What are the forms and features of "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas?"

Form refers to the way a story is written rather than the story that it tells. In "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas," Bruno is the first person narrator so the story is told from his perspective which reveals an innocence that is maintained throughout. John Boyne said himself that he could only tell this story through the eyes of a child as he would never fully be able to understand the real torment of...

Form refers to the way a story is written rather than the story that it tells. In "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas," Bruno is the first person narrator so the story is told from his perspective which reveals an innocence that is maintained throughout. John Boyne said himself that he could only tell this story through the eyes of a child as he would never fully be able to understand the real torment of the victims of the Holocaust. The story is also a personal account of events in Bruno's life and this ensures that readers cannot mistake this story for a parallel of real events but only the potential behind any family, likely or unlikely, for the development of friendship against all odds. Using this format also ensures that the language is simple and there is little room for misunderstanding. It also emphasizes the level of trust between a child and his father with Bruno having no doubt that his father is a "good" soldier, despite Shmuel's insistence that there is no such thing.  

The features of a story refer to the characteristics; those things that make a good story. Bruno's story is unique because it does not attempt to relate facts, but at the same time, its subject matter and historical interest "hook" the reader. The reader wants to understand Bruno's story and is soon invested in Bruno's and Shmuel's future. The elements of good story-telling are in place, such as the themes, the conflict and the plot. An adult reader already knows that this story is likely to have a tragic ending but is still surprised at what unfolds. This ensures that the moral of the story is not lost on the reader who should walk away from this novel with a determination to make a difference, however small, in someone's life.