Un Sac De Billes

Synopsis

Exam Board: AQA & Edexcel
Level: AS/A-level
Subject: Modern Languages
First Teaching: September 2016
First Exam: June 2017

Literature analysis made easy. Build your students' confidence in their language abilities and help them develop the skills needed to critique their chosen work: putting it into context, understanding the themes and narrative technique, as well as specialist terminology.

Breaking down each scene, character and theme in Un Sac de Billes (A Bag of Marbles), this accessible guide will enable your students to understand the historical and social context of the novel and give them the critical and language skills needed to write a successful essay.

- Strengthen language skills with relevant grammar, vocab and writing exercises throughout
- Aim for top marks by building a bank of textual examples and quotes to enhance exam response
- Build confidence with knowledge-check questions at the end of every chapter
- Revise effectively with pages of essential vocabulary and key mind maps throughout
- Feel prepared for exams with advice on how to write an essay, plus sample essay questions, two levels of model answers and examiner commentary

Summary

Chapter 1: The Departure

* Joseph and Maurice Joffo, two Jewish brothers living in Paris, witness the Nazi invasion.
* Their father, Roman, decides they must flee to the "free zone" in southern France.
* The family packs their belongings into a small suitcase and sets out on foot.

Chapter 2: The Exodus

* The Joffo family encounters thousands of refugees also trying to escape the Nazis.
* They face hunger, exhaustion, and the constant fear of being captured.
* Joseph and Maurice help their father carry the suitcase and support their weary mother and sister.

Chapter 3: The Mountains

* The family reaches the Pyrenees Mountains and faces a treacherous crossing.
* The children help their father navigate the icy trails and treacherous slopes.
* They witness the death of a fellow refugee and the desperate measures people will take to escape.

Chapter 4: The Arrest

* The family is betrayed by a guide and arrested by the French police.
* Joseph and Maurice are separated from their parents and sent to a detention camp.
* They endure harsh conditions and the constant threat of deportation.

Chapter 5: The Escape

* With the help of a sympathetic guard, Joseph and Maurice escape from the camp.
* They make their way through the countryside, hiding from the authorities and relying on the kindness of strangers.
* They encounter a group of orphans who provide them with food and shelter.

Chapter 6: The Reunion

* After weeks of wandering, Joseph and Maurice are reunited with their father.
* Together, they continue their journey to the free zone.
* They face hunger, homelessness, and discrimination, but they persevere.

Chapter 7: The Resistance

* Joseph and Maurice join the French Resistance and help to fight against the Nazis.
* They use their knowledge of the area to sabotage German supply lines and provide information to Allied forces.
* They witness the horrors of war firsthand and the strength of the human spirit.

Chapter 8: Liberation

* The Allies finally liberate France, and the Joffo family is reunited.
* They return to Paris and rebuild their lives amidst the ruins of war.
* Joseph and Maurice become successful writers and filmmakers, sharing their experiences as a testament to the resilience and determination of the human spirit.