AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
YEREMIAS NARDI CAHYANTO
Student Number: 024214095
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
ANNEMARIE AS A SYMBOL OF DENMARK DURING THE
OCCUPATION OF NAZI AS SEEN IN LOIS LOWRY’S
NUMBER THE STARS
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
YEREMIAS NARDI CAHYANTO
Student Number: 024214095
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA 2009
Nama : Yeremias Nardi Cahyanto Nomor mahasiswa : 024214095
Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul:
Annemarie as a Symbol of Denmark during The Occupation of
Nazi as Seen in Lois Lowry’s
Number the Stars
Bersama perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan demikian saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan, mengalihkan dalam bentuk media lain, mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan data, mendistribusikan secara terbatas, dan mempublikasikannya di internet atau media lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin dari saya maupun memberika royalti kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan nama saya sebagai penulis.
Demikian pernyataan yang saya buat dengan sebenarnya. Dibuat di Yogyakarta
Pada tanggal: 30 April 2009 Yang menyatakan,
(Yeremias Nardi Cahyanto)
We spend our whole lives searching
for All the things we think we want
And never really knowing what we have
(THE ATARIS)
For my Beloved Family - The Saimans
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My deepest gratitude goes to God Almighty for His blessings of health, strength, and inspiration. Because of Him, this undergraduate thesis is finally completed.
I would like to express my best gratitude to my advisor, Drs. Hirmawan Wijanarka, M.Hum., for his time, guidance, and supports in correcting my thesis. I would also like to thank my co-advisor, Dewi Widyastuti, S.Pd., M.Hum., for the corrections and suggestions that make this undergraduate thesis better.
My best gratitude is for my family; my father, Laurentius Saiman, and my mother, Maria Rusilah Karniyati, for their love, guidance, and patience through all these years. I would like to thank my sister, Elizabeth Nita Kurniasih, and my brother, Martinus Bangkit Riandito, for being such great friends and foes at the same time.
I would like to express my gratitude to my beloved counselor, Tiara, for her critics, suggestions, supports, and prayers. Without you this undergraduate thesis could not be finished. Thank you for everything.
I would like to thank Mrs. Retno Muljani and all the staff of Language Institute, Sanata Dharma University for the amazing experiences that I had when I worked there. I specially thank Mas Sandi who becomes my mentor and partner at work, thank you for all the knowledge you gave me.
I would like to thank my little sister, Vega, who teaches me to appreciate little things in life. I would also like to thank to Rinda for lending me her novel.
to thank Bapet, Bayu, Odhe, Heru, and Salman for the friendship and the adventures we share together.
Last but not least, I would like to thank everyone who supports me to finish my undergraduate thesis. I love you all!
Yeremias Nardi Cahyanto
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ……… vii
TABLE OF CONTENTS ……… ix
A. Review of Related Studies ……… 6
B. Review of Related Theories ………. 8
1. Theories of Character and Characterization ………. 8
2. Theories of Setting ……… 12
3. Theories of Symbol ……….. 13
C. Denmark during the Occupation of Nazi ………. 15
D. Theoretical Framework ……… 22
CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY ……….. 24
A. Object of the Study ………... 24
B. Approach of the Study ……….… 24
C. Method of the Study ………. 26
CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS ……… 28
A. Analysis on Annemarie’s Characteristics ………. 28
B. Analysis on How Annemarie’s Characteristics Symbolize Denmark during the Occupation of Nazi ………. 37
1. Setting of the Novel ………. 37
2. Symbols depicted in the Novel ……..……….. 39
CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION ……….. 48
BIBLIOGRAPHY ………. 52
Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2009.
Number the Stars is one of Lois Lowry’s novels. The novel tells about a ten-year-old girl’s effort to save her Jewish friend from the Nazis that try to relocate all the Danish Jews in Denmark. Through the main character, Annemarie, Lowry wants to illustrate how Denmark as a nation faces the difficult situation that can endanger their unity as a nation. Annemarie’s characterization, way of thinking and action symbolize Denmark’s struggle to save their Jewish citizens.
There are two problem formulations formulated in this undergraduate thesis; (1) What are the characteristics of Annemarie?, (2) In what way does Annemarie symbolize Denmark during the occupation of Nazi?. The objectives of this undergraduate thesis are; first, to find out how Annemarie is characterized. Second, to find out how the characteristics of Annemarie symbolize Denmark’s characteristics as a nation.
Since this study focused on literary work, the writer used library research as the method of study. The primary source used in this paper mostly gained from the novel itself, Number the Stars, as the main data, that is by having a close reading on the novel. The secondary sources were, among others, taken from the internet, articles, and books which contained related information that is needed in this undergraduate thesis. To strengthen the analysis, a social-historical approach is employed.
Through the analysis, it is found that Annemarie’s characteristics take an important role in the whole story. These characteristics are used in such an interesting way to symbolize Denmark. Lowry smartly describes the struggle of Denmark people to save their fellowmen through the character of Annemarie; a little girl who dares to fight the Nazi to save her best friend. In addition, this undergraduate thesis is expected to give some more knowledge to the reader about Denmark and their struggles; the struggles of a little country to save their fellow countrymen.
ABSTRAK
YEREMIAS NARDI CAHYANTO. Annemarie as a Symbol of Denmark during The Occupation of Nazi as Seen in Lois Lowry’s Number the Stars. Yogyakarta: Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2009.
Number the Stars adalah salah satu novel karya Lois Lowry. Novel tersebut mengisahkan tentang perjuangan seorang anak perempuan berusia 10 tahun untuk menyelamatkan teman Yahudi-nya dari para tentara Nazi yang berusaha untuk merelokasi semua warga Denmark keturunan Yahudi di Denmark. Melalui Annemarie, tokoh utama dalam novel tersebut, Lowry ingin menunjukkan bagaimana Denmark sebagai sebuah negara menghadapi situasi sulit yang dapat membahayakan keutuhan bangsa mereka. Penokohan, cara berpikir, dan aksi Annemarie menyimbolkan perjuangan Denmark untuk menyelamatkan warga Yahudi-nya.
Ada dua pokok permasalahan yang dirumuskan dalam studi ini: (1) Apa saja karakteristik dari Annemarie?, (2) Dalam hal apa, Annemarie menyimbolkan Denmark saat pendudukan Nazi?. Tujuan dari studi ini adalah; pertama, untuk menemukan bagaimana Annemarie digambarkan. Kedua, untuk menemukan bagaimana penggambaran Annemarie menyimbolkan karakteristik Denmark sebagai sebuah negara.
