Holocaust
The book is written on three levels. It functions as a biography of Emanuel Ringelblum, as a history of the Holocaust (in Warsaw, at least), and as a consideration of the role of the historian in history.
To what extent are they separate from each other in the course of the book?
What are the messages that the author wants to convey on each of these levels?
To what extent does he use different sources and/or different narrative strategies for each one?
How successful is he in integrating all the elements to form a single book?
Now, here are some more detailed prompts:
What is the role of the introduction? How does it help Kassow establish and reach his goals for the book?
Why is the story of Ringelblum’s early history important in this biography of him? What does it add to our understanding of the man?
Chapter Two discusses Ringelblum’s political beliefs and affiliations. Though the text is very detailed and quite obscure for a twenty-first century reader, why does Kassow insist on including it? What dimension does it add to the narrative?
The next chapter discusses Ringelblum the historian. Why is this an important aspect of Ringelblum’s story? N.B. This is connected with what Kassow sees as the overarching importance of Ringelblum’s life and work.
Then there is a discussion of Ringelblum’s work organizing welfare activities in the Warsaw ghetto. Which aspects of the book does it shed light on (i.e. of those I mentioned in the previous prompt: Ringelblum’s biography, the history of the Holocaust in Warsaw, and Ringelblum’s influence as an historian)?
The next three chapters deal with the archive itself, those who created it, and the texts they wrote. Once again, ask yourselves which aspects of the book the three chapters shed light on and in which ways they do so.
The last two chapters tell of the end of Ringelblum’s life and his last actions as an historian. What do they add to the story Kassow is telling?
Once you have finished reading, think how each chapter (or couple of chapters) deals with the three different aspects I raised in the initial prompts. In which ways does it (or do they) add to and enrich the story Kassow is trying to tell and the points he is trying to make?
