Salt to the Sea

Questions for Analysis

Pg.1-10
1. Who are the four characters and what can you infer about each one?

2. What Nationalities are represented in the four characters?

3. What was the bang that each character heard?

Pg. 11- 16
4. Why does Emilia assume that Florian would want nothing to do with her?

5. What do you think Florian has in his pack?

6. Who do you think is flying in the planes? Do you think they mean good or
harm?

7. There is blood coming from underneath Emilias coat. What do you think is
her injury?

Pg. 20- 31
8. Alfred keeps writing to Hannelore. Who do you think she is and what is her
significance?

9. Briefly explain how some of the characters stories have intertwined? Alfred is
still not part of the group; how do you think his journey will eventually meet
theirs?

10.Who do you think Emilia reminds Joana of? What could be the significance of
her repeating, Its all your fault?

Pg. 35-42
11.Why do you think Emilia calls Florian, the knight?

12.What is your impression of Alfred so far? What rank do you think he holds in
the Nazi army?

13.You just found out Joana is a murderer. How does this fit a Contrast and
Contradiction signpost? What are your thoughts on this?

Pg. 45- 51
14.Where do you think Florian is fleeing to and why is Emilia following him?

15.Why do you think Emilia claims to be already dead?

16.The shoe poet has been mentioned several times. What do you know about
him and how do you think hell be a significant part of the story?

17.What are your impressions of Alfreds rather catchy tune? What does this
tell you about Germanys views?

Pg. 55- 64
18.What is Ingrids impression of Florian? Do you think this is accurate?

19.What do you think the group will find in the large estate?

20.Why does Emilia ask Florian, Heil Hitler? What is this significance?
Pg. 66- 73
21.Theres an Again and Again signpost with Alfred singing, Yu-go-slav. Why
does this keep showing up again and again?

22.Why did Emilia shoot the uniformed soldier and why did Florian seem to not
approve?

23.Ingrid claims to not like the estate as they walk up. What are your thoughts
on this?

24.What do you think happened to the family that lived in the large estate?

Pg. 76- 80
25.Theres an Again and Again signpost with Emilia reciting the little duckies
song. Why does this keep showing up again and again? Have there been
other references to birds youve noticed?

26.Emilia unbuttoned her coat and Joana responded with, Oh, dear God. What
do you think she just discovered about her?

Pg. 82- 89
27.What is your inference about how Emilia became pregnant?

28.What are your insights about Alfreds character? How is the end of page 85 a
Contrast and Contradiction?

29.Florian refers to his pack as holding his revenge. What do you think this is?

30.The shoe poet referenced Florians boots again and Florian feels like he
knows his secret. What do you think this could be?

Pg. 93- 95
31.Why is Florian trying to keep people from going upstairs in the estate?

32.What do you think happened to the family?

Pg. 98- 104

33.Who are the German citizens running from as they evacuate?

34.What can they do about Emilia not having any papers?

Pg. 107-111
35.Florian is having a Memory Moment when he discussed his situation with
his father. Why might this memory be important?

36.What could Florians papers say that they demanded the respect of the
German soldier?

37.The shoe poet provided some Words of the Wiser at the end of page 111.
What were these and what is their significance?

Pg. 115-123
38.What is the solution to Emilia not having papers? Do you think this will work?

39.You just found out that Florian forged his papers. What does this say about his
character and possibly his situation?

40. Joana just realized something was missing from her suitcase. What do you
think it was that Florian stole from her?

41.The Gustlof is missing 10 lifeboats. Does this seem like an important

Number and Statistic to remember? Why?

Pg. 126-134
42.What did Florian steal and why?

43.Emilias mother departed Words of the Wiser to her. What were they and
how might they affect Emilia?

44. What happened to Ingrid? Do you think this could have been prevented?

Pg. 139- 149

45.Emilia also ran onto the ice to save Ingrid. What does this say about her
character?

46.Who was Gauleiter Koch? What is your impression about this man?

47.Why does Florian owe the group help?

Pg. 152- 160

48.What is the situation at Gotenhafen? How would you describe the mood?

49.What is the Red Army that Florian refers to as getting closer?

50.What do you think is Florians idea that he would need Joanas help for?

51.Has your impression of Alfred changed from the beginning? What do you
know about him now?
Pg. 163- 171
52.How do you think Emilia knew about Florians ear?

53.Alfreds mother implies that he may know something about their neighbors
(Hannelores family) which is described as lonesome. What do you think he
knows?

54.Joana angrily remarks, Killers arent always assassins. Sometimes they dont
even have blood on their hands. What do you think is the significance of her
saying this?

55.What was it that Florian had taken from Joanas suitcase? Why do you think
he returned it?