Karena studi ini menitikberatkan pada karya sastra, maka penulis menggunakan studi pustaka sebagai metode penelitian. Sumber data utama sebagian besar didapatkan dari novel Number the Stars, yaitu dengan cara membaca novel tersebut dengan seksama. Sumber data yang lain didapatkan dari internet, artikel-artikel dan buku-buku yang memiliki informasi untuk menunjang skripsi ini. Untuk memperkuat analisis, digunakan pendekatan sosio-historis.
Dari analisis dapat diketahui bahwa karakteristik dari Annemarie memiliki peran penting dalam cerita tersebut. Karakteristik ini digunakan dengan cara yang menarik untuk menyimbolkan Denmark. Lowry dengan cerdik menjabarkan perjuangan rakyat Denmark untuk menyelamatkan teman sebangsa mereka melalui tokoh Annemarie, seorang anak perempuan yang berani melawan tentara Nazi untuk menyelamatkan sahabatnya. Terlebih, studi ini diharapkan dapat memberikan pengetahuan lebih kepada pembaca mengenai Denmark dan perjuangannya; perjuangan sebuah negara kecil untuk menyelamatkan teman sebangsanya.
A. Background of the Study
There are many things that influence the work of a writer. Social condition is one of the most influential things. The place where someone lives and the situation surrounds his or her life often becomes one’s inspiration to write a piece of work. Even some writers do not realize that their social background influence their way of writing. Lois Lowry is a writer who employs certain social condition as her source to create a piece of work. Other themes Lowry employs in her works are family, friendship, war, and death.
Lowry has a very unique style in her way of writing. Being different from other writers, she always tries to portray realistic life experiences to her audience. Her first work is A Summer to Die which was published in 1977. It tells about a thirteen year-old girl who has to face the death of her older sister. In this work, Lowry takes her own experience of life as her main source. Her older sister, Helen, died when she was young and she tries to tell the effect of such a loss on a family. Because of that book, she received the 1978 International Reading Association's Children's Book Award. Since that time she has written more than twenty novels which include two John Newbery Award books: Number the Stars and The Giver.
Number the Stars was written based on the experience of Lowry’s friend, Annelise Platt. Platt is one of the Danish Jews who survived from the holocaust
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did by the Nazis. The setting of the novel is in Denmark in 1943 during the occupation of the Nazis. It tells about a ten-year-old girl’s effort to save her Jewish friend from the Nazis that try to relocate all the Danish Jews in Denmark.
Both Lowry and Platt were children in wartime. Lowry’s father was an Army officer and was overseas in the pacific when Lowry grew up, so her childhood was pretty much affected by the war. But Platt’s childhood was totally different from Lowry’s. Lowry grew up in New York where anything could be found easily, while Platt grew up in Copenhagen that had been occupied by the Nazis. Her childhood was haunted by fear, terror, and insufficiency.
She described being cold, wearing mittens to bed because they had no heat. The food was in short supply during the years of Nazi’s occupation (Grimhaw, May 11, 2005) <http://www.yrbe.edu.on.ca/_mkvlss/racerel/ wmrace2.html>.
By listening to her friend’s story, Lowry got an idea to write about her friend’s experience of life. Through her work, she wanted everyone to know what really happened to all the Danish Jews during that time when they were hunted by the Nazis through her fiction based on a true story, a novel entitled Number the Stars. Since Number the Stars based on a true story, therefore the history in Number the Stars is real, though the characters and the plot in the novel are fiction, Lowry tries to make it as real as possible.
The fact that Number the Stars based on true story is stated in Haanen’s essay concerning on Lowry’s work;
to numb the senses of search dogs are all true (Haanen, May 11, 2005) <http://www.thecoo.edu/~hohaanen/reviewers.html>.
Based on the quotation above, it could be said that Copenhagen and Denmark are the settings of the novel as well as the real settings of Annelise Platt’s experience. The real situation and social condition happened in Denmark and Copenhagen are well-portrayed in the novel. There are some important events happen in Denmark, especially in Copenhagen that are highlighted in the novel, such as the Danish Resistance, Jewish relocation, the smuggling of people to Sweden, and the handkerchief used to numb the senses of German’s search dogs. Lowry’s Number the Stars becomes the main source of this undergraduate thesis. This novel will be explored and analyzed in the analysis. This novel, Number the Stars, is chosen because of its interesting story. Moreover, the novel also brings factual events which are believed can enrich the readers understanding on Nazi occupation and the history of Denmark itself.
In this undergraduate thesis the writer wants to show that Annemarie as the main character in the novel becomes Lowry’s means to symbolize Denmark society. Through the main character, Annemarie, Lowry wants to illustrate how Denmark as a nation faces the difficult situation that can endanger their unity as a nation. Annemarie’s characterization, way of thinking and action symbolize Denmark’s struggle to save their Jewish citizens.
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The topic arises in this undergraduate thesis is Annemarie as a Symbol of
Denmark During the Occupation of Nazi as Seen in Lois Lowry’s Number the
Stars. Here, the main character becomes the focus of this undergraduate thesis, since Annemarie’s role in the story is really important in order to picture the struggle of the Danes.
B. Problem Formulation
There are two questions which are formulated as the problems of this undergraduate thesis:
1. What are the characteristics of Annemarie?
2. In what way does Annemarie symbolize Denmark during the occupation of Nazi?
C. Objectives of the Study
The objective of this study is to find out the answer of the problem formulation in the former part. In this undergraduate thesis, the writer tries to find out how the character of Annemarie as the main character in the novel is characterized.
D. Definition of Terms
1. Symbol
In the broadest sense, a symbol is anything that signifies something; in this sense, all words are symbols. In discussing literature, however, the term symbol is applied only to a word or phrase that signifies an object or event which in its turn signifies something, or has a range of reference, beyond itself. Some symbols are “conventional” or “public” and some are “private” or “personal” (Abrams, 1993: 206).
2. Occupation
The word occupation refers to the invasion, conquest, and control of a nation or territory by foreign armed forces (Soukhanov, 1996: 1251).
3. Nazi
CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL REVIEW
A. Review of Related Studies
In this part, the writer will show some studies and criticisms on Lois Lowry’s Number the Stars. From here we can see how interesting and fascinating the novel is, and what people think about this novel.
Lynne Marie Pisano, the Co-Chair of The Long Island Children's Writers and Illustrators, as retrieved from <http://www.commonsensemedia.org /reviews/review>, stated, “Unlike most Holocaust children's literature, which takes place in Eastern Europe, Lois Lowry's Number the Stars takes place at the fringe of the Nazi occupation, in a small kingdom called Denmark. Rather than fighting the Nazis and lose, Denmark's King Christian concedes peaceably to Nazi occupation. However, in his infinite wisdom, the king first blows up all military equipment of any possible use to the occupiers. On the outside Denmark appears submissive, on the inside the nation resists. When word spreads in 1943 that Hitler plans to detain Danish Jews and transport them to death camps, the people of Denmark band together. Although primarily a fictional compilation of many factual events, Number the Stars chronicles one family's attempt to save their friends from persecution and death.”
