Who is the antagonist of Salt to the Sea?

For those familiar with young adult literature about World War II, the antagonist of the story is an unusual one in that of the advancing Soviets. In 1945, Germans realize that things aren't looking good and the Soviets are encroaching closer and closer. Caught between the two sides are millions of refugees.

Who is the protagonist in Salt to the Sea?

Characters. Joana Vilkas: The cousin of Lina Vilkas, the main protagonist in Ruta Sepetys' debut novel, Between Shades of Gray (2011). Joana is a 21-year-old woman fleeing from her native country Lithuania, who had repatriated to Nazi Germany with her family in 1941 to escape capture from the Soviet Russian forces.

What is the main conflict in Salt to the Sea?

The conflict of Sepetys' Salt to the Sea is the main characters' fight for survival, as Joana, Florian, and Emilia are all refugees seeking to escape... See full answer below.

Why is Emilia's Hunter shame?

Hunters are persistent, they patiently await the perfect moment to strike. Emilia Stożek states that “Shame is a hunter”(5). Emilia feels constant shame because she has been raped and impregnated by Russian soldiers, she copes by convincing …show more content…

Who is the bravest character in Salt to the Sea?

However, Joana, the girl who protected and nursed the characters shows the most bravery. She defied Nazi beliefs, and saved people from being tortured, and ultimately slaughtered by the cruelty of Hitler's followers.

Ruta Sepetys discusses her new novel, SALT TO THE SEA

Who got Emilia pregnant in Salt to the Sea?

One of the four narrators, Emilia is a fifteen-year-old girl from Lwów, in southeastern Poland. Emilia's father sent her to safety to the Kleist's farm in East Prussia. There she became pregnant when Russian soldiers raped her. Emilia is a highly perceptive, intuitive young woman who feels deeply connected to nature.

What does Emilia's pink hat symbolize?

Emilia Stozek wears a pink hat in Salt to the Sea. For her, her hat is a symbol of regeneration that takes place due to the war.

Did Emilia get raped in Salt to the Sea?

The hideous story of her pregnancy unfolds: Frau Kleist, August's mother, gave Emilia to Russian soldiers when they tried to take August's sister. The Kleist family watched as Emilia was “dragged to the cold cellar” and raped (239).

What is Alfred's secret in Salt to the Sea?

He was a sociopath in training” (280) In his final scene, Alfred has a psychotic break and tries to kill Emilia after she admits she is Polish.

Why does fate hunt Florian?

Fate is hunting Florian, a young East Prussian man carrying a grave secret and prized treasure that could seek revenge on Adolf Hitler. Shame is hunting Emilia, a Polish girl merely trying to survive after various persecutions from the Germans and the Russians.

What is the climax in Salt to the Sea?

The climax in the story was when all of the main characters heard a loud bang and the lights went out on the ship. This was the climax because the ship had been torpedoed.

What is the resolution of Salt to the Sea?

Joana and Florian marry, adopting both children, along with one of their own. The novel ends with a letter addressed to Florian in the year of 1969. It spoke of a woman and her husband who found Emilia's raft, Emilia's body and Florian's bag on the shore after the war.

What is the theme of the book Salt to the Sea?

The theme of Salt to the Sea is the importance of family.

Is there romance in Salt to the Sea?

'Salt to the Sea' effectively blends World War II history with teen romance. In this World War II story, set during the sunset hours of the terrible conflict, Ruta Sepetys effectively spins a tale that is equal parts romance, thriller, and real life dystopia.

Who was Clara Christensen in Salt to the Sea?

Clara Christensen is a woman who lives with her husband on the coast near the sinking site of the Wilhelm Gustloff. They were the ones who found Emilia's body, but they never knew who she was.

Is Salt to the Sea based on a true story?

At the center of "Salt To The Sea" is the true story of a doomed German ship, the Wilhelm Gustloff. Late in the war, this one-time cruise ship became part of a massive evacuation of German soldiers and civilians plus refugees from Poland, Lithuania and beyond. All were fleeing the advancing Soviet army.

Will Salt to the Sea be a movie?

Universal Pictures is developing a movie based on Ruta Sepetys' historical novel “Salt to the Sea,” and set up the project with “Transformers” producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura. The studio won the rights in an auction.

Who is Klaus in Salt to the Sea?

Klaus, in Salt to the Sea, is a German boy who turns into a refugee as the rest of the characters of the novel. He feels alone after his grandmother's...

Who does Emilia remind Joana of in Salt to the Sea?

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

Even though Emilia is Polish and Florian is German. Florian allows her to stay with him because she reminds him of his little sister Anni.

What name is on Emilia's identification papers in chapters 83 129?

What name is on Emilia's identification papers in Section 3? Una.

What motivates Emilia in salt to the sea?

Reuniting with her mother was her motivation. She would slay dragons to get to her. Mother was anchor. Mother was comfort.

Do Joana and Florian end up together in Salt to the Sea?

Joana and Florian get married, raising Emilia's baby and the little boy. The novel ends on a bittersweet note when Florian, twenty-three years later, reads a letter from a woman who discovered Emilia's raft on her beach in Denmark a month after the ship sank.

Why is Joana mad at Florian?

Joana is furious with Florian for implicating her in his scheme. Emilia begs her not to expose him. She continues to process painful memories of the cruel Frau Klein and the hideous events leading up to her pregnancy.

What happened to Ingrid in Salt to the Sea?

Ingrid is shot and falls into the freezing water while the others scatter. Florian heroically appears to save Joana from the cracking ice, as she attempts to rescue Ingrid. The traumatized group retreats to the bank.

Is Salt to the Sea sad?

It takes place during WWII and focuses on the lives and stories of four different characters- Alfred, Joana, Emilia, and Florian. It's such a sad book but sooo worth it and you will not be able to put this book down.