Look, Listen and Remember! A Verbal Essay.
Devil's Arithmetic
This movie begins with the main character, Hannah, in modern times at Passover with her
family. She is apathetic toward her grandfather's stories about his time spent in a concentration camp.
However, when she opens the door to symbolically greet Elijah, she is whisked away to a rural village
in Poland during WWII. After some feeble attempts to explain who she is, she gives up and accepts that
she is now Chaya, a Jewish peasant girl. As her adventure continues, she realizes she is in the year
1942 and about to be taken to a concentration camp. After many trials, she ends up offering her life to
save another girl. In the next instant, she finds herself back at home staring blankly out the door she
had opened for Elijah. She now understands the heartache and pain her grandfather had experienced.
A verbal visual essay uses visuals (drawings, sketches, photos, magazine excerpts, internet
pictures etc.) combined with text (quotations from the movie that will be analyzed) to demonstrate
understanding, insights, themes, and the intent of the work. This assignment is not about art but rather,
about insight and understanding.
Learning Goals:
To understand the human challenge of acquiring empathy.
To understand how we are connected to a collectable past.
To discuss the nature of the Jewish communities in Poland.
To examine the relationship between the powerful and the powerless
To understand and appreciate the pleas of Holocaust survivors to remember.
Possible Themes:
 Families
 Time
 Religious Identity
 Continuity and Change
 Power, Authority and Governance
 Individual Development and Identity
 Science, Technology and Society
Possible Resources:
Resources
http://www.holocaustsurvivors.org/
http://www.hmh.org/
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89357808 - Elie Weisel on God
http://www.yadvashem.org.il/
There are a total of 5 parts that must all be completed (A,B,C,D,E).
Your verbal visual essay will contain the following:
Part A:
Create a thesis statement and introductory paragraph that addresses a theme from the movie.
Choose from one of the questions below:
1. Consider how the nature of self-preservation has been reflected and developed in the movie.
Discuss the idea(s) developed by the author about the role that self-preservation plays when
individuals respond to competing demands.
2. Consider how the influence of reputations has been reflected and developed in the movie. Discuss
the idea(s) developed by the author about an individual’s attempt to create and deal with
positive/negative reputations.
3. Consider how religious identity is reflected and developed in the movie. Discuss the idea(s)
developed by the author. Consider how religious identity plays a part in an individual’s
evolution.
4. What is your opinion of the idea that our environment shapes our perceptions? Discuss this
idea in relation to a character from the movie.
5. What is your opinion of the idea that society influences our decisions? Discuss this idea in
relation to a character from the movie.
6. Another option, approved by the teacher.
Your thesis statement is due before the entire project. It is due Nov. 7, 2011 (you may not use the
computer lab until a thesis is created and approved).
Part B – Quotations
- Find five (5) quotations from the movie that support your thesis and then create five (5)
explanations that show how the quotations support your thesis. Comment on the movie but do
not plot summarize. Explanations may be written in first person point of view if you wish.
Part C – Visual Component
- Create a Visual Component that represents a conclusion about your thesis. Overall, your
visual should represent what you want the viewer to understand about your thesis and your
understanding of the movie. Your visual component should address the following but does not
have to be hand drawn: symbols and visual metaphors, color, use of space, placement of essay
components, focus for the viewer, total impression, esthetics, and design construction.
Part D – News Article
- You must find a news article that reminds you of some aspect of the movie. You are required to
cut out the article, glue it to a sheet of paper, and write an explanation of how the movie
connects to the article.
Part E – Explanation
- You must explain why you created your visual the way you did. How does your visual support
your thesis and connect to the quotes chosen?