Number the Stars is a fictional novel that portrays the real life in Denmark during the Nazis occupation. Bravery, patriotism, heroism and friendship become
things that really important in this novel, especially because all of these are depicted in the character of a ten-year-old girl.
Annemarie finds herself in very tough situations and shows the bravery of someone many years older than herself. I remember reading this book when I was in the sixth grade. I was amazed by the courage the children in this book have. After reading this book, I gained a great fascination in the people of World War II (Haanen, May 11, 2005) <http://www.thecoo.edu/~hohaanen/reviewers.html>. Annemarie’s courage plays a very significant role in this novel which makes this novel fascinated by a lot of people.
Set during the German occupation of Denmark in 1943, Annemarie Johansen's world is turned upside down when the Germans begin to "relocate" the Jews. Through the eyes of this ten-year old, the reader is taken into a frightening world where ordinary citizens become heroes (DiNuzzo, May 11, 2005) <http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/~kvander/lowry.html>. From what has said, it is also clear that heroism becomes the focus of this novel.
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description of the situation in Denmark and see the oppressions faced by the Jews and the Danes during the Nazi German occupations. We can also see how the Jews and the Danes resist and fight for their freedom on the bad time during the occupations (Silawidarta, 2005: 55).”
From all reviews about the novel Number the Stars, it can be concluded that the focus of this novel is about courage; not only the courage of a ten-year-old girl, but also the courage of Denmark people. In this undergraduate thesis, the writer wants to know deeper about how Annemarie’s characteristics can be a symbol of Denmark as a nation and society.
B. Review of Related Theories
1. Theories of Character and Characterization
Since the main focus in this undergraduate thesis is the main character in the novel, theory of character and characterization is needed in order to find out how the main character in the novel is characterized.
Holman and Harmon in their book, A Handbook to Literature stated that character and characterization are related and cannot be separated to each other. The author always reveals the characters of imaginary persons in the story, and then it is called characterization. In other words, characterization can be defined as the creation of these imaginary persons so that they exist for the reader as if the people in the real life (1986: 81).
one event and a different way on another unless there is clearly reason for the change. Second, the character must be motivated in all they do, especially when their behaviors change. The readers must be able to understand the reason for what they do, if not immediately, at least by the end of the story. Third, the characters must be plausible or life like, credible, realistic probable (Koesnosoebroto, 1986: 66).
M.J. Murphy (1972: 161-173) explains nine details about how an author conveys the characters and the personalities of people in her or his writing. The nine details will help the readers to understand about the characters in a story. The nine details are:
a. Personal Description
The author describes from the details of physical appearance of the character, like strong or weak, fat or thin, beautiful or bad, tall or short, big or small, with curly hair or blonde, white or black skin. The description will help the readers to understand the characters in the story visually. b. Character as Seen by Another
An author describes the character through another’s point of view. The other characters in the story give her or his opinions, by giving explanation a character is like. In these details, the readers also can use their own point of view to analyze a certain character.
c. Speech
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conversation with other character. We also can see his character from his opinion that he gives.
d. Past Life
To understand the character’s personality through past life means that the readers search the character’s past life or what happen to the character’s past life. Her or his present life is closely connected to his past life. By knowing his past life, the readers can figure out the character’s personality in a literary work. An author sometimes explains a person’s personality by giving special events that shape his characters. The readers can find it from the direct comment of the author or through the person’s thought or the medium of another person.
e. Conversation of Others
The readers have to pay attention through the conversation of other people and the things they say about the character, because an author sometimes gives a clue to understand the character’s personality from other’s conversation and their opinion about him. By searching it, it will help the readers to get more information about the people’s character. It will help the readers to judge on the character.
f. Reaction
g. Direct Comment
The author sometimes gives his comment on a person’s character directly. In this way, the readers will understand what kind of people in the work easily. They get a straight forward about a person’s character.
h. Thoughts
The author gives us direct knowledge of what a person is thinking about. Whenever the author gives a direct description of the character’s mind, what he is thinking about, we are led to a more profound analysis on the mental process of the character. We are facilitated to disclose the thought inside the character’s mind.
i. Mannerism
A person’s character can be described through his habit and mannerism. It can tell us something more about the character. Furthermore, the meaning of characterization in the literary work as an individual is the process of presenting and developing a character by an author.
Abrams mentions characters as “the persons presented in a dramatic or narrative work, who are interpreted by the reader as being endowed with moral, dispositional, and emotional qualities that are expressed in what they say – the dialogue – and by what the do – the action (1993: 23).
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telling method, the author intervenes authoritatively in order to describe, and often to evaluate, the motives and dispositional qualities of the characters. In using this method, the author is likely to be able to ensure the readers about the characterization of the character as he limits the readers’ perception with his characterization (1993: 24).
2. Theories of Setting
Setting plays significant role in a novel, and to get deeper understanding about the setting of the novel, theory of setting is applied. Here are some theories of setting that the writer applies to analyze the setting of the novel.
Abrams in A Glossary of Literary Terms defines setting as the general locale, historical time, and social circumstances in which its action occurs; the setting of a single episode or scene within a work is the particular physical location in which it takes place. In a limited sense, setting refers to “the general place and historical sense”, it is when and where the action occurs. In a broader sense, setting refers to “the social circumstances in which its action occurs” (1993: 192).
Holman and Harmon (1986: 468) stated that there are some elements of which the setting is composed. They are:
c. The time of periods in which the action takes place, for example: epoch in history or scene of the year.
d. The general environment of the characters, for example, religious, mental, moral, social and emotional conditions through which the people in the narrative move.
In his book, An Introduction to Fiction, Stanton defines setting as the environment of the events in a story, the immediate world in which they occur. He also stated that sometimes setting directly influences the characters and exemplifies a theme. In many stories, the setting evokes a definite emotional tone or mood that surrounds the character (1965: 18-19). It means there is a close relationship between the setting and the central idea of the story. The setting of a story is also important in affecting the characters’ action, personalities, way of thinking and mannerism.
3. Theories of Symbol
Holman and Harmon define symbol as a trope that combines a literal and sensuous quality with an abstract or suggestive aspect. Furthermore, they explain that symbol is an image that evokes an objective, concrete reality and has that reality suggest another level of meaning. However, the symbol does not “stand for” the meaning. It evokes an object that suggests the meaning (1986: 494).
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of meaning; for example Cross which symbolizes Christianity or weapon which symbolizes military authority. The second one is private or personal symbol. Holman and Harmon define this second type as a symbol that secures its suggestiveness not from qualities inherent in itself but from the way in which it is used in a given work (1986: 494).
