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Home > German > Extension Course > Prescribed texts > Das Stenogramm > Das Stenogramm

• About the author
• Comprehension questions in German - Fragen zum Text
• Comprehension questions in English

About the author

von der Grün, Max (Masken; Das Stenogramm)

Born in Bayreuth in 1926, von der Grün grew up during the Nazi period in Germany. As a 12 year old he saw his father arrested for being a Jehovah’s Witness. His father was imprisoned from 1939 to 1945 in a concentration camp. Von der Grün was a soldier from 1943 to 1944, before being held as a prisoner-of-war by the Americans until 1948. After his release he had many jobs, including construction worker and miner. He later worked as a train engineer in the mines after being badly injured in an accident. He began writing in 1955, becoming a founding member of “Gruppe 61”, a group of writers dedicated to the plight of workers and their industrial working environment. Von der Grün’s works often reflect his understanding of the German society during the post-war period.

Fragen zum Text

Note: These questions have been taken from “German HSC Extension Course – Support Material” CD ROM

Comprehension

Note: These questions have been taken from “German HSC Extension Course – Support Material” CD ROM

Lines 1-12

1. When and where does the accident take place?
2. How does the accident happen?
3. Who are the victims of the accident?
4. What is the nature of the urgent house call?

Lines 13-25

1. Describe the car that comes by at 10.35 am and its occupants.
2. What is the young woman's reaction to the accident?
3. What reaction does the man have?
4. How does the mother-in-law respond?

Lines 26-38

1. Why doesn’t the man want to report the accident to the police?
2. What is the mother-in-law’s state of mind? How can you tell?

Lines 39-56

1. Who are the occupants of the car?
2. What is the joke at the father’s expense?
3. What is his reaction to the accident?
4. What is his wife’s response?

Lines 57-67

1. With what argument does the wife convince her husband not to get involved?
2. How does the family continue their journey?

Lines 68-85

1. Describe the car that comes by at 10.52 am and its occupants.
2. What is the young woman’s reaction?
3. What reasons does her mother give for not stopping?

Lines 86-93

1. How does the next driver respond to the accident?
2. Why does he respond in this way?

Lines 94-108

1. Who arrives at 10.59 am?
2. What is his reaction to the accident?
3. Why doesn’t he try to assist?

Lines 109-137

1. Which car arrives at 11.08 am?
2. Why does the driver yell out twice?
3. What is the girls’ reaction after they drive away again?

Lines 138-153

1. Who is in the car which comes by at 11.15 am?
2. Why does he begin to sweat?
3. Why doesn’t he want to contact the police?

Lines 154-169

1. Who passes at 11.28 am?
2. When the woman wants to stop, how does the man react?
3. Why doesn't he want to become involved?

Lines 170-189

1. What sort of vehicle comes by at 11.35 am and who are its occupants?
2. How do the occupants respond to the accident?
3. How long did it take for the police and ambulance to come?
4. Why is the examining doctor surprised?

Lines 190-207

1. How does the doctor explain the fact that the accident wasn't reported sooner?
2. How does the story end?