The

Book Thief Study and Activities Guide

Communication Arts I Pre-AP

STUDY!GUIDE!OBJECTIVES
Rationale:
The reality of todays educational world is that students need to be prepared to! be
successful on state standardized tests. Traditional test preparation has been to use
previous tests as practice exercises. For those who relish in the teaching of! writing and
literature, time for standardized test preparation might!be! better! spent! with!
exercises! linked! to! the! literature units. In this way, the literary! work is analyzed in
depth, critical thinking skills are enhanced and the students are linking the literature units
with!the!types!of!tasks!they will!be!required!to perform on!state!tests.!!

Objectives:
o After!working!through!this!study!guide students!will!be!able!to:
Demonstrate!critical!thinking!skills!through!interpreting!a!literary!work!beyond
general!plot!line.
o Show an understanding of the writers craft!through the analysis of literary
devices.
o Increase vocabulary skills to enhance performance on the Scholastic Aptitude Test
(SAT)
o Demonstrate thorough knowledge of the literary work through a unit test
comprised of:
Utilizing vocabulary!words!in!sentences
Matching vocabulary!words!to!their!definitions
Matching character!names!to!brief!character!statements/sketches
Multiple choice!questions
A thoughtful!essay
Recognize!cross!curriculum!connections!through!the!writing!assignment
Demonstrate! proficiency! in! preparing! writing! assignments! based! on!
state standardized!tests!such!as:
Analyzing content
Analyzing character
Creative writing: poetry
Creative writing: foreshadowing

ABOUT!THE!AUTHOR

Full!Name:

Date!and!Place!of!Birth:

Date!and!Place!of!Death:

Educational!Background:





Family!Life:







Describe a significant historical event or personal experince that occurred during the
authors life!that!may!have!had!an!influence!upon!his!writing.








Interesting!Facts!and!Other!Works:

The! Book! Thief ! Vocabulary!Worksheet

The!Prologue: A!Mountain!Range!of!Rubble!
abhorrence"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
affable!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
alluding!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
amiable!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
compelled!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
genially!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hindered! !!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
increments!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
intonations!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
malicious!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
merges!"!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
poles!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

protestations!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

resonate!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
septic!"!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
severity!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
shrouded!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!! !
suffices!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
traipsing!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
trepidation!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
versatility!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The! Book! Thief! Vocabulary!Worksheet!

Part!One: The!Grave!Diggers!Handbook

atrocious!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
audacious!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
auspicious!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
castigate!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
catalyst!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

culminating!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!
cynicism!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
derision!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
dispositions!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
echelons!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!

futile!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
gingerly!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hiatus!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
illustrious!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
implicit!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
incense!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

infamous!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
innocuously!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
luminary!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
maniacally!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
mediocre!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
misogynistic!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
nefarious!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
obliterated!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
perverse!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
prolific!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!
raucous!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
seethe!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
touted!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
utterances!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The! Book! Thief! Vocabulary!Worksheet!

Part!Two: The Shoulder Shrug!
admonish!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

animosity!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!! !!!!!

bigots!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!
calamity!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
caricatures!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
consummate!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
creed!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!
crux!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
culpability!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

decrepit!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
deterrent!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
fervent!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
flippant!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

foreboding!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
forlorn!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
fruition!"!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ire!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jocular!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
kinetic!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
machinations!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
partisans!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
precarious!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!

proverbial!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
succumbing!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
venue!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The! Book! Thief! Vocabulary!Worksheet!

Part!Three: Mein Kampf
bungling!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

conglomerate!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
congregations!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
contempt!"!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
despondently!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
diabolical!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

euphoria!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
immersed!" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

incongruous!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
innate!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
irrefutable!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
lolled!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
obligatory!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
pensive!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
proffer!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
protagonist!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
repertoire!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
sedated!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

surreal!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
transcends!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The! Book! Thief! Vocabulary!Worksheet!