Since the analysis of symbols deals with manifold meaning, there are several valid critical methods that lay under the theory of symbols. The relationship between one method and the others is called phase (Frye, 1990: 73). Frye (1990: 73-74) illustrates that there are several phases in the theory of symbols in which each of them has its characteristic and meaning.
a. Literal and Descriptive Phase: Symbol as Motif and Sign
Symbol that evoke from the first direction is common symbol that almost everybody knows. Usually this kind of symbol appears in descriptive or assertive writing. On the contrary, the second direction tends to challenge the readers to think of a work deeply and then find out the other meanings that come from many symbols they found.
b. Formal phase: Symbol as Image
Formal phase deals with nature and reality and views image as symbols that show an analogy or similarity proportion between a work of art and the nature that it imitates. In this phase, a work of art is not a shadow of nature, but it enables the nature to be reflected in it.
c. Mythical Phase: Symbol as Archetype
Mythical phase looks at literature as a technique of communication. The symbol in mythical phase is the communicable unit called archetype: that is, a typical of recurring image. The recurring image within a work of art is not a coincidence, but a certain unity in the nature that it imitates. The nature that is imitated is not nature as a structure of system, but nature as a cyclical process.
C. Denmark during the Occupation of Nazi
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becomes the end of their freedom and devotion to the country. In fact, when the Danes hear that the Nazis are going to relocate the Danish Jews, they do things that really can endanger their own life by trying to save the Danish Jews. The Danes warn the Jews and help them to find hiding places. Some begin to transport Jews to Sweden with the help of Danish fishermen and their boats. The German authorities receive dozens of protests by economic and social organizations. Among these are the protests of King Christian X, Church leaders, and others. The universities closed down for a week, and the students join in the rescue activities. In the end, around 7500 Danish Jews escape to Sweden. It is almost the entire Jewish population of Denmark (http://www1.yadvashem.org/righteous/bycountry/ denmark.html).
via the North Sea and not have to risk using the narrower and heavily protected English Channel. The rich farmland of Denmark would also provide the food needed to keep an army well fed. Only Sweden, which had no shoreline on the Atlantic, was free of Germany's occupying forces. The government of Denmark was not prepared for the Nazi invasion. It had neither the plans nor the resources necessary to defend itself against the much larger and more powerful German army and air force. Many of the attacks by the Germans were by surprise. The Danes who did manage to fight back were quickly overwhelmed. The only victory the government could claim was the destruction of its own naval ships several months later. This would keep the ships from being used by the Germans against Danish citizens or anyone else. With their small air force destroyed and under threats of a full-scaled attack by Nazi warplanes if the fought back, the government of Denmark decided to surrender to the invaders. In return, Hitler allowed the Danish government to continue to rule and its police to be responsible for day-to-day law and order (Cornish, May 11, 2005) <http://www.cdli.ca/CITE/ ns_history.htm>.
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fellow citizens, and almost all of the country’s Jews were able to escape from the terror of Nazi and find refuge in neutral country, Sweden (Elliot, 1966: 61-81).
Though Denmark was a small country, it was the only country that tried hard and struggled to save their Jewish citizen from Nazi’s occupation. The effort that they did in order to save their Jewish fellowship is to smuggle the Jewish Danes to the neutral Sweden. This act of smuggling is organized throughout the whole country of Denmark. This effort is a unique and smart effort since no other countries that do the same thing.
As Jews hid throughout Denmark, individuals and resistance groups organized the rescue operation. Some Danes bought boats and managed to smuggle hundreds of Jews to Sweden. The larger groups negotiated with trustworthy Danish fishermen who agreed to take the Jews to freedom. Plans were made for the Jews to be smuggled to the docks and, once there, for them to be concealed on the Danish fishing boats, out of sight of German soldiers. (http://www.peachtree-online.com/ Yellow_Star_no_art/Kids/escape.htm)
Jews, including a number of small children, remained hiding in Denmark. The rest – more than 7,000 people – fled across the Sound to freedom in politically neutral Sweden. Considering the Nazi extermination of 6 million of the total 8-9 million Jews within their reach, the fact that 95 percent of the Danish Jews were able to avoid deportation and be brought to safety in Sweden stands out as a light in the darkness of the Holocaust. In contrast to virtually all other nationalities, the Danes did not let down their Jewish fellow citizens in the crucial moment. The account of how the Danes assisted them safely across the water to Sweden has been widely praised, and even as it occurred the rescue operation gained an almost mythological status. The rescue is seen as a unique example of courage and altruism during the Holocaust. Especially in the US and Israel, the rescue established Denmark as a model of respect for human rights (Jensen, 2003: 33).
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Information about the persecution of Jews in Europe did reach the country, but apparently there was little precise knowledge of the Holocaust. The Jews wanted to avoid attracting the attention of the Germans and illegal acts risked doing so. Furthermore the illegal routes to Sweden had not yet been developed and it was uncertain how Sweden would receive the refugees. After the fall of the Danish government and the warning all doubts were swept away. The Jews risked everything and were forced to uproot themselves and face an uncertain future.
Copenhagen was the primary port of departure. Up to 3,000 refugees departed from there (Jensen, 2003: 39-41).
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It is difficult to explain in detail why many Danes took such an active part in the illegal rescue work in October 1943. Of course not all Danes took part in the rescue, but the rescue received widespread support in the population as a whole, and there was a strong feeling of indignation at the German rounding-up of the Jews. The timing of the rescue action undoubtedly played a role in the extensive help extended in Denmark. The rounding up of the Jews commenced only after an increase in moral opposition against the occupational power had taken place and after the cooperation policy had come to a dead end. This was a crucial importance in the degree of help given to the Jews. The collapse of the cooperation policy was probably of decisive importance for the moral climate that fostered support by the population as a whole for the rescue. Had the operation against the Jews been initiated before 1943 the course of events undoubtedly would have been different. The coast guard and the population at large would not have taken an active part to the same extent, and politically neutral Sweden would hardly have received several thousand Jews with the same readiness (Jensen, 2003: 46).
D. Theoretical Framework
The analysis of this thesis will use three theories, which are theory of character and characterization, theory of setting, and theory of symbol. The study of character and characterization are needed to answer the first problem asking Annemarie’s characteristics in Lois Lowry’s Number the Stars. To analyze this, the writer uses theory of character and characterization by Holman and Harmon, Koesnosoebroto, Abrams and M.J. Murphy.
To answer the second problem, the writer uses theory of setting by Abrams, Holman and Harmon, and Stanton, and theory of symbol by Holman and Harmon, and Frye.
CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
A. Object of the Study
The object of this study is Number the Stars which was written by Lois Lowry and was published by Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers in New York, 1989. Since 1977, Lowry has written more than twenty novels which include two John Newbery Award books: Number the Stars and The Giver. Lowry received the Newbery Award for Number the Stars in 1990. The Newbery Award itself is given to the book that has made the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.
