The Flying Classroom
Encyclopedia
The Flying Classroom is a 1933 novel for children written by the German writer Erich Kästner
.
In the book Kästner took up the predominantly British
genre of the school story
, taking place in a boarding school
, and transferred it to an unmistakable German background.
for the students of Johann-Sigismund Gymnasium
, through the eyes of Johnathon - an orphan who was adopted by a captain. The main characters, Johnathon and the four other boys from his dormitory - students from the Tertia (Year 8) - spend their free-time in an old railway carriage which is their secret meeting place. One evening when they are there they meet a man called Robert (referred to by the boys as Nichtrauber - or Nonsmoker - after the carriage they play in. He attests himself to be the owner of the land and makes friends with the boys. There is a bitter struggle between the students at St Thomas and the 'Externen' (outsiders) after the outsiders steal the music of the sopranos and kidnap Sebastian, son of the Direction Kreuzkamm. This results in a brawl between two champions of each side - Matz and a hard-fought snow-ball fight, both of which the six friends win, although they end up late for oratory demonstration. As a punishment they have to write and perform a Christmas play. When playing in the railway carriage, they discover a Christmas play called 'The Flying Classroom' which they decide to perform as a rap - writing out music, inventing stage effects and finding costumes. They invite Mona to join their troupe as a dancer, after seeing her street-dance one evening, which corresponds to a revolution, because girls are not actually allowed to participate. Dr. Johann 'Justus' Bökh hears the rehearsal and watches in amazement, which very quickly turns into anger when he recognises the play. He forbids the boys to continue rehearsing it, provoking Johnathon to angrily shout down the corridor at him and kick one of the pieces of scenery, causing a fire which forces the school to evacuate. In a meeting with the boys afterwards, Justus is forced to admit why he banned the play - it was because he had written it with his friend Bob who had subsequently escaped the Berlin Wall
and fled to the West. The Stasi
suspected Justus of aiding him and he had to quit school and become an apprentice. After the meeting the boys realise that Bob and Robert (the Nichtrauber) were the same person, and reunite the two friends.
Meanwhile, Uli, the smallest boy who is often called a coward, decides at this time to attempt something which will remove his reputation as a coward. His best friend, Matz, has in the past encouraged him, until he sees Uli about to run off the school roof suspended with two helium balloons. Uli crashes and falls unconscious, his four friends believing he's dead. Justus allays their fears that he is dead, but that he has a broken leg. The four boys gain the help of Mona, Theo and some other boys in their year and perform 'Das Fliegende Klassenzimmer' (The Flying Classroom) in a different style during the final school concert.
The depiction of the "war" between the students at St Thomas and the outsiders, taken very seriously by both sides, seems to be Kästner's wry way of commenting on grown-up wars and patriotism.
Martin Thaler - a poor but bright student. His parents cannot afford to have him travel home this Christmas and it troubles him very much. Martin has a very strong sense of justice and will come out fighting with his friends although it means risking his scholarship.
Matthias Selbmann, or Matz - not very clever, but strong. He wants to be a professional boxer. The other children rely on him to smash their opponents. Matz is somewhat overprotective towards his best friend, Uli.
Uli von Simmern - the blonde, small, underrated rich boy, best friend of Matz. He always tries to do his best during fighting - but usually ends up hiding in fear. Uli decides to perform an act of bravado to make the others stop poking fun at him.
Sebastian Frank, or Sepp - the cynical of the five. He spends time reading 'smart books', such as ones dealing with genetics or philosophy. Although he hangs out a lot with Jonathan and the other guys, he actually has no real friends and is a lonely figure, putting up a cold mask to cover his own weaknesses.
Theodor Laban - called Der Schöne Theo (The beautiful Theo). He is Martin's prefect, busy trying to make himself look good in the eyes of the teachers.
Dr Johann Bökh, nicknamed Justus - the children's favourite teacher. He was a student of the Johann-Sigismund School and knows well how hard life in the school can be. That's why he returned to the school - to ensure that children don't have to suffer, like he did.
Dr. Robert Uthofft, nicknamed Nichtraucher - an old friend of Justus. He was a medical doctor. When he lost his wife and child, he disappeared, and later took residence in a trailer situated next to his old school. His nickname does not relate to his not smoking (he does, very much so) but to his living in an old railway carriage, which still bears a sign that reads "non-smoking".
. In 1973 it was made as Das fliegende Klassenzimmer
directed by Werner Jacobs
. The newest one (2003) was directed by Tomy Wigand. The story and characters are altered to suit the present time. In Wigand's film, Sebastian Frank is fused with Rudi Kreuzkamm to produce 'Sebastian Kreuzkamm', a red-haired nerd, and the plot is liberally reinterpreted to include subjects as girls or divorce
.
which made many German voters turn to Hitler is very evident in the book's background.
Shortly after publishing Das fliegende Klassenzimmer he had to witness how the NSDAP turned to power and how his books were burned as well as those from other dissidents.