Part!Four: The Standover Man
archetypal!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
beleaguered!"!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

bemused!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
capitulate!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
caustic!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
dubious!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
emaciated!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
emigrating!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !
!!!
emulate!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
girth!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

grotesquerie!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
immutable!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
inaugural!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
iridescent!"!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ludicrous!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
morose!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
mortifying!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ostracism!"!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
notorious!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
placidity!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
prudently!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
quelled!"!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

sadistic!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
sporadically!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
tirade!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!
trounced!"!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Book Thief Vocabulary Worksheet!

Part Five: The Whistler
accosted!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!
concerted!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
debilitate!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
decimated!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
desecrated!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
deviants!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

diminutive!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
dissipated!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
dour!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

entourage!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!! !
epitome!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
frugal!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
gratuitous!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
!!
helm!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
irate!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
litany!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
microcosm!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!
nostalgia!"!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
plethora!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
pallid!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
repugnant!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
sarcasm!"!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

transfixed!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
unconscionable!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!

The! Book! Thief! Vocabulary!Worksheet!

Part!Six: The Dream Carrier
antithesis!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

copiously!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
incessantly!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
incredulous!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

irreparable!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
paradox!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!

repercussions!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
resurgence!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
serpentined!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!
Part Seven: The Complete Duden Dictionary and Thesaurus
apparitions!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
bulbous!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
clamored!" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

confiscated!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
demise!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
feigning!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hapless!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
intuition!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
opus!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
stoic!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
temerity!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
vindication!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Book Thief! Vocabulary!Worksheet

Part Eight: The Word Shaker
abject!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
agitators!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
cultivated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
dais!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
horrendous!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
miscreants!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

perilous!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
rogue!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
sentiments!"!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
splice!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Part Nine: The Last Human Stranger
gloated!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

semblance!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !
Part Ten:!The Book!Thief
alleviated!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!
apocalyptic!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

blaspheme!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

bereaved!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
cantered!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Epilogue:!The Last Color
exquisite!"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!


The Book Thief!Study Questions Prologue: A Mountain!Range!of!Rubble
Death!and!Chocolate
1. From!what!point!of view is the novel!told? Who is the narrator of the story? How
do you know?
2. What!theory!does!the!narrator!suggest!about colors?
3.What!purpose!do!colors!serve!for!the!narrator?
Why!does!the!narrator!need!distractions?
4.What!elements!does!the!narrator!specifically!name!as!critical!components!
of the story?
5. Who might you infer is the book thief? Has he or she already been named? Explain
your answer.
6. What might!the!reader!infer!about!the!book!thief?

Beside!the!Railway!Line
1. What!purpose does!this!section!of!the!novel!serve?
2. What impression does Death give of himself? Do you feel that you can trust! Death as
the narrator? Why or why not?
3. Whose!death!does Death!describe!first in the novel?
4. What fact!does!Death!clarify!for!the!reader!at!the!end!of!the!chapter?

The!Eclipse
1. Whose death occurs!in!this!section!of!the!novel?
2. In!addition!to!describing!the!pilots!death, what does Death describe for
the reader?
3. What!does!an!eclipse!frequently!symbolize!for!Death?

The!Flag
1. Judging from Deaths initial description of the setting in this section of the novel, what!
do you suppose!has!happened!just!prior!to!his!arrival?
2.What!image!does!Death!paint!for!the!reader!when!he!sees!the!book!thief!the!th
ird!time?
3. How!does!Death feel about!the!image!of!Liesel?
4. What!opinion!do!you!form!about!Death!following!this!section?
5. Why! does! Death! not! comfort! the! child? What does this imply about!
Deaths!ultimate power?
6.What!item!does!Death!claim!from!the!garbage!truck? Why does!Death!
take!the!item?
7.The!narrator!associates!three!colors!with!the!book!thief.!!What!are!they?
What!clue!to!the novels!historical!context!does!the!reader!first!get!from!
The!Colors?