Generally, the novel tells about a ten-year-old girl’s effort to save her Jewish friend from the Nazis that try to relocate all the Danish Jews in Denmark. The setting of the novel is in Denmark in 1943 during the occupation of Nazi.
B. Approach of the Study
The approach used in this thesis is Socio-Historical approach. According to Rene Wellek and Austin Warren in Theory of Literature, “literature represents life … in large measure a social reality, even though the natural world and the inner or subjective world of the individual have also been objects of literary imitation” (1956: 94) which in another word, literature is a representation of real life and society even though the members of the society have become objects of imitation through the literary works.
In their book, Reading and Writing About Literature, Mary Rohrberger and Samuel H. Woods, Jr. stated that according to critics “the only way to locate the real work is in reference to the civilization that produced it” and that “literature is not created in vacuum and embodies ideas significant to the culture produced it” (1971: 9). According to this book, the basis of traditional historical approach to literature is usually some aspect of the socio-cultural frame referred by the book, combined with an interest in the biographical history, knowledge of and interest in literary history. Many critics feel that this approach can lead to an ethical judgment related to the truth of a statement made by the author in his/her book.
According to Charles Busha and Stephen Harter in their book Research
Methods in Librarianship: Techniques and Interpretations, as retrieved from http://www.gslis.utexas.edu/~palmquis/courses/hiostorical.htm, there are six steps for conducting research by using Socio-Historical Approach:
1. The recognition of a historical problem or the identification of a need for certain historical knowledge.
2. The gathering of as much relevant information about the problem or topic as possible.
3. If appropriate, the forming of hypothesis that tentatively explains relationships between historical factors.
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5. The selection, organization, and analysis of the most pertinent collected evidence, and the drawing of conclusions.
6. The recording of conclusions in a meaningful narrative.
This approach is used so that the valid data on historical events and culture relevant to the time setting of the novel can be obtained. Furthermore, it is used in order to know the relation between the main character’s characteristics to the historical events and culture of that time.
C. Method of the Study
The writer employed library research as the method of study. The primary source used in this paper mostly gained from the novel itself, Number the Stars, as the main data, that is by having a close reading on the novel. The secondary sources were, among others, taken from the internet, articles, and books which contained related information that is needed in this thesis.
The research took some steps to answer the problem. The first step was to read and study some theories on character and characterization, setting, symbol, author’s biography and criticism, the studies previously done on the novel, the history of Denmark, and some articles about the occupation of Nazi in Denmark.
surroundings. After the characteristics were found, they were then listed along with the evidences supporting the validity of those characteristics.
CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS
This undergraduate thesis concerns on the main character of the novel, Annemarie, and how her characteristics symbolize Denmark as a society and nation. In this chapter, the problems presented in the problem formulation will be answered. Firstly, the characteristics of Annemarie will be analyzed to find out what kind of person she is. Secondly, how the characteristics of Annemarie symbolize Denmark during the occupation of Nazi will be analyzed.
A. Analysis on Annemarie’s Characteristics
Annemarie is the main character in the novel. She lives in Copenhagen, Denmark with her mother, father, and younger sister Kirsti. Annemarie's best friend is Ellen, the girl who lives next door. Annemarie is ten years old. She is blond, tall and loves to run.
Ellen made a face. “No,” she said, laughing. “You know I can’t beat you— my legs aren’t as long. Can’t we just walk, like civilized people?” She was a stocky ten-year-old, unlike lanky Annemarie (p.1).
“Go!” shouted Annemarie, and the two girls were off, racing along the residential sidewalk. Annemarie’s silvery blond hair flew behind her, and Ellen’s dark pigtails bounced against her shoulder (p.1).
The author describes Annemarie’s physical appearance by comparing hers’ to her friend, Ellen, in this quotation. Both Ellen and Annemarie are ten years old. They both go to the same school, and in fact they live as a neighbor in an apartment in Copenhagen. Ellen has stocky body and dark hair, while
Annemarie is tall and blond. Annemarie likes to run because her legs are long and she often becomes the winner whenever her school hold girl’s race.
Besides her physical appearance, the author can describe a certain character through the character’s speech and through the eyes and opinions of other characters. Through Annemarie’s speech, it can be concluded that she is a mature little girl. It can be seen when her mother ask her if something happened to her and Ellen on their way home.
“Annemarie, what happened? What is Kirsti talking about?” her mother asked anxiously. … “Don’t worry. It wasn’t anything. It was the two soldiers who stand on the corner of Østerbrogade – you’ve seen them; you know the tall one with the long neck, the one who looks like a silly giraffe?” She told her mother and Mrs. Rosen of the incident, trying to make it sound humorous and unimportant (pp. 6-7).
Annemarie knows that their parents would be very worried if something happens to her, so she acts very mature by not telling her mother that she and Ellen had been stopped by the German soldiers in the corner of Østerbrogade Street. She even makes a joke about the event to give her mother an impression that what had happened was not a serious matter, so that her mother needs not to worry about her. This event proves her maturity. We can see although she is just a little girl, her way of thinking is way beyond her age. Another example of her maturity can be seen in this quotation:
“Papa, do you remember what you heard the boy say to the soldier? That all of Denmark would be the king’s bodyguard?”… “Well,” Annemarie said slowly, “now I think that all of Denmark must be bodyguard for the Jews, as well” (p.25).
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in a wider scope. When she hears about Germans’ plan to close all shops run by Jews, she remembers the story of King Christian X and how Denmark people would die for him. She hopes that all Denmark people would do the same, to guard and rescue the Danish Jews.
From the speech of Annemarie’s mother below, it can be concluded also that Annemarie is a very responsible girl. Such as when she has to deliver a basket contains of special powder to distract the dogs’ sense of smell.
“You must run to the boat. If anyone should stop you –“… “Annemarie, you understand how dangerous this is. If any soldiers see you, if they stop you, you must pretend to be nothing more than a little girl. A silly, empty-headed little girl, taking lunch to a fisherman, a foolish uncle who forgot his bread and cheese” (p.105).
Here, Annemarie’s mother trusts Annemarie to carry so much responsibility on her shoulder. A special packet must be delivered to Uncle Henrik. Without that packet, it is impossible for Henrik to smuggle Rosens family and other Jews to Sweden by boat. Annemarie’s mother knows that Annemarie can finish the task well although it is very dangerous, because Annemarie often meet situations which can endanger her life but she always find a way to handle that kind of situations. Here is evidence that shows how Annemarie manages to deal with a dangerous situation.
“Ellen,” she whispered urgently, “take your necklace off! “I can’t get it open! Ellen said frantically.
