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The Hiding Place Essay Topics & Writing Assignments

Essay Topic 1

How did the lives of those in Haarlem change as Nazi doctrine spread? Use specific examples from the story to illustrate your answer. How did the Ten Booms feel about these changes and what did they do in response to these changes?

Essay Topic 2

Corrie and Betsie believed that God directed their lives. Why do you think that God allowed these sisters to be arrested? What purpose might it have had? How did Corrie and Betsie feel about their imprisonment?

Essay Topic 3

How does the faith of the Ten Booms both influence their actions and help them in the camps? Give specific examples from the book. Why do you think they continued to believe so strongly in spite of the challenges that they faced?

Essay Topic 4

Describe the conditions of the camp. What was life like for the prisoners? Discuss at least three ways that Corrie...

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"The Hiding Place" by Corrie Ten Boom With John and Elizabeth Sherrill

Book Club Discussion Questions

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The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom with John and Elizabeth Sherrill was first published in 1971.

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It's a Christian autobiography, but more than that, it is a story that shines a light of hope on one of the darkest events of the 20th century -- the Holocaust . These questions are designed to help book clubs work through the story and the ideas Corrie Ten Boom proposes about God and the Christian faith.

Spoiler Warning: These questions reveal details from the story. Finish the book before reading on.

• Corrie writes in the first chapter, "Today I know that such memories are the key not to the past, but to the future. I know that the experiences of our lives, when we let God use them, become the mysterious and perfect preparation for the work He will give us to do" (17). How was this true in Corrie's life? If you take time to reflect on your own experiences, can you see ways in which this has been true in your life?
• On the train as a child, when Corrie asks her father what "sexsin" is, he responds by asking her to lift his watch case, and she replies that it is too heavy. "'Yes,' he said, 'And it would be a pretty poor father who would ask his little girl to carry such a load. It's the same way, Corrie, with knowledge. Some knowledge is too heavy for children. When you are older and stronger you can bear it. For now you must trust me to carry it for you'" (29). As an adult, in the face of unspeakable suffering, Corrie remembered this response and allowed her Heavenly Father to carry the burden, finding contentment despite not understanding. Do you think there is wisdom in this? Is it something you can or desire to do, or is it hard for you to be content without answers?
• Father also told a young Corrie, "our wise Father in heaven knows when we're going to need things, too. Don't run ahead of Him, Corrie. When the time comes that some of us will have to die, you will look into your heart and find the strength you need -- just in time" (32). How was this true in the book? Is this something you have seen in your own life?
• Were there any characters in the book who you particularly liked or were drawn to? Give examples of why.
• Why do you think Corrie's experience with Karel was important to the story?
• During the Ten Booms' work with the underground, they had to consider lying, stealing and even murder in order to save lives. Different members of the family came to different conclusions about what was OK. How do you think Christians can discern how to honor God when his commands seem to contradict a greater good? What did you think about Nollie's refusal to lie? Corrie's refusal to kill?
• What do you make of their different interpretations of God in the midst of extreme suffering? How do you decide which interpretation to embrace as your own? Is this a struggle in your faith?
• What do you make of the "visions" in the book -- Corrie's of being led away and later Betsie's visions of the house and rehabilitated camp?
• Is there anything that you want to discuss about Corrie's life and work after the war?
• Rate The Hiding Place 1 to 5.
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The Hiding Place

Corrie ten boom, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Corrie Ten Boom's The Hiding Place . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

The Hiding Place: Introduction

The hiding place: plot summary, the hiding place: detailed summary & analysis, the hiding place: themes, the hiding place: quotes, the hiding place: characters, the hiding place: terms, the hiding place: symbols, the hiding place: theme wheel, brief biography of corrie ten boom.

Historical Context of The Hiding Place

Other books related to the hiding place.

• Full Title: The Hiding Place
• When Written: 1971
• Where Written: Holland
• When Published: 1971
• Literary Period: Contemporary
• Genre: Memoir
• Setting: Haarlem, Holland
• Climax: Corrie’s arrest and sentencing to prison
• Antagonist: Nazi Germany, intolerance
• Point of View: First-person limited

Extra Credit for The Hiding Place

Blockbuster. In 1975, The Hiding Place was made into a movie starring Julie Harris and Jeannette Clift as Betsie and Corrie ten Boom.