Part One: The Grave!Diggers!Handbook
Arrival on!Himmel!Street
1. Death opens Part I with a!flashback. What is!a!flashback? To what! incident does
Death flash!back?
2. Who!are!Liesel!and!Werner!Meminger?
3. What is!the!setting? How old!is!Liesel?
4. What!happens!when!Liesel!wakes!from!her!dream!about!the!Fhrer?
5. What!observation!does!Death!make!for!the!reader?
6.What! falls! from! the! grave! digger! apprentices! pocket! without! his! knowledge?
What! does Liesel!do!with!the!object?
7.Why!are!the!Memingers!on!the!train?!What is Liesels!ultimate!destination?
8. To!what!does!Himmel!translate?
9.What!kind!of!atmosphere!does!Death!describe!on!Himmel!Street?
How!does!Liesel!respond to!her!new!home?
10. Identify!and!describe!Liesels!foster!parents.
11. What literary device does Zusak use to close the chapter? What might the! reader
infer from!the!final!sentence!of!the!chapter?

Growing!up!a!Saumensch
1.How!many!books!make!up!the!story!of!Liesels!life? What!similarity!do
you!notice!betweenDeaths!explanation!of!Liesels!book!collection!and!the!
organization!of!the!novel?
2.How!does!Deaths!admitted!preoccupation!with!colors!show!itself!in!this!
chapter?
3. What!single!fact!does!Liesel!know!about!her!father?
4.What!act!does!Liesel!refuse!to!do!from!the!beginning!of!her!stay!at!the!
Hubermanns? Who overcomes!her!unwillingness? How?
5.What!does!Death!explain!to!the!reader!regarding!Rosas!actions!toward!
Liesel?!!
6.What is!Liesel supposed!to call the Hubermanns after a!few!months? Why do! you
think Rosa tells!Liesel!to!refer!to!the!Hubermanns!in!this!manner?
7. Which!parent!does!Liesel!seem!to!bond!with!more!easily?

The!Woman!with!the!Iron!Fist
1. What makes Liesels adjustment to life with the Hubermanns particularly! difficult? How
does!Papa!help!her?
2. Why is The!Gravediggers!Handbook!so!important!to!Liesel?
3. Identify!the!Hubermanns!children.
4. What!makes!school!particularly!difficult!for!Liesel?!!
5. Into!what!is!Liesel!enrolled!after!her!tenth!birthday?
6. Describe!Rosas!feelings!and!behavior!with!regard!to!her!laundry!clients?
7. Which!client!does Rose detest the most? What happens when she sends Liesel! to the
clients!door?

8. Why does!Rosa!tell!Liesel!she!has!to!do!other!peoples!laundry?
9.What!is!Frau!Holtzapfel!known!for!at!the!Hubermanns!home? Why?!!
How!does!this!effect Liesel?
10. Briefly!identify!Frau!Holtzapfel!in!the!character!grid.

The Kiss (A!Childhood!Decision!Maker)
1.
Briefly! identify! each! of! the! following! characters! on! the! character! grid:
Rudy!Steiner,!FrauDiller,!Tommy!Mller,!Pfiffikus.!!Be!sure!to!note!any!special!co
nnectio to!Liesel.
2. How are!friendships!between!the!children!made!on!Himmel!Street?
3. Who!is!responsible!for!The!Jesse!Owens!Incident?!!Briefly!describe!it.
4. Who!introduces!Liesel!to!the!secrets!of!the!neighbors?!Explain.
5. What!is!Schiller Strasse?
6.What challenge does Rudy offer Liesel following their taunting of Pfiffikus? What is the
outcome?


The!Jesse!Owens Incident
1. Who!is!Jesse Owens?
2. Was!Liesel!present!for!the Jesse!Owens!Incident? Explain.
3.How does Deaths explanation of!Mr. Steiners politics explain his anger! with! his
sons emulation!of!Jesse!Owens?
4.What!is!Rudys!father!trying!to!make!Rudy!understand!when!he!tells!Rudy!that!h
e!should!be happy!that!he!has!blond!hair!and!blue!eyes?!!
5.What!is!the!significance!of!the!event!that!Death!foreshadows!at!the!end!
of the!chapter?