“Hold still,” Annemarie commanded. “This will hurt.” She grabbed the little gold chain, yanked with all her strength, and broke it. As the door opened and light flooded into the bedroom, she crumpled it into her hand and closed her fingers tightly. (p.45)
of David necklace, the symbol of Jews people, which will endanger her life. Therefore, she acts quickly to take off the necklace from Ellen’s neck.
Henrik, Annemarie’s uncle, also believes in Annemarie. He tells Annemarie that she is a brave girl and being brave means not to think about the dangers, but think about one must do. Without knowing the danger it may help Annemarie to be brave and do her duties well.
“I think you are like your Mama, and like your Papa, and like me. Frightened, but determined, and if the time came to be brave, I am quite sure you would be very, very brave.”
“But,” he added, “It is much easier to be brave if you do not know everything and your Mama does not know everything. Neither do I. We know only what we need to know” (p.76).
This quotation shows how brave Annemarie is. It can be seen from the other character’s point of view. Through Henrik, it can be concluded that Annemarie is a brave girl. It can be seen when Henrik tries to convince and explain Annemarie what bravery is. He can see that Annemarie is not like any other girl. She is very brave for a girl her age.
According to Murphy, there is another way to identify the characteristics of a character. It can be seen from how a character reacts to various situations and events. In the story, an important packet has to be delivered to the beach where Annemarie’s uncle and their fellow countrymen will send the Jews to Sweden by boats. Annemarie does not know what actually the packet is, she only thinks that it is very important and has to be delivered fast.
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From the quotation above, it can be seen that Annemarie is a very brave young girl and she gives no attention to the danger that she could face. Although in fact she is very afraid, but she has no choice since her mother has a broken ankle after her journey to take the Rosens to the beach. Annemarie knows that it is impossible for her mother to deliver the packet, so she acts very bravely by taking the responsibility to deliver the packet. She then runs to the beach where her uncle, the Rosens and the other Jews are waiting for. She has to pass the woods and run as fast as she can. She would do anything to keep them, Ellen and her family, safe although she has to place herself in danger. Later on she knows that the packet is actually a special powder to distract the dogs’ sense of smell. Without the packet it is impossible for the Jews to smuggle to Sweden, because German soldiers’ dogs can easily identifies them.
Concerning with her thought, Annemarie is a girl with full of imagination. She smartly used her imagination to overcome her problem of being afraid on the way in the woods. Her being full of imagination can be seen when she has to bring the packet to her uncle. She thinks about a story, the Little Red Riding Hood. A story she usually tells to Kirsi as bed time story. She tries to imagine the story and place herself as the main character in the story in order to keep her bravery since she has to walk alone in the woods, just like the girl in the story. What makes her and Little Red Riding Hood similar is that they both have to take a dangerous journey inside the woods for their loved ones.
woods. It was a lovely morning, and birds were singing. Little Red Riding Hood sang too, as she walked” (p. 109).
Her imagination helps her to survive during her journey in the woods to the beach. She could pass the woods and does not run home. At last, she succeeds to deliver the packet to her uncle.
As a little girl, Annemarie also likes to play with her dolls. We can see it when she creates paper dolls from her mother’s old magazine which she kept it before. She plays the doll together with Ellen, her best friend in the living room.
Alone in the apartment while Mama was out shopping with Kirsti, Annemarie, and Ellen were sprawled on the living room floor with paper dolls. They had cut the dolls from Mama’s magazines, old one she had saved from past years. The paper ladies had old-fashioned hairstyles and clothes and the girls had given them names from Mama’s favorite book (p.27).
This quotation shows that Annemarie is just a common little girl. She still likes to play with her friend. She knows that her country is occupied by another country, but she does not know how dangerous the situation is.
Just like any other girl in wartime, Annemarie is doubtful and scared also. Nazi Germany has begun to relocate the Jews. Ellen and her family are Jews. Annemarie asks herself whether she has to die for the Jews or not. Although she feels afraid, she tends to protect the Jews, as her father who would die for King Christian. The same as other people’s feeling commonly when they have to die for others, deep down inside her heart, Annemarie feels very afraid.
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In this novel, Annemarie is also described as a caring friend who really concerns about the safety of her friend, Ellen. In fact, friendship becomes her strength and bravery.
“Mama!” she said. “Papa! The Rosens are Jewish too!” (p.24).
Annemarie was stunned. She looked at Ellen and saw that her best friend was crying silently. “Where are Ellen parents? We must help them too!” (p.36).
It is clearly seen that Annemarie cares for Ellen and Ellen’s family. She does not only think about the safety of her own family, but the safety of Ellen’s family too.
Besides her being attentive to her surrounding, Annemarie is also a patient and loving young girl. As seen in the event when she tells a fairy tale to Kirsti, Kirsti asks many questions to her sister about the story. Annemarie answers those questions patiently.
“Tell me a fairy tale.” Annemarie smiled and wrapped her arms around her little sister in the dark.
“Tell one that starts with a king and a queen. And they have a beautiful daughter.”
“All right. Once upon a time there was a king,” Annemarie began. “And a queen,” whispered Kirsti. “Don’t forget the queen.” “And a queen. They lived together in a wonderful place, and-“ “Was the place named Amalienborg?” Kirsti asked sleepy.
“Shhh… Don’t keep interrupting or I’ll never finish the story. No, it wasn’t Amalienborg. It was a pretend place.”
She stopped, waited for a moment, half expecting Kirsti to murmur. “Then what happened?” But Kirsti was still (pp.11-12).
“Why are you running?” the harsh voice asked. “I was racing with my friend,” she answered politely.
“We have races to school every Friday, and I want to do well, so I-“
Her voice trailed away, the sentence unfinished. Don’t talk too much, she told herself. Just answer them, that’s all (p.3).
Annemarie realizes that she should not talk too much, thus she quickly stops her words. She could think fast. She knows that it will be dangerous to talk too much to the soldier since there is the possibility that they could easily remember them. She does not want to say something harmful for her, Ellen and Kirsti.
Her ability to think quickly is also shown when she has to deliver a packet for her uncle, Henrik. Some German soldiers stop her and check the basket that she is carrying. She is angry and frightened too, but she remembers that the most important thing is to bring the packet safely to her uncle. And that is what she does. She keeps herself calm and tries not to show her fear. She tries to act like her little sister, Kirsti, would do.
What would Kirsti reply? Annemarie tried to giggle, the way her sister might. “Uncle Henrik doesn’t even like fish,” she said, laughing. “He says he sees too much of it, and smell too much of it. Anyway, he wouldn’t eat it raw!” She made a face. “Well I suppose he would if he were starving. But Uncle Henrik always has bread and cheese for lunch” (p.117).
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But it wasn’t true. Annemarie was quite certain it wasn’t true. Cigarettes were the things that Papa missed, the way Mama missed coffee. He complained often - he had complained only yesterday that there were no cigarettes in the store.