Back to the Bible. The Hiding Place ’s title derives from a verse in Psalm 119, which says of God, “Thou art my hiding place and my shield.”

Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Books — The Hiding Place

Essays on The Hiding Place

The Hiding Place, written by Corrie ten Boom, is a powerful and compelling memoir that tells the story of a family's courage and resilience in the face of adversity during World War II. The book details the ten Boom family's experiences of hiding Jews from the Nazis and their subsequent imprisonment in concentration camps. The Hiding Place is a thought-provoking and emotional account of the strength of the human spirit and the impact of faith in the most difficult of circumstances.

Importance of the Topic

The Hiding Place is an important and relevant book that offers valuable insights into the human experience during one of the darkest periods in history. The themes of courage, sacrifice, and faith are universal and continue to resonate with readers today. By writing about The Hiding Place, you have the opportunity to engage with these timeless themes and to gain a deeper understanding of the impact of war and persecution on individuals and communities. Additionally, exploring the historical context of the book can provide valuable lessons and perspectives on the importance of standing up against injustice and oppression.

Advice on Choosing a Topic

When selecting a topic for an essay on The Hiding Place, it's important to consider what aspects of the book resonate with you personally. Are there specific themes, characters, or events that you found particularly compelling? Do you have a particular interest in history, religion, or social justice that you would like to explore further? By choosing a topic that interests you, you will be more motivated to conduct thorough research and to present your ideas in a clear and engaging manner.

Some potential essay topics related to The Hiding Place include:

• The role of faith and religion in The Hiding Place
• The impact of war and persecution on individuals and communities
• The significance of the ten Boom family's actions in hiding Jews during World War II
• The portrayal of resilience and courage in the face of adversity
• The themes of forgiveness and reconciliation in The Hiding Place
• The historical context of The Hiding Place and its relevance today
• The representation of hope and humanity in The Hiding Place
• The use of symbolism and imagery in The Hiding Place
• The influence of Corrie ten Boom's experiences on her writing style and perspective
• The legacy of The Hiding Place and its impact on readers and society

The Hiding Place offers a wealth of thought-provoking and meaningful essay topics that can be explored in depth. By delving into the themes, characters, and historical context of the book, you have the opportunity to gain valuable insights and to contribute to the ongoing conversation about the impact of war, faith, and resilience. Whether you are writing for a school assignment or for personal enrichment, The Hiding Place provides a rich and rewarding subject for exploration and analysis.

A Review of The Book Hiding Place

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Summary of The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom

Comparative study on holocaust portrayal and society's response in the hiding place by corrie ten boom and night by ellie wiesel, literary analysis of the autobiography the hiding place, let us write you an essay from scratch.

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November 1971

Corrie ten Boom

Nonfiction, autobiography

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The Hiding Place

41 pages • 1 hour read

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The Hiding Place

By corrie ten boom , john sherrill , elizabeth sherrill.

• The Hiding Place Summary

One sunny day in January 1937 in Haarlem, Holland, the ten Boom celebrates the one-hundredth year of their in-home watch shop together with most of the town. The three family members who live in the tiny house, father ten Boom and his daughters Betsie and Corrie , prepare for the busy day after sharing breakfast and devotions with their three employees, Hans the apprentice, Toos the bookkeeper and Christoffels the repairman. This family shares a deep love for each other, devotion to their Christian faith and warm, generous hearts for the whole community. The party mood dampens as people discuss the threat of Hitler his campaign of German expansion and Holland’s role amidst the larger powers of Europe. Finally, Corrie’s brother Willem joins the gathering with a young Jewish man, Herr Gutlieber , who escaped from Munich after some teenagers waylaid him and set fire to his beard. The family rallies round the shocked man and attempt to restore normalcy by resuming the festivities. In the evening, Corrie reminisces about her childhood and returns to the present time, reflecting that God uses all experiences in human life for a good purpose.