The Other!Side!of!Sandpaper
1.What!important!number!does!Death!provide!with!regard!to!the!Germans!
support!of!Hitler? How!does!this!relate!to!Hans!Hubermann?
2. What!event!led!to!Liesels!bed"wetting?
3. How!is!Liesels!bed"wetting!a!defining!moment!in!her!life?
4. Why!is!the!sandpaper!useful?

The!Smell!of!Friendship
1. Where!does!Papa!take!Liesel!for!their!reading!lessons? How does he get Mama to
agree?
2. Liesel notices a!change in Hans when they are at the river, but doesnt realize! what it
means.!Why do you!believe!Hans!is!going!to!the!river?
3. Where do Papa and Liesel work on reading most often in their home? Why? How does
Papa!use!this!area!for!instruction?
4. What elements blend together to create the smell of friendship for Liesel?! !
Why!do!you t hink!Liesel!finds!the!smell!so!appealing, and Rosa!finds!it repulsive?


The!Heavyweight!Champion!of!the!School"yard
1. According! to! Death, what two important events occur in SeptemberNovember 1939?
What!do!you!think!is!the!significance!of!the!fact!that!Death!lists!these!two!events
under!the same!heading?
2.What!piece!of!news!arrives!at!the!Hubermann!household?!How!does!Papa!react?
3. What!change!does!Liesel!experience!in!school? Why?
4. What event! in! the! classroom! sets! Liesel! up! for! antagonism! in! the! school
yard?! !
Why does Liesel!attack!Ludwig!Schmeikl!and!Tommy!Mller!in!the!school!yard?
5.Why are!Liesel!classmates!silent!when!Sister!Maria!beats!Liesel!for!fighting?
6. Why!is!Liesel!overcome!with!emotion?!How does!Rudy!respond?
7.What literary device!does Zusak!use in the final line of this chapter to describe! Liesels
future!use!of!words?

Part!Two:!The Shoulder Shrug A!Girl!Made!of!Darkness
1. Why!is!Deaths!statistical!record!of!Liesels!book"stealing!significant?
2. In!a work!of literature there are many different methods of arranging!the! details of
the story.!Cause and effect is one such method.!How does Zusak use! cause and effect in
this chapter to!reveal!future!events!in!the!story?!!!
3. What!is!special!about!the!second!book!Liesel!steals? What does it!signify?

The!Joy!of!Cigarettes
1.Despite!her!hardships,!several!things!have!brought!Liesel!happiness.!What!are!
they?
2. The! last! line! in! The! Grave! Diggers! Handbook! reads,! We! wish! you! every!
success! with! your career! in! the! funerary! arts! and! hope! this! book! has! helped!
in! some! way. How! does! this relate!to!Liesel!and!Papa?
3. Why!does!Death!like!Papa?
4. What! gifts! does! Liesel! receive! for! Christmas! from! the! Hubermanns?! ! What!
question! does the! receipt! of! these! gifts! inspire! Liesel! to! ask?! ! What! might!
you! infer! about! Liesels
relationship!with!the!Hubermanns!based!on!the!answer!to!Liesels!question?

The!Town!Walker
1. Why! does! Mama! put! Liesel! in! charge! of! collecting! and! delivering! the!
laundry! to! her customers? How does!Liesel!feel!about!her!new!job?
2. Briefly! identify! each! of! the! following! characters! on! the! character! grid:! !
the! Pfaffelhrvers, Helena!Schmidt,!the!Weingartners,!and!Mayor!and!Frau!Hermann.
3.Liesels!class!is!instructed!to!write!two!letters.!To!whom!does!Liesel!write!her!let
ters? Why
does!Liesel!have!the!sense!of!foreboding!with!regard!to!one!of!the!letters?
4. What!questions/concerns!does!Liesel!now!have!regarding!her!mother?