A short sequel, in which the characters visit the Winter Olympics
of 1936 (held at Garmisch-Partenkirchen
in Bavaria
) was already written under the Nazi regime and was published only many years later, having less success than the original: Zwei Schüler sind verschwunden in Das Schwein beim Friseur (The Pig at the Barbershop). In it, Kästner let his characters have a friendly encounter with visiting English
boys, culminating in winning their British Gold Medal
, at a time when their soon meeting each other as enemy soldiers on the battlefield was already a very real possibility.
Erich Kästner
Emil Erich Kästner was a German author, poet, screenwriter and satirist, known for his humorous, socially astute poetry and children's literature.-Dresden 1899–1919:...
.
In the book Kästner took up the predominantly British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
genre of the school story
School story
The school story is a fiction genre centering on older pre-adolescent and adolescent school life, at its most popular in the first half of the twentieth century. While examples do exist in other countries, it is most commonly set in English boarding schools and mostly written in girls and boys sub...
, taking place in a boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
, and transferred it to an unmistakable German background.
Plot summary
The story covers the last few days of term before ChristmasChristmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
for the students of Johann-Sigismund Gymnasium
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
, through the eyes of Johnathon - an orphan who was adopted by a captain. The main characters, Johnathon and the four other boys from his dormitory - students from the Tertia (Year 8) - spend their free-time in an old railway carriage which is their secret meeting place. One evening when they are there they meet a man called Robert (referred to by the boys as Nichtrauber - or Nonsmoker - after the carriage they play in. He attests himself to be the owner of the land and makes friends with the boys. There is a bitter struggle between the students at St Thomas and the 'Externen' (outsiders) after the outsiders steal the music of the sopranos and kidnap Sebastian, son of the Direction Kreuzkamm. This results in a brawl between two champions of each side - Matz and a hard-fought snow-ball fight, both of which the six friends win, although they end up late for oratory demonstration. As a punishment they have to write and perform a Christmas play. When playing in the railway carriage, they discover a Christmas play called 'The Flying Classroom' which they decide to perform as a rap - writing out music, inventing stage effects and finding costumes. They invite Mona to join their troupe as a dancer, after seeing her street-dance one evening, which corresponds to a revolution, because girls are not actually allowed to participate. Dr. Johann 'Justus' Bökh hears the rehearsal and watches in amazement, which very quickly turns into anger when he recognises the play. He forbids the boys to continue rehearsing it, provoking Johnathon to angrily shout down the corridor at him and kick one of the pieces of scenery, causing a fire which forces the school to evacuate. In a meeting with the boys afterwards, Justus is forced to admit why he banned the play - it was because he had written it with his friend Bob who had subsequently escaped the Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic starting on 13 August 1961, that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin...
and fled to the West. The Stasi
Stasi
The Ministry for State Security The Ministry for State Security The Ministry for State Security (German: Ministerium für Staatssicherheit (MfS), commonly known as the Stasi (abbreviation , literally State Security), was the official state security service of East Germany. The MfS was headquartered...
suspected Justus of aiding him and he had to quit school and become an apprentice. After the meeting the boys realise that Bob and Robert (the Nichtrauber) were the same person, and reunite the two friends.
Meanwhile, Uli, the smallest boy who is often called a coward, decides at this time to attempt something which will remove his reputation as a coward. His best friend, Matz, has in the past encouraged him, until he sees Uli about to run off the school roof suspended with two helium balloons. Uli crashes and falls unconscious, his four friends believing he's dead. Justus allays their fears that he is dead, but that he has a broken leg. The four boys gain the help of Mona, Theo and some other boys in their year and perform 'Das Fliegende Klassenzimmer' (The Flying Classroom) in a different style during the final school concert.
The depiction of the "war" between the students at St Thomas and the outsiders, taken very seriously by both sides, seems to be Kästner's wry way of commenting on grown-up wars and patriotism.
Characters
Jonathan Trotz, or Johnny - a half-American boy cast away by his parents. He loves poetry and writing, and dreams of being a great writer one day. He wants to marry a kind-hearted woman and have children - children that he won't cast away.Martin Thaler - a poor but bright student. His parents cannot afford to have him travel home this Christmas and it troubles him very much. Martin has a very strong sense of justice and will come out fighting with his friends although it means risking his scholarship.
Matthias Selbmann, or Matz - not very clever, but strong. He wants to be a professional boxer. The other children rely on him to smash their opponents. Matz is somewhat overprotective towards his best friend, Uli.
Uli von Simmern - the blonde, small, underrated rich boy, best friend of Matz. He always tries to do his best during fighting - but usually ends up hiding in fear. Uli decides to perform an act of bravado to make the others stop poking fun at him.
Sebastian Frank, or Sepp - the cynical of the five. He spends time reading 'smart books', such as ones dealing with genetics or philosophy. Although he hangs out a lot with Jonathan and the other guys, he actually has no real friends and is a lonely figure, putting up a cold mask to cover his own weaknesses.