As the Beje network continues to expand, Corrie fears that they will be caught. Other instances occur to make Corrie worry, like the seizure a Jewish woman staying in Nollie ’s home. Nollie, however, believes that her honest admission of Annaliese ’s Jewish heritage will protect both of them. Although Nollie goes to prison, Annaliese miraculously escapes. After Corrie persuades the German doctor of Nollie’s Amsterdam prison, he grants Nollie release on medical grounds. After several scares, the Beje residents begin training Corrie to answer Gestapo questions correctly. They also train to reach the hiding place in as little time as possible. Shortly after Willem begins holding prayer meetings at the Beje, the family receives Otto Altschuler unexpectedly. He comes to gloat over the German occupation of Holland. However, Otto’s visit frightens the ten Booms who realize that they must continue their work despite the danger.

In order to introduce certain lessons that carried Corrie through the war, she relates several childhood anecdotes. In 1898, Corrie resists going to school for the first time because she is afraid. Nollie has a dilemma, too, regarding the latest fashions. The formidable and morbid Tante Jans buys the girls’ clothing and refuses to buy anything she considers modern or indecent. Fortunately, the family distracts Tante Jans from Nollie’s fashionable fur cap until Father reads scripture for that day, Psalm 119:114, “Thou art my shielf and my hiding place.” Corrie wonders about these words until her family forces her to go to school. Upon entering the larger world, Corrie has several questions about growing up. For example, on the train back from Amsterdam, Corrie asks her father what sex is. He uses a train case to show his daughter that he must carry that knowledge for her until she grows older and stronger. A few years later, Corrie faces questions of mortality and fear, when a neighbor’s baby dies. Her father tells Corrie that when he is ready to die, God will prepare her for the loss.

In the third chapter, Corrie describes her first and only love, a man named Karel who is school friends with Willem. Corrie first meets Karel at a family occasion and they meet again while Corrie visits Willem at the university in Leiden. In the intervening years, Corrie leaves school to help run the Beje and care for her aging aunts. Tante Bep dies from tuberculosis after leading a bitter and unhappy life as a family governess. Shortly after, Tante Jans is diagnosed with diabetes, a fatal disease in those days. Before Jans dies, she tells her family that she is thankful to die empty-handed in spite of all her charitable work. After these losses, the family is happy to celebrate with the marriage of Tine and Willem. Meanwhile, Corrie and Karel rekindle their relationship, which grows especially when they are in Brabant to attend Willem’s first sermon. Corrie feels crushed, therefore, when Karel arrives at the Beje a few months later with his fiancé. He must marry for money and station rather than love. Through Corrie’s heartbreak, she decides to give her love for Karel to God instead.

In 1918, Mama suffers a severe stroke, which leaves her comatose for two months. Corrie takes over the household work, while helping her mother continue her ministry of comfort and encouragement. Soon after Nollie marries a young teacher named Flip van Woerden , Mama dies. Eventually, Betsie and Corrie discover that Betsie should be in charge of the house and Corrie should work in the watch shop. In 1924, Corrie becomes the first licensed female watchmaker in Holland. In the passing years, Willem and Tine have had four children and Nollie and Flip have had six. After Father contracts a dangerous case of hepatitis, the people of Haarlem pool their resources to buy him a radio for his seventieth birthday. The rumblings of war disrupt the peaceful life of the Beje residents. The family feels the threat of Nazism especially when they must fire a young German watchmaker, named Otto Altschuler, for mistreating Christoffels.

Shortly after firing Otto, the ten Booms face the beginning of war with the German invasion of Holland in May 1940. After an air raid that could have killed Corrie, she has an ominous vision of her family being taken away in a wagon. Betsie tells her that God shows people the future to show his control over it. Indeed, Corrie and the rest of Holland need that comfort during the German occupation. Nazi rule brings new laws, including curfews, identity papers, ration books, seizure of radios and discrimination and yellow stars for Jewish people. Corrie begins befriending Jewish people who are suffering, like Harry de Vries , and sees the danger they face daily. This realization leads Corrie to take part in the Underground more actively.

In May 1942, as the occupation grows harsher, Peter is arrested for playing the national anthem in church. Meanwhile, Corrie learns the methods of the Underground movement. The ten Booms begin housing Jews until they can find them safe homes in the country. Corrie solves the greatest problem for relocation, the lack of ration cards, by approaching Fred Koornstra , a Food Office worker. Corrie continues to develop a network of sources, learning tips from Pickwick and other Underground workers. In order to make the Beje safe during Gestapo raids, the anonymous Mr. Smit builds a secret room in Corrie’s bedroom.