Dead!Letters
1. Briefly!explain!why!the!title!for!this!section!is!appropriate.
2. Why!does!Mama!reprimand!Papa!on!Liesels!birthday?
3. Explain! why! Liesel! receives! a! severe! beating! from! Mama. What! does! Liesel!
come! to understand! that! is! more! painful! than! Mamas! beating?!Why! does!
Mama! apologize! to Liesel?
4.Why!does!Liesel!write!that!she!has!no!animosity!toward!Rosa!for!the!
beating,!or!toward!her mother?

Hitlers!Birthday,!1940
1. How!are!Nazi!Party!members!preparing!to!celebrate!Hitlers!birthday?!
2.What!do!the!Hubermanns!search!frantically!to!find!and!display?
Why!couldnt!they!find!it?! What!might!that!symbolize?
3. Summarize!the!unrest!between!Hans!and!Hans!Junior.
4. What!does!Death!foreshadow!for!Hans!Junior?

100!Percent!Pure!German!Sweat
1. Why!does!Death!include!Tommy!Mllers!inability!to!hear!in!this!chapter?
2.How! does! Liesel! feel! about! the! book! burning? Why! do! you! believe! Liesel!
is! compelled! to see!the!fire!lit?
3.What! realization! does! Liesel! make! as! she! hears! the! word! Kommunisten!
spoken! of! as! an enemy!by!the!German!officials? What!is!her!reaction?
4.Describe!the!episode!with!Ludwig!Schmeikl.!!Why!is!the!scene!important!to!the!n
ovel?

The!Gates!of!Thievery
1.What! statement! does! Liesel! make! about! Hitler! as! a! result! of! the!
realizations! she! has! made throughout! the! evening?! ! How! does! Papa! respond?!
! Why! do! you! think! he! reacts! the! way that!he!does?
2. How!do!you!think!Liesel!feels!about!Papas!response?

Book!of!Fire
1.What! does! Liesel! notice! when! the! workmen! are! cleaning! up! the! remnants!
of! the! bonfire?!
How!does!Liesel!describe!what!she!sees?!!Why!is!this!significant?!!
What!does!Liesel!do?
2. What!realization!does!Liesel!make!that!causes!her!fear?

Part!Three: Mein!Kampf The!Way!Home
1. Why!is!Liesel!afraid!when!Hans!realizes!she!has!stolen!another!book?
2.What! happens! to! Papa! when! he! discovers! the! book! Liesel! has! stolen?! !
What! factors! are involved?


The!Mayors!Library
1.Whose!home!has!Liesel!been!avoiding!on!her!laundry!rounds? Why?
What!happens!when she!can!no!longer!avoid!the!home?
2.How! does! Liesel! know! that! the! mayors! wife! did! indeed! spy! her! stealing!
the! book! from! the bonfire? Where!does!the!mayors!wife!take!Liesel?
3.Do!you!believe!that!the!mayors!wife!plans!to!tell!anyone!about!Liesels!
theft?!Explain!your answer.
4. What!does!Liesel!find!unusual!about!the!library!and!Frau!Hermann? 5.
Why!does!Liesel!run!back!to!the!mayors!house?

Enter!the!Struggler
1. The!story!shifts!setting. To!where? Why?
2. Briefly!identify!Max!in!the!character!grid.
3.What!items!does!a!visitor!bring!to!Max?!What!might!you!infer!from!the!mans!vi
sit?
4.To!whom!does!Max!plead? Based!on!your!answer, what!book!was!given!
to!Max?

