The Tin Drum facts for kids
Cover of the first German edition
|
|
| Author | Günter Grass |
|---|---|
| Original title | Die Blechtrommel |
| Translator | Ralph Manheim, Breon Mitchell |
| Cover artist | Günter Grass |
| Country | West Germany |
| Language | German |
| Series | Danzig Trilogy |
| Genre | Magic realism |
| Publisher | Hermann Luchterhand Verlag |
|
Publication date
|
1959 |
|
Published in English
|
1961 |
| Pages | 576 |
| OCLC | 3618781 |
| 833.914 | |
| Followed by | Cat and Mouse |
The Tin Drum (German: Die Blechtrommel) is a famous novel written in 1959 by Günter Grass. It was the first book in his series called the Danzig Trilogy. The story was later made into a popular movie in 1979. This film won important awards, like the Palme d'Or and an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
The phrase "to beat a tin drum" means to make a lot of noise or fuss. It is used to get people's attention for a special cause or idea.
Contents
Meet the Characters in The Tin Drum
The novel is split into three main parts, like three different books. Each part introduces new and important characters.
Book One Characters
- Oskar Matzerath: He is the main character and tells his own life story. Oskar writes his memories from 1952 to 1954, when he is in his late twenties. He often sees himself as a symbol of his time. Sometimes, he tells stories in a way that makes you wonder if they are completely true.
- Bruno Munsterberg: Bruno is Oskar's helper or keeper. He watches over Oskar and creates sculptures from knots, inspired by Oskar's tales.
- Anna Koljaiczek Bronski: She is Oskar's grandmother. Her story begins in 1899, which is also where Oskar's memoir starts.
- Joseph Koljaiczek: Oskar's grandfather, sometimes called "Bang Bang Jop." He is known for starting fires.
- Agnes Koljaiczek: Oskar's mother, who comes from the Kashubians people.
- Jan Bronski: Agnes's cousin and a close friend. He is one of the people who might be Oskar's father. Jan supported the Polish side in politics.
- Alfred Matzerath: Agnes's husband. He is the other person who might be Oskar's father. Alfred supported the Nazi Party.
- Sigismund Markus: A Jewish businessman in Danzig. He owned the toy store where Oskar got his tin drums. His store was destroyed during a terrible event in Danzig.
Book Two Characters
- Maria Truczinski: Alfred hired Maria to help in his store after Agnes passed away. She stays with Oskar's family for many years after the war.
- Bebra: He runs a group of performers who are all dwarfs. Oskar joins this group to leave Danzig. Later, Bebra owns a record company that Oskar works for. He is a lifelong guide and inspiration for Oskar. Bebra is a musical clown.
- Roswitha Raguna: She is Bebra's companion and later Oskar's. Roswitha is a beautiful Italian lady. Even though she is taller than Oskar, she chose not to grow taller. She is famous in Italy for walking in her sleep.
- "The Dusters": This is a group of street kids in Danzig. Oskar becomes their leader, called "Jesus," after he shows his amazing ability to break windows with his voice.
Book Three Characters
- Sister Dorothea: A nurse from Düsseldorf. She becomes a close friend to Oskar after Maria moves on.
- Egon Münzer (Klepp): Oskar's friend. He says he is a communist and plays the jazz flute.
- Gottfried Vittlar: He becomes friends with Oskar and later speaks against him in a court case, as Oskar asked him to.
The Storytelling Style of The Tin Drum
Oskar Matzerath, the narrator, tells the story in a very unique way. It's sometimes hard to tell if he is completely sane or not. He mostly tells the story from his own point of view ("I"), but sometimes he switches to talking about himself as "he" or "Oskar."
Because Oskar is an unreliable narrator, he might tell different versions of the same event. For example, he gives varying accounts of the Defense of the Polish Post Office. He also tells different stories about what happened to his grandfather Koljaiczek. This makes the reader think about what is truly real in the book.
The novel also has strong political ideas, but it's more than just a political story. It uses elements of allegory (where characters or events represent ideas), myth, and legend. This style is known as magic realism, where magical things happen in a realistic world.
The Tin Drum also includes religious themes, both from Jewish and Christian beliefs. Oskar sometimes talks to figures like Jesus and Satan in the book. His gang members call him "Jesus," and he later refers to himself as "Satan."
Different Versions and Adaptations
English Translations
The book was first translated into English by Ralph Manheim in 1961. Later, for its 50th anniversary, a new English translation by Breon Mitchell was released in 2009.
The Film Version
In 1979, a film based on the book was made by Volker Schlöndorff. The movie covers only the first two parts of the book, ending when World War II finishes. This film won the top award, the Palme d'Or, at the 1979 Cannes Film Festival. It also won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 1980.
Radio Show
In 1996, BBC Radio 4 created a radio play of the novel. It starred Phil Daniels and was adapted by Mike Walker. This radio show won an award for best dramatization from the British Writers Guild.
Theatre Play
The Kneehigh Theatre company created a stage play based on the novel in 2017. It was performed at the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool. This play tells Oskar's story from his birth through the war years.
See also
In Spanish: El tambor de hojalata (novela) para niños