As war rages, the ten Booms struggle to reconcile the precepts of Christianity with illegal Underground activities, including lying, stealing and sabotage. Lying is sometimes necessary for survival, however. After Peter’s release from prison, he faces seizure for munitions work in Germany. The ten Booms strive to protect their young men from this terrible fate by hiding them and deceiving the Gestapo. Other tragedies strike the Beje residents, including the death of Christoffels and Gestapo seizure of Harry de Vries. Corrie, Betsie and Father continue to refine the Beje system, which now includes six other permanent residents. The most memorable of the six is Meyer Mossel, called Eusie as a disguise. The others, like Eusie, are Jews who cannot be placed in other homes. The Beje group grows closer during these difficult times with cultured entertainment and reverent worship.

On February 28th, 1944, the Gestapo raids the Beje with the help of Dutchman Jan Vogels . Corrie, who is battling influenza, and thirty-four others are taken first to the prison in Haarlem and then to Gestapo headquarters in the Hague. Six people remain safely hidden in the hiding place, although the Gestapo threatens to starve them out. The Beje group is sent to Scheveningen Prison, although everyone but Corrie, Betsie and Father are later released. After ten days at Scheveningen, Father is taken to a hospital where he dies. Corrie knows none of this, however, because she is in solitary confinement. She struggles with prison boredom, but the four gospels, which a nurse in the doctor’s office had given her, help her survive. Gradually, Corrie regains her strength enough to sit through her hearings with Lieutenant Rahms . Corrie shares the gospel with Rahms and tells him that there is a way out of the darkness he is in. After four months in prison, Corrie sees her family at the reading of her father’s will. Although Willem is weak and jaundiced, he makes Corrie feel safe for a little while.

Soon after, the prisoners are transported to a concentration camp called Vught, where they spend two weeks in quarantine. Eventually, they reach the main camp, where Betsie and Corrie share the gospel with their fellow prisoners. Corrie works in Phillips Factory and exhibits her mechanical skills, while Betsie sews uniforms. The sisters have slightly better conditions at Vught, although the constant executions at the neighboring men's camp make life difficult.

As Germany begins to lose the war, they start transporting prisoners to extermination camps. Betsie and Corrie are taken to Ravensbruck, where they receive deplorable treatment. The sisters endure grueling physical labor, unhygienic conditions and cruelty. Corrie asks God to carry the burden of seeing such cruelty for her. Meanwhile, the sisters learn the pitfalls of holding a ministry in a prison camp. Corrie overcomes the temptation to be selfish, while Betsie grows kinder every day. When Betsie's strength fails, she goes to hospital where she dies. Corrie is heartbroken, although she realizes that Betsie is free from cruelty now. Corrie's own release comes shortly after because of a clerical error. On January 1st 1945, Corrie leaves Ravensbruck.

After recuperating at a hospital in Groningen, Corrie visits with an ailing Willem in Hilversum. Two weeks after, Corrie returns to Haarlem, Nollie and the Beje, despite the travel ban in Holland. Corrie feels that her life is empty in the Beje. After a failed attempt to return to Underground work, Corrie opens the Beje to mentally handicapped people. Soon after, Corrie meets a woman who donates her house, Bloemendaal, as a rehabilitation center for Holocaust victims. Corrie begins to realize her sister, Betsie's vision, when she opens the Beje to former NSB members who are homeless and unemployed. In the meantime, Corrie begins to share her message of joy and peace with a war torn world. The last piece of Betsie's vision manifests itself when Corrie organizes a center for displaced Germans in a former concentration camp. Corrie asks that the barracks be painted green in order to promote healing and forgiveness after the atrocities of the war.

The Hiding Place Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Hiding Place is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

compare corrie and besties reaction to the dream like vision corrie had as holland was being bombed?

Chapter please?

How is bestie tempted by evil and what is her response

Do you have a particular chapter in mind?

List at least three events

You can check out all the events of chapter 14 below:

https://www.gradesaver.com/the-hiding-place/study-guide/summary-chapter-14-the-blue-sweater

Study Guide for The Hiding Place

The Hiding Place study guide contains a biography of Corrie ten Boom, John Sherrill and Elizabeth Sherrill, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About The Hiding Place
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