The!Attributes!of!Summer
1. How!is!Liesels!summer!divided?
2.Describe! the! protagonist,! theme,! and! plot! of! Liesels! book.! ! Why! might!
this! be! a! novel! that the!Nazi!party!wants!to!burn?
3. Why!does!Liesel!want!to!be!separated!from!Rudy?
4.What!does!Death!foreshadow!with!regard!to!Liesels!relationship!with!Ilsa!
Hermann?
5.What! name! does! Liesel! find! on! the! inside! of! one! of! the! books?! ! Who! is!
he? Where!is! he now?
6.What!solidifies!Liesel!and!Rudys!friendship?!What!is!the!primary!incentive? 7.
What!is!Fritz!Hammers!role!in!Rudy!and!Liesels!thievery!escapades?
8. Briefly!identify!Arthur!Berg!in!the!character!grid.
9. Why!does!Arthur!Berg!allow!Rudy!and!Liesel!to!join!his!group?!!
10. Are!Rudy!and!Liesel!successful!fruit!thieves? Explain.

The!Aryan!Shopkeeper
1.What!treasure!do!Rudy!and!Liesel!discover!on!their!laundry!rounds?!!
What!do!they!do!with it?
2. What!does!this!episode!demonstrate!about!Frau!Diller?

The!Struggler,!Continued
1.What! does! Deaths! title! and! introduction! to! this! section! indicate! about! the!
division! of! the plot?
2. What!is!Max!Vandenburg!reading?
3. What!number!is!lucky!for!Max?


4.What!items!are!in!the!bag!Walter!Kugler!leaves?!Why!might!these!items!be!
important?
5.What!is!ironic!about!the!book!that!has!saved!Max!and!led!him!to!his!freedom

Tricksters
1. Briefly!identify!Otto!Sturm!in!the!character!grid.
2.Why!is!the!phrase!the!diabolical!plan!bore!its!fruit!an!apt!metaphor!for!the!
incident?
3. What!do!Rudy!and!Liesel!do!with!the!goods!they!acquire!from!Otto?
4.How!does!Rudy!justify!stealing!from!Otto!when!Liesel!asks!if!he!feelsguilty?
5.What!inference!can!be!made!about!Arthur!Berg!in!regards!to!the!small!
tribute!that!Death offers?
6.How! is! the! tone! of! the! final! passage! of! the! chapter! contradicted! by! the!
example! of foreshadowing!in!the!last!line!of!the!chapter?

The!Struggler,!Concluded
1.With! what! metaphor! does! Death! open! the! chapter?! ! Do! you! feel! it! is! an!
appropriate metaphor?!!Explain!your!answer.
2. How!does!the!number!13!come!into!play!again!in!this!chapter?
3.With!what!internal!conflict!does!Max!grapple!as!he!walks!towards!Himmel!Street?

Part!Four:!!The!Standover!Man
The!Accordionist!(The!Secret!Life!of!Hans!Hubermann)
1.Which!two!questions!does!Max!ask!Hans!Hubermann?!Why!do!you!believe!Max!a
sks!these two!questions?
2.Death remembers Hans from World War I and states that they!never had! a scheduled
meeting.!How!did!Hans!avoid!meeting!Death!during!World!War!I?
3.What!small!but!noteworthy!note!does!Death!offer!the!reader!in!this!
chapter?!!
Do!you!feel that!this!might!embody!a!theme!for!the!novel?!Why!or!why!not?
4. Briefly!identify!Erik!Vandenburg!on!the!character!grid.
5. How!does!Hans!gain!possession!of!Erik!Vandenburgs!accordion?
6. Summarize!Hans!Hubermanns!political!conflict. Name!his!major!mistakes. 7.
What!life"changing!event!occurred!for!Hans!Hubermann!on!June!16,1939?

A!Good!Girl
1. What!occurs!in!November!1940?
2. How!does!Liesel!respond!to!Maxs!arrival?
3. What!do!you!believe!is!the!wild!card!to!which!Death!refers?

A!Short!History!of!the!Jewish!Fist!Fighter
1.Who!was!Maxs!favorite!fist"fighting!opponent? Where!did!Max!train!as!a!child?
2. How!does!Max!personify!Death?!What!is!Deaths!reaction?

