Plot
When does Liesel steal her first book, The Grave Digger’s Handbook?
At the burial of her brother, who died on a train to Molching.
Who are Rosa and Hans Hubermann of Himmel Street?
Liesel’s foster parents.
Who narrates The Book Thief?
Death
The author creates Death as the narrator of this book through _____.
personification
Death knows what will happen to Liesel before she does. What kind of irony is this?
Dramatic irony — the reader and narrator know what’s coming, but the character doesn’t.
What is the biggest contribution of Hans Hubermann, Liesel’s foster father, to Liesel’s love of stories?
He teaches her to read.
Rudy Steiner is Liesel’s ______ who wanted to _____, but Liesel didn’t let it happen.
(both answers must be given for points)
Best friend; kiss.
What is main point of view used in the novel?
____ person ____.
(both answers must be given for points)
3rd ; omniscient (all-seeing).
“And the boy whose hair remained the color of lemons forever” is an example of which type of figurative language?
Imagery
Max is saved by hiding his Jewish identity behind Mein Kampf, Hitler’s famous book. What kind of irony is this?
Situational irony — Max is protected by the very object meant to promote the system that wants to destroy him.
Max and Liesel bond over _____ and _____.
(both answers must be given for points)
their love of story-telling; their nightmares/dreams
Max Vandenburg challenges Liesel and the Hubermanns because...
They risk their lives and reputations to protect him from the Nazis.
In some moments, Death uses 2nd person and talks directly to “you,” the reader. Why does the author include this technique?
To make the reader feel like part of the story and create a deeper emotional connection between the reader and Death as a character
Why did Zusak use the hyperbole, “It [the carrots] broke his teeth with every bite,” to describe Max’s train ride?
To exaggerate how starving Max was and show how painful eating had become.
Why is it ironic that Max calls Liesel the best “Standover Man” he’s ever met?
Because Max is a grown man, but he finds protection and comfort in a young girl, which is unexpected.
What was the unexpected consequence of Liesel staying up to read her memoir on the night of October 7th?
She was in the basement, so she survived the bombing of Himmel Street, while Rudy, Mama, and Papa died.
Where can we see Liesel’s character growth across the novel?
In her ability to read/write; she starts out unable to read and ends by writing her own story, The Book Thief.
What effect does Death’s unusual use of both 1st-person (“I”) and 3rd-person (he/she) have on the story?
It gives the reader insight into Death’s personal thoughts while still letting us see the bigger picture of Liesel’s world. It blends emotion and distance.
Why does Max represent himself and the other characters as birds in The Standover Man? What do the birds represent?
(must give both answers to recieve points)
1. Liesel once said his hair looked like feathers
2. The birds represent how he sees himself and the world: fragile yet with a desire to be free
Why is it ironic when Death says, “I am haunted by humans”?
It reverses what we expect — usually, humans fear Death, but here Death fears the emotional impact of humanity.
What is the significance of Death and Liesel sitting together at the end of the book?
As Liesel is about to pass on, Death lets her reread her story and reflect. Her short time on Himmel Street changed her forever, and the people she loved will stay with her soul.
What is the significance of Liesel’s story for Death as a character?
In all his years, she was one of the few humans who surprised him.
Why would the author choose to let Death, a non-human narrator, tell Liesel’s story instead of letting her tell it in 1st person?
Because Death gives an omniscent (all-seeing) perspective on life, loss, and humanity. If Liesel told it, the story would be limited; we wouldn’t see how her story fits into the larger world or how deeply it affected Death.
Death visits Liesel THREE (3) times.
What do the three colors Death sees represent?
White = ___
Black = ___
Red = ___
White = the snow and cold when Liesel’s brother died on the train.
Black = the pilot’s crash and the night sky.
Red = the bombing of Himmel Street and fire/blood.
These colors reflect Death’s emotional view of the world.
What do each of these symbols mean in The Word Shaker?
Trees = ___
Axe = ___
Soil = ___
What is the overall message of the allegory?
(Must give all four answers to receive points)
Trees = hate and propaganda
Axe = efforts to destroy love and truth
Soil = human minds and hearts
Message: Love and truth rooted in powerful words can overcome hatred and violence.