Final answer:
The hierarchy in Primo Levi's description of the camp culminates with the SS guards and includes kapos and regular prisoners. The term 'Pikolo' refers to a messenger or assistant from among the prisoners. Levi found Jean's human qualities amidst the camp's degradation exceptional, notable for his kindness and love of literature.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asking about the hierarchy in a concentration camp described by Primo Levi in his book. The term Pikolo is mentioned, which in the context of Levi's writing, refers to a camp inmate who acts as a messenger or an assistant to higher-ranked prisoners or guards. The hierarchy in the camp was extremely strict, with SS guards at the top followed by the kapos, who were prisoners themselves but given authority over other inmates, and then the regular prisoners.
Levi considered Jean to be an exceptional Pikolo because he showed human kindness, intelligence, and the ability to find joy in small things despite the horrendous conditions in the camp. Jean's behavior was a contrast to the dehumanizing environment of the camp, and his relationship with Levi was marked by a shared love for literature and language, which provided a mental escape from their grim reality