. For example he tells the animals, that pigs have to eat apples and drink milk (even though the hate them), because they are brainworkers. Through him the pigs don’t have to work anymore, for he says, that they work hard enough by thinking and managing the farm.
As time goes by, Napoleon becomes more human like. First he moves into the farm house, the he drinks alcohol and later even wears clothes. He does exactly the opposite, of what the old major wanted. On the last pages he befriends with the humans completely and even becomes one of them.
Napoleon manages to keep the animals going with hardly anything to eat. This amazes the humans, who become very fond of him, as they see how he misuses the weaker animals for his own purpose.
Napoleon is a ruthless dictator. He kills the animals, which are in his way. His selfishness goes as far as composing a song for himself, which is put into place instead of Beasts of England. Father of hundreds of pigs, Napoleon begins to become fat to the end of the novel.

Characterization of the sheep (Animal Farm, by George Orwell)

The sheep are very dumb, but nevertheless important for the politics on animal farm. “Four legs good, two legs bad” is a sentence which comes up throughout the book. It is a big problem for Napoleon. As a result he sends Squealer to teach them “Four legs good, two legs better”.

Characterization of Mollie (Animal Farm, by George Orwell)

Molly, a horse, is very fond of humans and loves to wear ribbons. She cannot get accustomed to the fact, that she cannot take part on contests anymore. She secretly goes to the farm fence to be patted and given to sugar by a human. Shortly afterwards she disappears. Later word goes round, that she had been seen wearing a ribbon down in town.

Characterization of Benjamin (Animal Farm, by George Orwell)

Benjamin, the oldest animal on the farm, is perhaps one of the only ones, who doubts the regime of the pigs. But he is not strong enough and even not determined to put himself up against them. For him it is likewise, who leads the farm.
Benjamin seldom talks and is always very negative. His only friend is Boxer, with whom he sometimes strolls around. When Boxer is about to be taken to the knackers, Benjamin is exited for the first time in the book, as he wants to save his friend.
Benjamin is the only one, who can remember how the farm had been before the overthrow of Manor Farm by the animals. But he says, that there is not a difference. It has and will never be better or worse.
(All the information comes from the novel “Animal Farm” by George Orwell)

© by K.F.