The Storyteller
Chapter 11: Minka 1
by Picoult, JodiThe chapter “Minka 1” introduces the protagonist, Minka, through her close relationship with her father, Abram Lewin, a jovial and successful baker. Despite her mother’s concerns, Minka and her father often humorously discuss his funeral wishes, including fresh lemonade and dancing, reflecting his vibrant personality. Minka admires her father’s strength and sees him as invincible, which makes these conversations lighthearted rather than distressing. The chapter also highlights Minka’s academic prowess, as she skipped grades and qualified for Gymnasium, though she faced antisemitic barriers until a Christian client intervened to secure her spot at a Catholic school.
Minka’s daily life revolves around her father’s bakery, where she does homework while her sister, Basia, handles sales. The family’s mixed neighborhood includes both Jewish and Christian neighbors, though societal tensions are evident. A moment with passing soldiers hints at the growing threat of Nazi presence, as Minka’s father subtly expresses his disdain for their rigid militarism. The chapter contrasts Minka’s sheltered upbringing—where her mother dotes on her—with the underlying tensions of being Jewish in pre-war Poland, as seen in her strained friendship with a Christian classmate, Greta, who avoids her in public.
Minka’s closest bond is with her best friend, Darija, with whom she dreams of a future in London as a writer and editor. Their playful banter about grammar and semicolons contrasts with the darker realities around them, such as signs banning Jews from restaurants and stories of Kristallnacht. Darija’s remark about a world without Germans underscores the rising fear, though Minka’s focus remains on her crush, Herr Bauer, revealing her naivety amid escalating dangers. The chapter subtly foreshadows the impending crisis through these small but ominous details.
The chapter concludes with Minka’s family grappling with the idea of fleeing, as her sister urges them to move to the Jewish quarter while her parents resist abandoning their home and memories. Minka’s mother reveals an offer from their Christian neighbor, Mrs. Szymanski, to hide her and Minka—a plan her father angrily rejects. This tension highlights the family’s denial of the looming threat, as Minka remains preoccupied with her creative writing and youthful dreams, unaware of the catastrophe approaching.
FAQs
1. How does Minka’s father use humor to discuss his death, and what does this reveal about their relationship?
Answer:
Minka’s father frequently jokes about his funeral, requesting lemonade, dapper attire, dancing, and no opera—all delivered with a wink. This dark humor serves as a bonding mechanism, showcasing their close, trusting relationship. Minka isn’t traumatized because she sees her father as “invincible,” reflecting his vitality and her youthful perception of his strength. The playful exchanges also highlight his irreverence toward societal norms (e.g., rejecting somber funeral traditions) and his desire to make Minka feel included in his life, even in discussions about mortality.
2. Analyze the significance of Minka’s educational opportunities and the barriers she faces as a Jewish girl in pre-war Poland.
Answer:
Despite passing rigorous exams to attend Gymnasium, Minka is initially denied admission due to antisemitic quotas (“only two Jews” accepted). Her father’s Christian clients intervene, securing her a spot at a Catholic school where Jewish students are segregated during religious instruction. This illustrates both the systemic discrimination against Jews and the fragile privilege afforded through intercommunity connections. Minka’s academic success (“skipped two grades”) contrasts with societal limits, emphasizing the tension between individual merit and institutional bigotry.
3. How does the encounter with German soldiers foreshadow the broader historical context of the story?
Answer:
When soldiers march past Minka and her father, his abrupt shift from joking to seriousness—”no parades” at his funeral—hints at the looming Nazi threat. The detail about him nearly mimicking a Nazi salute accidentally underscores the danger of even minor missteps under occupation. Minka’s naive perspective (“silly girl of fourteen”) contrasts with her father’s wariness, subtly introducing readers to the encroaching horrors of WWII and the erosion of normalcy for Jewish families.
4. Compare Minka’s friendships with Greta and Darija. What do these relationships reveal about societal attitudes toward Jews?
Answer:
Greta, a Polish Christian, is cordial in private but avoids public association with Minka, reflecting widespread antisemitism (“Polish Christians did not like Jews, at least not in public”). In contrast, Darija, a Jewish friend, shares Minka’s dreams and critiques of society (e.g., their “Grand Plan” to rewrite grammar rules). The dichotomy highlights the isolation Jews faced: conditional acceptance versus genuine solidarity. The Szymanskis’ kindness, deemed atypical, further underscores how prejudice was the norm.
5. How does the “No dogs or Jews allowed” sign at Wodospad restaurant symbolize the dehumanization of Jews in Nazi-occupied Poland?
Answer:
The sign explicitly equates Jews with animals, stripping them of dignity and normalizing exclusion. Minka’s passive observation of it—paired with her earlier naivety about soldiers—marks her growing awareness of persecution. The contrast between her youthful fantasies (cars with radios) and this brutal reality underscores the loss of innocence. The sign also mirrors real Nazi policies, like Kristallnacht (mentioned earlier), signaling the escalation from discrimination to outright violence.
Quotes
1. “‘Minka,’ he would say, in the hot summer, ‘make sure there is lemonade at my funeral. Fresh lemonade for all!’ […] ‘She is absolutely right, Minka. And for the record, no opera at my funeral. I hate opera. But dancing, now, that would be nice.’”
This recurring dialogue between Minka and her father captures their close bond and his playful approach to mortality, contrasting with the mother’s concern. It also subtly foreshadows the looming threat of death in their lives.
2. “The real joke behind the joke was that my father was too full of life to ever die.”
This poignant reflection reveals Minka’s childhood perception of her father’s invincibility, highlighting the tragic irony as the narrative unfolds against the backdrop of the Holocaust.
3. “‘At my funeral, Minka,’ he said, without a hint of laughter in his voice, ‘no parades.’”
This sober moment after encountering German soldiers marks a turning point where the father’s death jokes take on darker meaning, reflecting the growing Nazi threat in their everyday lives.
4. “‘In our world,’ Darija said, throwing aside the chapter she was marking up, ‘there will be no semicolons.’ […] ‘Seems indecisive, doesn’t it? Either be a period or be a comma, but make up your mind.’”
This exchange between Minka and Darija about their imagined perfect world showcases their youthful idealism and creativity, while also serving as a metaphor for the binary choices forced upon them by their circumstances.
5. “‘In our world, there will be no Germans.’ Then she laughed. ‘Ah, poor Minka. You look like you’re going to be sick at the very thought. But then, a world without Germans is a world without Herr Bauer.’”
This darkly humorous moment reveals the girls’ awareness of growing anti-Semitism (referencing the “No dogs or Jews allowed” sign) while maintaining their adolescent perspective through the mention of a teacher crush.