Terrible Things Allegory

How do the other animals react when the birds are taken?

• Patterns: As more animals are taken away, what pattern do you see from the remaining animals?

• Why do you think the Terrible Things never explain why they are taking certain animals?

• They want to keep the other animals scared and confused.

• They don’t know why they are doing it.

• They think the animals don’t need to know.

• They are just following rules.

What does this lack of explanation reveal?

• It shows that powerful groups use fear to stay in control.

• It means the other animals are too scared to ask questions.
  

• 
  It shows that bad things can happen when no one stands up.

• It proves the Terrible Things don’t have a real reason.

• Text-to-Self or Text-to-World Connection: Provide a real-life situation where people may see injustice but don’t act. This can be from your life or the world.

Symbolism: Why do you think the author chose to make the Terrible Things appear as shadows rather than giving them a specific form?

• To make them seem more mysterious and scary.
  

• To show that they could represent any kind of evil or injustice.

• To make them blend in so they are harder to notice.
  

• To show that they are not real, just imaginary fears.

Friedrich asks, "Why do you carry on, Father, for the Jews?"

Go to page 117 and record Father’s response using proper MLA formatting (author’s last name page number).

Then, compare Father’s response to the lesson in Terrible Things.

How do both texts emphasize the importance of speaking out against injustice?