Recommending new books each month to spark lively conversation. Discussion questions for the book thief discuss the symbolism of death as the omniscient narrator of the novel. Death tries on multiple occasions to resist liesel, because he is so tired and busy during. As a character, liesel is precociously empathetic to the adults around her, though she tries to avoid. Liesel believes that hans hubermanns eyes show kindness. The book thief by markus zusak is one of these books. The boy takes a teddy bear out of his toolbox and puts it on the pilots chest, and a crowd appears. He states that the book thief died only yesterday, that she lived a long life in a place far away from munich and himmel street in a suburb of sydney. I have read a lot of books, but there are very few that come close in comparison to this one. His work is translated into more than forty languages, and has spent more than a decade on the new york times bestseller list, establishing zusak as one of the most successful authors to come out of australia. At this moment, max is unable to accept that his uncle cannot resist. As were both aware, shed stolen books previously, but in late october 1941, it became official. He is fascinated by humans and the colors of the world, but he struggles throughout the novel to decipher how humans are capable of so much ugliness and so much beauty. The book thief of the title is a schoolgirl named liesel meminger, and the meaning of her stealing is not left unexplained.
At first, liesel refuses the book offered by frau hermann because accepting felt wrong. It was the first time liesel had been branded with her title, and she couldnt hide the fact that she liked it very much. After the death of her brother, she is put into foster care by her mother. The book thief by markus zusak halifax public libraries. Liesel, the book thief, arrives next, and even though years had passed, death recognizes her. Death tries on multiple occasions to resist liesel, because he is so tired and busy during the war. Essay on resistance in the book thief by markus zusak bartleby. But dont go cowering under the covers on his account.
That hope is embodied in liesel, who grows into a good and generous person despite the suffering all around her, and finally becomes a human even death can love. The book thief by markus zusak the book thief by markus. Aug 01, 2009 describe death s attempt to resist liesel. This paper examines the personification of death in the book thief and. Death states, im always fi nding humans at their best and worst. In the book the book thief liesal looses her brother due to his death and then her mother when she is sent away.
I see their ugly and their beauty, and i wonder how the same thing can be both. She believes the towns wealthy should continue to employ workers during the war. She rescues books from nazi bookburnings and steals from the library of the mayor. The book thief i need help for summer reading yahoo. This is a story of courage, friendship, love, survival, death and grief. He takes an interest in liesel and her story, and he believes that liesel s story is one of a handful of beautiful stories he possesses. One of the most unique characteristics of the book thief is the fact that it is narrated by death. The structure of the novel shows the development of the character liesel, highlighting the impact of the power of language. This is a story of courage, friendship, love, survival, death, and grief.
The book thief is a best book club book for discussion, a story of courage, friendship, love, survival, and grief in 1930s germany, told from deaths point of view. Liesel s brother has died and the mother realizes that in her poverty she cannot care for her daughter. Death explains why liesel steals frau hermanns book. Markus zusak is the international bestselling author of six novels, including the book thief and most recently, bridge of clay.
Deaths statistical record of liesels bookstealing is significant specifically because it highlights liesels resistance to the nazi regime. That night, liesel meminger truly became the book thief. For another, death is in some ways pretty humanespecially considering how inhumane a lot of the homo sapiens running around in the book thief are. Death, a male voice who over the course of the book proves to be a morose yet caring character, the plot follows liesel meminger. His chief source for the story hes telling is the book thief, the book liesel writes about her life.
By using death as the narrator of the story, it creates a sense of gloominess and sadness, and also introduces the theme of death is everywhere, which is especially appropriate during the era of the holocaust and wwii. The hope we see in liesel is unassailable, the kind you can hang on to in the midst of poverty and war and. Explain how liesels own attempt to write a book saves her life. Jun 18, 2011 describe deaths attempt to resist liesel. But, she fascinates him because she keeps moving, and death is attracted to her strength. But, for liesels story to make sense to us, death needs to tell us about whats going on in other parts of germany, poland, and russia during world war ii, to provide us with details liesel would have no way of knowing at the time shes writing her book. I see their ugly adn their beauty, and i wonder how the same thing can be. Liesel has always lived in poverty and with the loss of her brother and now her mother, she stands to lose the only home shes known.