3.In! how! many! fights! did! Walter! Kugler! and! Max! engage! over! the! years?!
Did! they! remain friends?
4. How!old!was!Max!on!the!night!of!broken!glass!(November!9,!1938)?!!
5.How!did!Max!escape!capture?!What!happened!to!Maxs!family?!!What!is!Maxs!r
eaction?
6.What! is! written! on! the! piece! of! paper! that! Max! received! from! his!
mother?! Why! is! that paper!important?
7. Why!does!the!fact!that!the!Hubermanns!have!a!child!concern!Max?
8. Who!speaks!first!at!the!end!of!the!chapter?

The!Wrath!of!Rosa
1. What!startles!Liesel!from!her!sleep?
2. What!does!Liesel!find!unusual!about!Rosas!reaction!to!the!stranger?
3. Explain!the!final!line!in!the!chapter?!Who!are!these!people?

Liesels!Lecture
1.What!important!point!about!character!does!Death!make!in!the!opening!
paragraph?
2. How!are!Rosas!actions!and!conversations!different!on!this!day?
3. What!story!does!Hans!offer!to!Liesel?
4.Of! what! promise! does! Hans! remind! Liesel?! ! What! does! Hans! tell! Liesel!
will! happen! if! she breaks!her!promise?
5.How!does!Rosa!uncharacteristically!greet!Liesel!when!she!returns!from!her!talk!wi
th!Hans?

The!Sleeper
1. How!does!Max!spend!the!first!three!days!with!the!Hubermanns?
2. What!does!Max!say!in!his!sleep?

The!Swapping!of!Nightmares
1. Where!does!Max!decide!he!belongs?
2. Behind!what!is!Max!hidden!in!the!basement?
3.Why!does!Max!want!to!get!up!and!walk!out!of!the!Hubermanns!home?!What!
does!he!do?! Why?
4.What! catches! Liesels! eye! when! she! finally! goes! into! the! basement?! What!
does! Liesel attempt!to!ask!Max?
5.What!is!the!only!thing!that!Mama!and!Papa!argue!about!after!Maxs!
arrival?
6. What!does!Liesel!learn!about!Rosa!after!Maxs!arrival,according!to!Death?
7. What!helps!Liesel!to!maintain!her!sanity?
8.What! comparison! does! Death! make! to! Liesel! reading! in! the! mayors! library!
and! Max! living in!the!basement?!
9. How!does!Hans!and!Liesels!reading!save!Maxs!life?
10. What! change! do! the! Hubermanns! make! in! their! routine! in! order! to!

preserve! Maxs! health and!safety?

11. How!do!new!stories!enter!the!Hubermanns!home!nightly?
12.What!word!does!Max!use!to!characterize!himself? Do!you!agree!or!
disagree!with!that characterization?!!Explain!your!answer.
13.What!prompts!Liesel!to!tell!Papa!she!does!not!need!him!to!stay!with!her!when
!she!has!a nightmare? Why do you think Liesel tells Papa she no longer needs him to stay
with!her?
14. What!gift!does!Liesel!bring!to!Max!daily?
15.What!gift!does!Liesel!receive!for!her!twelfth!birthday? How!does!she!
include!Max!in!her special!day?

Pages!from!the!Basement
1. Why!is!Liesel!kept!from!the!basement?
2. How!many!pages!does!Max!think!he!will!need?
3.Comment!on!the!book!that!Max!gives!to!Liesel.!!What!do!you!feel!is!the!import
ance!of!this book?
4.How!does!Max!give!the!book!to!Liesel?!How!does!Liesel!react!to!the!gift?

Part!Five:!The!Whistler
The!Floating!Book!(Part!I)
1. What! announcement! does! Death! make! about! Rudy! Steiner?! ! Why! would!
Death characterizes!the!announcement!as!small?
2. What! does! Death! foreshadow! regarding! Rudys! death?! ! How! does! Death!
feel! about! Rudys death?

