Like Alice, Anna falls through the rabbit hole into the strange world of Berlin in 1990 and into the world of people’s memories of East Germany, 1945-1989. As a stranger in a strange land, she must question everything she thought was real to make sense of a society where suspicion, surveillance, double-speak and danger govern everyones life. This resource provides background on Anna Funder as author and as a character in her own text. It provides passages from the text and activities relating to the background and character of Anna.

Activity using the principles of visual literacy to analyse 6 different covers to the English language editions to Anna Funder’s Stasiland: colour, people, content, critical response and medium.

Research task on Erich Mielke, head of the East German Stasi. Questions focus on using the information gained through research to make an assessment of his contribution to East German society and impact as head of the Stasi.

This activity analyses the passage from Stasiland when Miriam Weber attempts to escape from East Berlin to West Berlin over the Berlin Wall. It focuses on language, building suspense, humour, effects of light and dark, style, juxtaposing the younger and older Miriams as storytellers, and the impact of the narrrator asking questions in her narrative.

Wired ezine article, Piecing together the dark legacy of East Germany’s secret police. Excellent resource for understanding the computerisation of destroyed Stasi records and the uses of these records. Supports the teaching of Anna Funder’s text, Stasiland. The last activity involves students evaluating whether the enormous cost involved in this reconstruction process is worth the result.

Charlie Weber appears as a character in Stasiland through the memory of his wife, Miriam and through physical remains of his existence: photographs and a poem. He is a victim of Stasi discrimination, surveillance, harassment, imprisonment and (we believe) brutality that led to his death. If Miriam is the principal interviewee, Charlie is her evidence. The ghost of Charlie haunts Miriam, although there is evidence is the last chapter that Miriam is at last coming to terms with his death. This set of activities includes extracts from the text and a profile proforma. The activity is designed for Year 12 students of the VCE and HSC.

Ezine article from Spiegel Online, East German Snitching Went Far Beyond the Stasi. the Article supports the teaching of the text, Stasiland, by providing examples of West Germans who reported to the East German Stasi and how information in Stasi files on children and young people could impact on their post-school options.

3 Cloze activities on Stasiland: Biography Anna Funder Investigative Journalism Theme: Resilience

Karl-Eduard von Schnitzler was the compere on The Black Channel, a program on East German television until 1989. He is a true believer in the Communist cause and the methods the Stasi used to silence critics. Anna Funder interviews him in her search for how the activities of the Stasi affected the lives of ordinary East Germans. This set of activities includes background information, a passage from the text and a blank Stasi file for students to complete on von Schnitzler’s background,personal details and beliefs.

Former East German rocker, Klaus Renft stands apart from the other characters interviewed by Anna Funder. He has found peace with his treatment by the Stasi and has his Stasi file as a means of reminding him of his younger days, not to explain how the Stasi meddled in his personal life. Is his contentment a product of alcoholism or something else? This set of activities includes background information, passages from the text and an analysis of Klaus’ character and history.

Ezine article from ZD Net on internet surveillance by the government of the United States . Article supports the teaching of the text, Stasiland. Activity asks students to analyse the article to identify hoe this surveillance takes place and where in the world surveillance occurs.

Hagen Koch was a Stasi officer who marked out where the Berlin Wall was to be built. But when the state began to interfere in his own family life, Hagen took a stand to resist. The decision resulted in retribution against him and his family. This set of activities includes background information on the character of Hagen Koch, passages from the text and questions related to his character, influence of the state on hi upbringing and the reasons behind his decision to resign from the Stasi.

Worksheet on the video clip, The Real Mr Pip - Harry Baxter on Bougainville.

Book review by Janet Maslin from the New York Times and student activities.

Topic summary for the non-fiction text, Stasiland by Anna Funder. Includes themes, setting, symbolism, key quotes, structure and style, metalanguage, characters, author, comparative texts and genre.

Information report assessment task on the novel, Mister Pip. The task is: Select one of these themes from the text: fantasy vs reality, living in a warzone, tradition vs modernity, hybridity, strangers in a strange land, storytelling. How does the text help the reader to understand the theme? Give examples to support your report.

Background notes, key passages and student activity relating to Matilda Laimo, the protagonist in Lloyd Jones’ novel, Mister Pip.

Analysis of scenes from the film version of Mister Pip. Students analyse details of the scenes, notably atmosphere, colour, gestures and poses and camera angles.

Grace represents the tragedy. Her fall from a life of promise to the ravages of major depression foretell the tragedy of the village’s fall from idyllic paradise to being ravaged by the redskin army. This resource includes background notes on Grace, key passages from the text and student activities.

Activity requiring students identify the section in the novel in which the event takes place.