The Book Thief- Study Guide Questions

"The Heavyweight Champion of the School Yard" According Death, what two important events occur in September- November 1939? What do you think is the significance of the fact that Death lists these two events under some heading?

1. WWII begins 2. Liesel becomes the heavyweight of the school-yard. It is important that these too events are listed because it's important to the plot of the chapter and story.

Describe the golddigger's handbook

12 chapters, black, silver lettering, 12 step guide,

What's the address of their house?

33 Himmel St, Molching

"The Other Side of Sandpaper" What important number does Death provide in regard to the Germans support of Hitler? How does it relate to Hans?

90% of Germans supported Hitler. 10% of people didn't and Hans was in that 10%.

List the specific critical components of the story according to the narrator

A girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist fighter and quite a lot of thievery.

Amper River

Amper river flanks the city of Molching. Connects the river to the death camp Dachau. Like the river Styx.

"The Smell of Friendship" Where does Papa take Liesel for reading lessons? How does he get Mama to agree?

Amper-upstream. He tells Mama Liesel and him will take her ironing.

Describe Rosa Hubermann.

Angry, wicked, short, did washing for other families. Constantly calls people saukerl, saumensch. 5'1. Bashing Liesel with wooden spoons and words. Loves Liesel. Bun of hair. Compliment each other (on 33 Himmel St)

Liesel Meminger is a part of what?

BDM - band of german girls, bund Deutscher Madel

After Liesel's 10th birthday, what was she enrolled in?

BDM- Band of German Girls.

What is Rudy's father trying to make Rudy understand when he tells Rudy that he should be happy he was born with blonde and blue eyes.

Because it the "dominant" race and it ensure him of being "safe."

What elements blend together to create the "Smell of Friendship" for Liesel? Why do you think Liesel finds that smell so appealing yet Rosa so offensive?

Cigarettes and kerosene. Liesel finds these smells appealing because it reminds her of Papa and she has a better relationship with him and she even considers him to be a friend. Meanwhile Rosa is just mean to her and she doesn't really have a good relationship with her.

How does Death's admired preoccupation with colors show its self in this chapter?

Colors are used to describe the events of that day.

What impression does death give himself? Do you feel you can trust Death as the narrator?

Death gives the impression he is hopeless. I feel yes that I can trust Death as the narrator as he puts everything out there truthfully.

What theory does the narrator suggest about colors? Purpose? Why does the narrator need distractions?

Death suggests that people only notice colors at the beginning and the end of the day. He notices colors at every time of the day because that's how many distractions he needs from the deceased's family. The survivors who have punctured, broken hearts and beaten lungs. Could also talk about childhood and old age, no time in between. Thousands of them in an hour.

Describe Rudy Steiner

Eclectic, 8 months older than Liesel (so over 10) bony legs, sharp teeth, gangly blue eyes, one of six children, light hair, nobody talked about the Jesse Owens incident

Briefly identify Frau Holtzapfel. What is the Frau Holtzapel known for at Hubermanns' home? Why and how does this effect Liesel.

Frau Holtzapfel was one of the Hubermann neighbors who had beef with Rosa Hubermann. And she would spit on their door and Liesel would have to clean it off. It effects Liesel because she has to clean it off but each time she'd clean it she got to look at the stars.

Identify and describe Liesel's foster parents.

Hans Hubermann- calm parent who is very influential on Liesel and he laters builds a close bond with her. Rosa Hubermann- rowdy parent who curses a lot and gets into altercations with everyone.

Which parent does Liesel seem to bond with more easily?

Hans Hubermann.

Identify the Hubermann's children.

Hans Jr. And Trudy.

Liesel notices a change in Hans when they are at the river, but doesn't realize what it means. Why do you believe Hans is going to the river?

Hans could've went to the river to reminisce on the past and what used to be.

Part One: The Grave Digger's Handbook Death opens part 1 with a flashback, what is it?

He has a flashback on the three times he has seen the book thief.

What single fact does Liesel know about her father?

He is a communist.

Describe Hans Hubermann

He liked to smoke but he liked the rolling part of it the most, he had a specific air to him, married to Rosa, house painter, plays the accordion at the Amper River. He plays there to add music to the lives of the people in Dachau.

What fact does Death clarify for the reader at the end of the chapter?

He saw the book thief for the first time. "Tears frozen to bookthief's face."

What did Papa do after that?

He started giving her lessons.

To what does Himmel Street translate?

Heaven.

What do you have to say when you go into the Aryan shopkeeper?

Heil Hitler

What happens when Liesel wakes from her dream about the Fuher?

Her brother had died.

What piece of news arrives at the Hubermann household? How does Papa react?

Hitler takes Poland. He expressed his "accordion face"

Who might you infer is the book thief? Has he or she already been named? Explain

I infer that the book thief is a girl due to the part of a story being a girl. They have not been named.

The chapter Liesel memorized

In event of Snow

Why is Gravedigger's Handbooks so important to her?

It is the last tie she has with her brother and mother.

What purpose does this section of the novel serve?

It serves the purpose of showing how Death first becomes interested in Liesel. Also it marked the first time Liesel lost someone.

Why is the sandpaper useful?