Theodor Laban - called Der Schöne Theo (The beautiful Theo). He is Martin's prefect, busy trying to make himself look good in the eyes of the teachers.
Dr Johann Bökh, nicknamed Justus - the children's favourite teacher. He was a student of the Johann-Sigismund School and knows well how hard life in the school can be. That's why he returned to the school - to ensure that children don't have to suffer, like he did.
Dr. Robert Uthofft, nicknamed Nichtraucher - an old friend of Justus. He was a medical doctor. When he lost his wife and child, he disappeared, and later took residence in a trailer situated next to his old school. His nickname does not relate to his not smoking (he does, very much so) but to his living in an old railway carriage, which still bears a sign that reads "non-smoking".
Film, TV or theatrical adaptations
The novel has been filmed several times, the earliest one (1954) directed by Kurt HoffmannKurt Hoffmann
Kurt Hoffmann was a German film director. He directed 48 films between 1938 and 1971. His film The Marriage of Mr. Mississippi was entered into the 11th Berlin International Film Festival.-Selected filmography:...
. In 1973 it was made as Das fliegende Klassenzimmer
Das fliegende Klassenzimmer
Das fliegende Klassenzimmer is a 1973 German comedy film directed by Werner Jacobs and starring Joachim Fuchsberger, Heinz Reincke and Diana Körner. Two classes in a school have a running feud. It is based on The Flying Classroom, a novel by Erich Kästner.-Cast:* Joachim Fuchsberger ... Dr....
directed by Werner Jacobs
Werner Jacobs
-Selected filmography:* Gitarren der Liebe * André and Ursula * San Salvatore * Santa Lucia * The Count of Luxemburg * Münchhausen in Afrika * Here I Am, Here I Stay...
. The newest one (2003) was directed by Tomy Wigand. The story and characters are altered to suit the present time. In Wigand's film, Sebastian Frank is fused with Rudi Kreuzkamm to produce 'Sebastian Kreuzkamm', a red-haired nerd, and the plot is liberally reinterpreted to include subjects as girls or divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
.
2003 film cast
The principal cast are:- Hauke Diekamp as Jonathan Trotz
- Frederick LauFrederick LauFrederick Lau is a German actor. He grew up and still lives in Berlin-Steglitz. He was awarded with the Deutscher Filmpreis for portraying the student Tim on the film Die Welle based on the novel by Dennis Gansel...
as Matthias Selbmann - Francois Goeske as Sebastian Kreuzkamm
- Hans-Broich Wuttke as Uli von Simmern
- Philipp Peters-Arnolds as Martin Thaler, a boy facing the dilemma of soon-to-divorce parents
- Nicky Kantor as Der Schöne Theo
- Sebastian KochSebastian Koch-Life and career:Koch was born in Karlsruhe and grew up in Stuttgart. His mother raised him alone, and he spent some time in the children's home where she worked...
as Nichtraucher - Piet KlockePiet KlockePiet Klocke is a German musician, cabaret artist, author and actor.Klocke studied Philosophy and German language, but quit his studies to dedicate himself to free music theater...
as Professor Kreuzkamm, the principal, Sebastian's father - Ulrich NoethenUlrich NoethenUlrich Noethen is a German actor who has appeared in many movies and TV films.He starred in Comedian Harmonists. He also played Heinrich Himmler twice, in Der Untergang and Mein Führer – Die wirklich wahrste Wahrheit über Adolf Hitler.Noethen has won various awards for his acting, including the...
as Justus
Background, the sequel and trivia
This was the last Kästner book published before the rise of the Nazis to power. Though Nazis are not explicitly mentioned anywhere in the book, the situation of economic crisis and mass unemploymentGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
which made many German voters turn to Hitler is very evident in the book's background.
Shortly after publishing Das fliegende Klassenzimmer he had to witness how the NSDAP turned to power and how his books were burned as well as those from other dissidents.
A short sequel, in which the characters visit the Winter Olympics
Winter Olympic Games
The Winter Olympic Games is a sporting event, which occurs every four years. The first celebration of the Winter Olympics was held in Chamonix, France, in 1924. The original sports were alpine and cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, Nordic combined, ski jumping and speed skating...
of 1936 (held at Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a mountain resort town in Bavaria, southern Germany. It is the administrative centre of the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in the Oberbayern region, and the district is on the border with Austria...
in Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
) was already written under the Nazi regime and was published only many years later, having less success than the original: Zwei Schüler sind verschwunden in Das Schwein beim Friseur (The Pig at the Barbershop). In it, Kästner let his characters have a friendly encounter with visiting English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
boys, culminating in winning their British Gold Medal
Ice hockey at the 1936 Winter Olympics
At the 1936 Winter Olympics, Great Britain won the men's ice hockey competition. While only one player on the team was born in Canada, nine of the thirteen players on the roster grew up in Canada, and eleven had played previously in Canada.-Medalists:...
, at a time when their soon meeting each other as enemy soldiers on the battlefield was already a very real possibility.