Pg. 176-186
56.How has Alfreds journey met with the others? What are the other characters
impressions of Alfred so far?

57.What seems to be happening between Joana and Florian? What is your

evidence to support this?

58.What is Florian surreptitiously doing? Do you think it will work?

Pg. 188-197
59.A Dulcinea is a term referring to a fictional person in which someone is
hopelessly devoted. Why would Alfred use this term?

60.What do you think happened to Florians dad?

61. How did the situation at the registration desk and Poets Words of the
Wiser change Emilias actions? Why?

Pg. 202-207
62.What simile did Emilia use to describe what happened to Poland (on page
202)? Was this effective in describing the situation to you?

63.How did Emilia already know that Alfred was looking for Florian when he
walked into the movie house? What does this say about her character?

64.Why did Florian tell Alfred that the pretty nurse was already spoken for?

Pg. 217-226
65.How does Emilia react when she boards the ship (what does her instinct tell
her)? What does she say about the name of the ship and what could this
imply for its fate?

66.Joana again refers to guilt. What do you think is the guilt that she is carrying
(page 223)?

67.What did you find out is in the heel of Florians boot?

Pg. 228- 235

68.Joana has now mentioned Lina a few times. Who do you think she was and
what is her significance?

69.Emilia just revealed there is no August. Who do you think is the father of the
baby and what is Emilia hiding?

Pg. 238-243
70.How did Emilia actually become pregnant and why did she hide it?

71.Florian is really nervous of boarding the ship. What do you think could
happen?
Pg. 249-251
72.How do you think Florian will get through the luggage inspection?

73.Alfred asked Joana if she liked butterflies. This is after we read in his mothers
letter that she found his butterfly collection. Why do you think this is coming
up again?

Pg. 252-265
74.Florian made the blonde soldier angry. Do you think this could be a problem
later?

75.What did Florian do for Emilia and the baby? What does this tell you about
how his character has evolved since the beginning (which has really only
been a few days)?

76.What is the mood at the end of page 265? What do you think will happen now
that everyone is safely on the ship?

Pg. 269-280
77.What is your opinion of Alfred now? What textual evidence do you have to
support it?

78.The blonde soldier is wiring Koch. What could this lead to?

Pg. 284-295
79.Do you think Joana will turn in Florian to save herself? Why or why not?

80.What do you think the message is from the blonde soldier?

81.What options does Florian have if hes caught on the ship?

82.What is the message from Koch? What do you think it means?

Pg. 296-305
83.What were some of the desperate acts people did to try and get on the boat?
What does this say about their situation in Germany?

84.Do you think Joana would lie for Florian to help him get off the boat? Why or
why not?

85.What does the last part of Alfreds letter to Hannelore say about him? (She
said the oddest thing. Because I love him.)

Pg. 309-315
86.You found out why Joana is a murderer. Explain this situation.

87.What was Florians reaction to the message from Koch? What do you think
this means?

88.Emilia refers to Joana and Florian as birds with plumage. When else does
Emilia speak of birds? What do you think is their significance?

89.Describe the Poets and Florians conversation. How does this show the
evolution of Florian?

Pg. 319-328
90.Who do you think torpedoed the ship? What options do the passengers on the
ship have?

91.How did Emilia know the ship was sinking before everyone else?

92.Florians strap on his pack has snapped, but hes also carrying the little boy.
What do you think he will do?

93.What Aha Moment did Alfred have at the end of page 328?

94.Do you think that Joana and Emilia will reunite with Florian, the shoe poet,
and the boy?

Pg. 331-339
95.After the group just reunited, they were split again. Explain how this
happened and what you think will happen next.

96.How did Emilia and Alfred get off the sinking ship?

Pg. 342-345
97.What is the major concern of each person? How do these thoughts in a time
of distress show the true character of each person?

Pg. 347-353
98.Florian said, Fate is a hunter. When has this come up before and why might
it be showing up again?

99.Joana said, Guilt is a hunter. When has this come up before and why might
it be showing up again?

100. Emilia said, Shame is a hunter. When has this come up before and why
might it be
showing up again?

101. Alfred said, Fear is a hunter. When has this come up before and why
might it be
showing up again?

Pg. 358-369
102. Now that you know about Alfred and Hannelores last encounter, do you
think she
reciprocated his feelings of love?
103. Do you think Emilia will make it back to the baby?

104. What do you think Florian was hearing when he was underwater if it
wasnt Joana?

Pg. 372-373
105. What does it mean when Emilia is seeing her mother and baby brother?

Pg. 374-378
fate?

106. Explain the significance of the letter at the end. What was everyones

Final Thoughts
107. What did you enjoy most about reading this book? If there was something
you could
change, what would it be and why? Would you recommend this book to
others? Why or
why not?