It was used to teach Liesel how to write.

What kind of atmosphere does Death describe on Himmel Street? How does Liesel respond to her new home?

It wasn't a living hell but it wasn't heaven either. The buildings were "glued" together and murky snow spread around like carpet. There was concrete, empty hat- stand trees, and gray air. When Liesel arrives to her new home she refuses to go inside and tears form in her eyes.

"The Jesse Owens Incident" Who is Jesse Owens? Was Liesel present for the Jesse Owens accident? Explain.

Jesse Owens was the finest athlete who was African American. He won the 1936 Olympics. No Liesel wasn't present for the "Jesse Owens Incident" because Rudy imagined it and it took place in his head.

Who are Liesel and Werner Memeinger? Describe the setting. How old is Liesel?

Liesel and Werner are sister and brother who are on their way to their foster parent's home. But Werner does. It is cold, snowy, white. 9.

Why are the Memingers on the train? Liesel's ultimate destination is ___________.

Liesel and her now deceased brother were on their way to Munich. Her destination is in Molching on Himmel Street.

What two important events happened in September 1939?

Liesel becomes the heavyweight champion of the schoolyard and WW2 begins.

Who is Sister Maria?

Liesel's teacher who punishes her

What literary devise does Zusak use to close the chapter. What might the reader infer from the final sentence in the chapter?

Metaphor. One could infer that she would steal many more books in the future.

How does Death's explanation on Mr. Steiner's politics explain his anger with his son's emulation of Jesse Owens.

Mr. Steiner was apart of the Nazi Party and he didn't want his family to be targeted.

"The Woman With the Iron Fist" What makes Liesel adjustment to life with the Hubermann's particularly difficult? How does papa help her?

She has nightmares about her late brother. Papa comes in to soother her every night and stays with her. He's always there.

What makes school particularly difficult for Liesel.

She isn't good at reading nor writing.

What fat does Liesel refuse to do at the beginning of her stay at the Hubermanns? How does she overcome her unwillingness?

She refused to take a bath. Hans makes Rosa leave her alone and he asks her does she want to roll a cigarette. He is soft and gentle with her and helps welcome her to the Hubermann household.

How does Liesel react to her new parents?

She refuses to get out of the car. Hans forces her out.

What was the incident that made Liesel the heavyweight champion of the school yard?

She took a reading test and failed. She then kicked Ludwig Schmeikl.

What event in the event in the classroom sets Liesel up for antagonism in the school yard? Why does she attack Ludwig and Tommy?

She was being bullied by the other children because she couldn't read well. Ludwig and Tommy were the ones who continued to bully her and called her name.

What literary device does Zusak use in the final line of this chapter to describe Liesel's future in school?

Simile.

The significance of the Gravedigger's Handbook

Symbolizes brother's death and last time she saw her mother

In addition to describing the pilot's death what does Death describe for the reader?

Teddy bear, boy, eclipse and toolbox,

What is the significance of the event death foreshadows at the end of the chapter?

That a Jew would have his shoe shop burned to the ground.

What observation does Death make for the reader?

That one person was telling the other person what to do. But what if there were a lot of others?

What falls from the grave digger apprentice's pocket without his knowledge? What does Liesel do with the object?

The Gravedigger's Handbook. She keeps it because it is the last tie to her brother.

Where do Papa and Liesel work on reading most often at home? Why?

The basement because of Mama.

What event led to Liesel's bed wetting? How it is a defining moment of her life?

The death of her brother. She woke up on the train to see her brother dead. And to help soothe her Hans started teaching her to read and write.

Who does Rosa hate the most?

The mayor and his wife

From what point of view is the novel told? Who is the narrator of the story? How do you know?

The point of view of the novel is first-person omniscient. The narrator of this story is "Death." I know this because he says "Your soul will be on my shoulder. I will carry you gently away." Talks about carrying the souls away

Why are Liesel's classmates quiet when Sister Maria beats her for fighting?

They didn't want to be the next victim and they were scared.

Whose death does Death describe first in the novel?

Werner, 6, blue eyes, died of pneumonia

How did Papa find the gold digger's handbook?

When Liesel wet the bed Papa came to her room and stripped the sheets. The book fell out.

What does an eclipse frequently symbolize for death?

another soul gone

How is apple spelled in German?

apfel

What does Death explain to the reader regarding Rosa's actions toward Liesel?

She DID love Liesel Meminger.

What change does Liesel experience in school?

She got into her first fight.

"Growing up a Saumemsch" How many books made up the stories of Liesel's life? What similarity do you notice between Death's explanation of Liesel's book collection and the organization of the novel?

She had 14, however, she only considered 10 of them them to make up life. It's in chronological order.

Describe Jesse Owens incident

Rudy heard the news that Jesse Owens won the olympics. In the night he took charcoal and painted himself black. On his brother's bike. To the Cooper's oval and ran 100 meters.

Alex Steiner

Rudy's father. He is a bystander. He cares only for his family and himself. He is a part of the Nazi family. He was slightly relieved when Jewish shop owners got out of business. His family is well fed.

Three colors of the flag

red, white, and black

who is Helena Schmidt?

rich widow who never did anything in her life