HIST 322
PUACA
Spring 2008
Discussion Guide for Heinrich Böll’s Billiards at Half-Past Nine
Please review these questions and keep them in mind as you read Billiards at Half-Past Nine.
Böll’s book is a Nobel Prize winning work that investigates the legacies of the Third Reich in the
Federal Republic. Through examining the experiences of the Faehmel family, Böll highlights the
suffering and injustices caused by the regime, the lingering impact of the war on German society,
and the continuities that extend across the “divide” of 1945. Pay special attention to the many
symbols that Böll uses in his work and what they might mean. Please be prepared to discuss
these questions during our class meeting on Wednesday, February 6.
1. Who is Robert Faehmel? What experiences has he had? How was his life changed during the
Nazi regime? What is it about billiards that is relevant to his character?
2. Who is Heinrich Faehmel? What experiences has he had? How does his life intersect with
those of his son and grandson?
3. Who is Schrella? What are his beliefs? How is he treated? What does he represent?
4. Who is Nettlinger? What role does he play in the life of Robert and Schrella? What does he
represent?
5. What has happened to Johanna Faehmel? What is she plotting? What does she represent?
6. How does Joseph Faehmel relate to his father and grandfather? What significance is there in
his work and his decisions?
7. What experiences did the young Marianne (Joseph Faehmel’s girlfriend) have during the war?
What does her tale illustrate?
8. What types of symbols and allusions does Böll use in the story? What meanings do they hold?
9. What three periods of German history does the work address? How are they different from one
another? Why are these periods so important to the story? How are they remembered?
10. Who is Otto “Field of Fire” Kösters (p. 235)? What does he represent? Why might Böll have
felt compelled to include him in the story?
11. What significance lies in the attendance of the Fighting Veterans’ parade by the politicians
(p. 252-253)? What argument is Böll making?
12. What thoughts does Robert have about the politics of the new West German state? Is his
critique (p. 273) fair?
13. What is/are the overarching theme(s) of Böll’s work? How does the “Zero Hour” concept fit
into the plot? What response did you have to the story as a reader? What might have been the
response of many Germans reading this at the time?