He sees her ability to keep moving in the face of adversity and is drawn to her strength. The book thief by markus zusak reading guidebook club. The book thief by markus zusak teachers guide books on tape. I, personally, was sold when i heard about the narrator. Death describes the world as a factory run by humans, and his job is to carry them away. Economizing at home makes poor workers like rosa even poorer.
Her mother disappears, and then liesel is left in foster care. Why is deaths statistical record of liesels bookstealing. Death character analysis in the book thief litcharts. Discuss the symbolism of death as the omniscient narrator of the novel. She has nightmares but her new foster papa sits with her and tries to comfort her. The book thief study guide summer 2015 flashcards quizlet. The book thief tells the story of a young girl, liesel, growing up in germany during wwii. Liesel meminger is only nine years old when she is taken to live with a foster family, the hubermanns, on himmel street in molching, germany, in the late 1930s. With one eye open, one still in a dream, the book thiefalso known as liesel memingercould see without question that her.
Lastly, hans hubermann subtly resists the new regime. Liesel is beautiful in the sense that she values words so much, but she can get carried away. He takes an interest in liesel and her story, and he believes that liesels story is one of a handful of beautiful stories he possesses. I see their ugly and their beauty, and i wonder how the. It says here, describe deaths attempt to resist liesel. Liesel is illiterate when she steals her first book, but hans hubermann uses her prized books to teach her to read. Licensed to youtube by wmg on behalf of east west records uk ltd. The book thief by markus zusak discussion questions. For one thing, death aint the bad guy that would be hitler. Explain rudys reaction when he discovers that liesel is a book thief. Liesel is beautiful in the sense that she values words so much, but she can get carried away and steal, which, in my opinion is ugly. Book thief discussion questions wednesday book club. Describe hans hubermanns reaction when he discovers the book. Liesel is illiterate when she steals her fi rst book, but hans hubermann uses her prized books to teach her to read.
The book thief prologue summary and analysis gradesaver. He struggles to resist liesel because she fascinates him. Death calls this a final dirty joke, another human punch line. She arrives with few possessions, but among them is the grave diggers handbook, a book that she stole from her brothers burial place. What does the act of book thievery teach liesel about life and death. Rudy, no matter how hard she tried to resist the idea, was secondary to her plan.
Death the narrator explains why liesel s mother takes her to a foster home. This is a beautifully written novel about the life of a young girl, the life of people, during war. Chapters 1011 posted on march 22, 2011 by mark oshiro in the tenth and eleventh chapters of the book thief, liesels accidental bedwetting inspires hans not only to spend more time with his foster daughter, but to begin to teach her to read. The book thief written by markus zusak shows how the impact on the power of language has on liesel meimeger through the structure of the novel. Warner chappell, ascap, latinautor warner chappell. The book thief by markus zusak book club discussion. Jul 07, 2014 death is extremely fatigued, hes been busy. Death states, im always finding humans at their best and worst. Unlikely as it may seem, she goes on to form a close relationship with her foster father as. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in the book thief, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. I see their ugly adn their beauty, and i wonder how the same thing can be both page 491. How does stealing books from the mayors house lead to a friendship with the mayors wife. Odd narrator of a girls story nprs john ydstie interviews markus zusak, author of the book thief, a novel set in world war ii germany with death himself as.
Her soul, like her papas, sat up when death came for her, and as she went she thought. After frau hermann fires rosa, liesels opinion changes. This is the story of a girl, liesel, set in nazi germany. Discussion questions book club recommendationsdiscussion. Hans hubermanns reaction when he discovers the book. After her brothers burial, liesel attempts to dig him up, thinking he couldnt be. Apr 04, 2012 the book thief about a discussion question. How does liesel develop or grow as a result of the. Death the narrator explains why liesels mother takes her to a foster home.
Death says hes growing tired as he tells the story, so he thinks it wise to finish. A summary of prologue and part one in markus zusaks the book thief. The book thief has struck for the first time the beginning of an illustrious career. Power of language in the book thief 2035 words 9 pages.