Why was Papa speaking that way, almost as if he were speaking in code? What was Mama really talking to Uncle Henrik?
Then she knew. It was Ellen (p.53).
Annemarie starts to understand that there must be something behind their conversation about the cigarette. She could recognize it as a code between her father and her uncle. Her ability to perceive hidden things proves that she is a critical person.
Another proof shows that Annemarie is a critical person can be seen in the event when her mother tells her that her Great-aunt Birte passed away. Annemarie does not remember that she has a great-aunt named Birte. She gets confuse since she could remember all her relatives’ names, but there is not one named Great-aunt Birte. Therefore, she starts questioning who Great-Great-aunt Birte really is. She is sure that Great-aunt Birte does not exist. She thinks that it must be another code.
her awareness that she does important things for the sake of a lot of people strengthens her courage.
Though she is a little girl, she has the personality of a hero. She is willing to sacrifice her own life for the sake of others’ life. Her willingness to sacrifice shapes her as a brave girl. She dare to take any risks to save the one she loves, though sometimes it can endanger her own life.
Despite of her being brave and her hero personality, she is a common girl. She has the feeling of being afraid when she has to walk alone in the woods and she likes to play dolls together with her friend.
She is also a smart girl. She could make some strategies directly on the spot to encounter problems that she faces. This ability helps her to accomplish her tasks as well. She also has the ability to think critically. She could catch something hidden such as code words that are used by the adult. Her being sensitive to the code also proves that she is an attentive girl. She cares to her surrounding, especially her friends and family.
B. Analysis on How Annemarie’s Characteristics Symbolize Denmark
during the Occupation of Nazi
1. Setting of the Novel
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To get deeper understanding about the story, it is important to find out the setting of the novel because there is a close relation between the setting of the novel and the setting in the real world. From Lowry’s explanation in the Afterword part of the novel, it can be seen that the setting of the novel is in Copenhagen and Gilleleje, Denmark in 1943 during the occupation of the Nazis. Copenhagen, Gilleleje and Denmark are the settings of the novel as well as the settings in the real world.
So I created little Annemarie and her family, set them down in a Copenhagen apartment on a street where I have walked myself, and imagined their life there against the real events of 1943 (p.133).
The real situation and social condition happened in Denmark, especially in Copenhagen and Gilleleje are well-portrayed in the novel. There are some important events happened in Denmark, especially in Copenhagen that are highlighted in the novel, such as the Danish Resistance, Jewish relocation, the smuggling of people to Sweden, and the handkerchief used to numb the senses of German’s search dogs.
in the countries occupied by Nazi Germany. As a result of the rescue, most of Denmark's Jewish population survived the Holocaust.
2. Symbols depicted in the Novel
After knowing the setting of the novel, in this part, some theories of symbol are employed to find out how Annemarie symbolizes Denmark during the occupation Nazi. According to Holman and Harmon, there are two types of symbol: public and private symbol. In this novel, Lowry applies private symbol to deliver the message of the story to her readers. Private symbol is a symbol that secures its suggestiveness not from qualities inherent in itself but from the way in which it is used in a given work.
In Number the Stars, Annemarie is described as a tall and thin ten-year-old girl, or in other words a little child.
Ellen made a face. “No,” she said, laughing. “You know I can’t beat you— my legs aren’t as long. Can’t we just walk, like civilized people?” She was a stocky ten-year-old, unlike lanky Annemarie (p.1).
Lowry uses Annemarie’s characteristic as a little child to symbolize Denmark geographical conditions, territory, and population. She uses Annemarie’s physical appearance as a symbol because she wants the readers of this novel to remember that Denmark is a small country, but this little country can do things that even big countries can not do, that is to save the lives of its Jewish citizens.
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east to west is 452 kilometers; from north to south is 368 kilometers. Its total area is only 43,098 square kilometers. It occupies the Jutland peninsula, a lowland area, and also consists of several islands in the Baltic Sea; the two largest are Sjælland, and Fyn. The country is flat with little elevation; having an average height above sea level of only 31 meters and the highest point is 170.68 meters above sea level. No one in Denmark is more than 50 km from the sea. <http://www.workmall.com/wfb2001/denmark/denmark_geography.html>.
Compared to Germany which has great military power, Denmark seems to be weak and easily conquered. Here are some articles that show how weak and powerless Denmark is when Germany tries to invade this small country.
The occupation was so quickly accomplished that most Danes got out of bed without realizing that their country had already been occupied. With their small air force destroyed and under threats of a full scaled attack by Nazi warplanes if the fought back, the government of Denmark decided to surrender to the invaders. In return, Hitler allowed the Danish government to continue to rule and its police to be responsible for day-to-day law and order (Cornish, May 11, 2005) <http://www.cdli.ca/CITE/ns_history.htm>.
Through the facts above, we can see how weak Denmark is. A small country which was not able to defend itself when there is a sudden attack from other country. Here, Lowry uses a little girl as a symbol of something weak and needed to protect. The society tends to see women as weak and fragile creature needed to protect. Therefore, she uses a girl character, Annemarie, rather than a boy character to symbolize Denmark as a nation that is being underestimated.
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Throughout the novel, we can see that bravery becomes one of important characteristics of Annemarie.
Annemarie took the packet from her mother’s hand and stood. “I will take it,” she said. “I know the way, and it’s almost light now. I can run like the wind” (p.104).
She has the courage to save others, although her life is often at stake. She has the heart to struggle for someone else’s life. How Annemarie reacts to various endangered life situations and her efforts to save her loved ones also symbolize Denmark. It is the symbol of Denmark’s courage.
Although Annemarie is only a little girl, she has the ability to create strategies. She uses her imagination as her strategy to handle her being afraid. She pretends as an innocent little girl when she meets the soldiers as her strategy to escape from their interrogation, so that she can accomplish her mission.
What would Kirsti reply? Annemarie tried to giggle, the way her sister might. “Uncle Henrik doesn’t even like fish,” she said, laughing. “He says he sees too much of it, and smell too much of it. Anyway, he wouldn’t eat it raw!” She made a face. “Well I suppose he would if he were starving. But Uncle Henrik always has bread and cheese for lunch” (p.117).
Her ability to create strategies symbolizes Denmark’s smartness in making strategies. Though Denmark is a small country, it is the only country that tries hard and struggles to save their Jewish citizen from Nazi’s occupation. The Danes protected their Jewish countrymen by smuggling them to the neutral country, Sweden. This act of smuggling is organized throughout the whole country of Denmark. The rescue is a smart strategy that has never been thought by other countries. Their success in applying the strategy is a unique example of humanity act during the Holocaust. Especially in the US and Israel, the rescue established Denmark as a model of respect for human rights (Jensen, 2003: 33). This rescue operation is a courageous effort since no other occupied countries in World War II that do the same thing.
