Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Consider what you’ve learned from history classes and historical books and films with regard to the Allies and Axis powers in WWII. What major event in June of 1941 prompted Russia to join forces with the Allies? What were some repercussions of that event? Why was Russia’s involvement with the Allies important during the war?

Teaching Suggestion: This novel is set during World War II in the Soviet Union following Operation Barbarossa, Germany’s major attack on and invasion of the Soviet Union. One way to introduce the historical context of the novel may be to discuss the importance of the USSR in World War II. Additionally, students may find it beneficial to develop an understanding of Operation Barbarossa and the casualties the Soviet Union suffered during the war.

• This article describes the Soviet Union’s role in World War II and the political tensions with the Soviet Union following the war.
• This article describes Operation Barbarossa and the subsequent reaction of Allied forces following the German invasion of Russia.