Der Vorleser – Bernhard Schlink – Overview

Der Vorleser – Bernhard Schlink – Overview of Der Vorleser

• This comprehensive teaching resource on Bernhard Schlink’s novel Der Vorleser is written in German.
• It provides a clear and accessible summary of the plot, characters, and central themes of the novel, exploring the complex issues of love, guilt, shame, and Germany’s past in the aftermath of the Second World War.

Key features:

• Detailed plot overview divided into the three main parts of the novel, including key events and turning points.
• Analysis of central characters, particularly Michael Berg and Hanna Schmitz, and their complicated relationship.
• Exploration of the major themes such as guilt, shame, love, memory, and responsibility.
• Examination of the novel’s clear, reflective style and first-person narrative.
• A wide range of exercises including comprehension questions, true/false, character and theme analysis, sequencing, short answers, creative tasks, and an extended essay question.

Includes an accompanying worksheet to reinforce and practise key concepts.