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Denmark proves itself as a mature country. It is seen when Denmark decided to take no sides in World War II. Denmark governments concern more about the safety of its citizens and the effects of war toward the citizens. Denmark people will be in a great suffering if Denmark takes side in World War II. Denmark governments act very wisely by declaring their neutrality. In Number the Stars, Lowry employs Annemarie as a symbol of Denmark’s maturity. Denmark government thinks about the Danish citizens and how to make them safe from the effect of World War II. Just like Annemarie who acts very mature by trying to make a dangerous situation sound humorous and unimportant in order to make her mother less worried.
“Don’t worry. It wasn’t anything. It was the two soldiers who stand on the corner of Østerbrogade – you’ve seen them; you know the tall one with the long neck, the one who looks like a silly giraffe?” She told her mother and Mrs. Rosen of the incident, trying to make it sound humorous and unimportant. (p.6-7)
almost all other nationalities, the Danes did not let down their Jewish fellow citizens in the crucial moment. The account of how the Danes assisted them safely across the water to Sweden has been widely praised, and even as it occur the rescue operation gained an almost mythological status (Jensen, 2003: 33).
This event proves that the Danes give highly respect to the value of friendship and loyalty. They do not want their friends, their co-workers, their neighbours to be captured and killed by the Nazis. Lowry tries to tell the reader of Number the Stars about friendship and loyalty that the Danes have through Annemarie’s characteristic. Annemarie and Ellen are best friends. Although Annemarie knows that the Nazis will capture all the Jews, including Ellen, she does not abandon Ellen. In fact, she helps her to escape from Denmark. At the end of the story, Annemarie decides to wear Ellen’s Star of David necklace as a way of expressing the friendship between her and Ellen.
“Can you fix this? I have kept it all this long time. It was Ellen’s.”
“Yes,” he said. “I can fix it. When the Rosens come home, you can give it back to Ellen.”
“Until then,” Annemarie told him, “I will wear it myself” (p.132).
Lowry employs Annemarie’s characteristic as the symbol of friendship between the Danes and their fellow countrymen, the Danish Jews.
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In addition, King Christian X, the King of Denmark, is a very responsible king. Although his country is already defeated by Germany, he remains in Denmark and rule the country. Every morning he rides on his horse from his palace without any bodyguards or soldiers accompany him just to greet his people (Lowry, 1989: 134). He shows his responsibility to his people and shows them that their king still exists. He wants to show that he does not run away from the situation they face. His visit is a kind of support for his people to stay still and keep on struggling. When he hears about the Germans plan to relocate the Jews he even send a protest to the German government. King Christian X is a responsible person. His responsibility is symbolized through Annemarie’s action. She is always responsible to every task given to her. Whenever she has to accomplish an important task, she will make sure that she does the task well. Annemarie becomes the symbol of King of Denmark’s responsibility to his people.
In brief, bravery takes an important role in the whole story. The bravery of Annemarie to help the Jewish people and also the bravery of her family to smuggle the Jewish people become the central of the story. In this story, Lowry employs the characteristics of Annemarie to symbolize Denmark.
CHAPTER V
CONCLUSION
Number the Stars is a fiction based on true story novel, which tells about the life of a little girl named Annemarie Johansen. Annemarie has to face the cruelty of war and how war changes her life and people around her. She lives in Copenhagen, Denmark during the occupation of Nazi Germany troops. The setting of time is on the year 1943, the year when German tries to relocate all the Jewish Danes to concentration camps.
Being a child in wartime, Annemarie experiences a lot of things that later make her different from other child of her age. Through his speech, action and other characters’ point of view, her characteristics could be identified.
In the novel, Annemarie is characterized as a ten-year-old girl who faces the cruelty of war. The environment where she lived shaped her as a girl who is more mature than her age. She faces a lot of problems to solve. It forces her to think fast and dare to take responsibility. No wonder she becomes a responsible girl.
Though she is a little girl, she has the personality of a hero. She is willing to sacrifice her own life for the sake of others’ life. Her willingness to sacrifice shapes her as a brave girl. She dare to take any risks to save the one she loves, though sometimes it can endanger her own life. However as a common child lives in a wartime, she also feels very afraid of losing her life and the life of her loved ones.
She is also a smart girl. Because of her smartness, she is able to think fast. It helps her to overcome sudden things that she could not predict. She is a critical little girl. She could catch something hidden such as code words that are used by the adults. Her being sensitive to the code also proves that she is an attentive girl. She is a caring girl who really concerns to her surrounding, especially her friends and family.
By paying attention to the characteristics that Annemarie has, the writer finds that Annemarie is actually the symbol of Denmark as a nation and society during the period of Nazi occupation. There are some points of Annemarie characteristics that symbolize Denmark.
The first is Annemarie’s physical description which symbolizes Denmark’s geographical conditions, territory and population. Lowry uses Annemarie’s characteristic as a little child to symbolize Denmark which also small in the aspect of its size as a country.
The second is concerning to the gender of Annemarie, which is a girl. The society tends to see women as weak and fragile creature needed to protect. Therefore, Lowry uses a girl character, Annemarie, rather than a boy character to symbolize Denmark as a nation that could not able to defend itself from the attack of the more powerful Germany.
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The fourth is the bravery Annemarie owns. Throughout the novel, we can see that bravery becomes one of important characteristics of Annemarie. How Annemarie reacts to various endangered life situations and her efforts to save her loved ones are a symbol of Denmark as well. It is the symbol of Denmark’s courage in rescuing their fellow countrymen from the holocaust.
The fifth is Annemarie being mature. Lowry employs Annemarie’s maturity as the symbol of Denmark’s maturity. Denmark governments think about the safety of Danish citizens and how to make them safe from the effects of World War II. They prefer to stay neutral and not taking sides in this war so that their citizens will not have to face the cruelty and the horror of war.
The sixth is the value of friendship and loyalty depicted in Annemarie’s characteristic. It symbolizes the Danes’ respect to the value of friendship and loyalty. They do not want their friends, their co-workers, their neighbours to be captured and killed by the Nazis. Lowry tries to deliver her ideas to the reader of Number the Stars about friendship and loyalty that the Danes have through the characteristic of a little girl, Annemarie.
The seventh is the fear that Annemarie experiences during her struggle. As a common child lives in wartime, she also feels very afraid of losing her life and the life of her loved ones. It symbolizes the fear that the Danes have. Some of them are too scared to join the rescuing operation of the Danish Jews.
Here it can be seen that the king is responsible to his task as the king of Denmark. Although his country is already defeated by Germany, he remains in Denmark and rule the country. He shows his responsibility to his people and show them that their king is still be with them even in a difficult time.
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