The!Gamblers!(A!Seven"Sided!Die)
1.Why!do!you!think!the!symbol!of!a!seven"sided!die!is!selected!by!the!
author?!!
2. List!the!seven!sides!of!the!die.
3.Death!explains!his!own!interests!to!the!reader.!!How!does!that!explanation!suppo
rt!the!ideathat!the!point!of!view!matters!to!the!theme!and!overall!
power of!a!novel?
4.Max!asks!Rosa!to!cut!his!hair,!but!she!is!unable!to!find!the!scissors.!!As!
the!scene!plays!out, what!does!it!reveal!about!life!in!the!Hubermann!household?
5. What!is!Liesel!tempted!to!tell!the!mayors!wife?!!Why?
6. What!bonded!Erik!and!Hans?!!What!bonds!LIesel!and!Max?!!Explain.!
7.What! inspires! Max! to! draw! the! picture! of! himself! and! Liesel! walking! the!
tightrope! to! the sun?
8. Why!does!Max!exercise?
9. As! Max! becomes! stronger,! he! imagines! he! is! boxing! Hitler.! ! How! do! the!
rules! the! referee states!mimic!the!reality!of!life!in!Germany?
10.What!does!Hitler!shout!to!the!audience!watching!the!imaginary!fight?!!
What!does!he!ask them! in! his! rhetorical! tongue?!How! does! the! audience!
respond?!What! does! this symbolize?

11. Who!is!the!last!individual!to!enter!the!ring?!What does!this!symbolize?

12.How!does!Death!relate!Maxs!dream!to!the!well"recognized!joke,Theres!a!Jew!
and!a German standing in a basement, right? Do you find the reference powerful? Explain.
13. Why!is!the!seven"sided!die!an!appropriate!symbol!for!this!story?
14. What!does!the!mayors!wife!give!to!Liesel?!How!does!Liesel!respond?
15.What!form!does!Liesels!subconscious!take!when!she!is!verbally!attacking!the!ma
yors!wife?
16. How!does!Liesel!feel!after!her!verbal!assault!of!Frau!Hermann? Explain.

Rudys!Youth
1. What!three!problems!characterize!Rudys!young!life? Explain.
2.The!story!flashes!forward!two!years,!what!does!Liesel!long!to!do?!!What!
does!Liesel!come!tounderstand!about!her,!and!Rudys!experiences!with!the!
Hitler!Youth?

The!Losers
1. Briefly!identify!Viktor!Chemmel!on!the!character!grid.
2.Compare! Viktor! Chemmel! and! Arthur! Berg! as! leaders. What! parallels! might!
you draw between!their!leadership!styles!and!leaders!from!this!historical!period?
3. On!what!terms!do!Viktor!and!Rudy!separate?

Sketches
1.Max!spends!his!time!writing!a!book!for!Liesel.!!He!intends!the!book!to!be!an!
autobiography, but!that!is!not!what!emerges.!!What!inspires!Maxs writing?!
How!does!the!book!change?!
2. What!happens!when!Liesel!sneaks!a!peek!of!Maxs!sketches?

The!Whistler!and!the!Shoes
1. Why!does!Rudy!tell!Liesel,!I!need!a!win,!Liesel.!!Honestly.?
2.Liesel!decides!that!stealing!something,!more!specifically,!stealing!something!back,!
would!be the! best! way! to! improve! Rudys! spirits?! ! From! whom! does! Liesel!
choose! to! steal?! ! What does she realize when the opportunity to steal presents itself?
3.Hearing! someone! walking! on! the! floor! above! her,! Liesel! finds! the! book,!
goes! out! the window, and she and Rudey run away. What!does!Liesel!realize!has!been
left!behind? What does!Rudy!do?
4.What!indication!does!the!reader!have!that!Liesel!has!become!as!attached!
to!Rosa!as!she!has to!Hans?
5. What!official!title!does!Liesel!receive!in!October!of!1941?!By!whom?

Three!Acts!of!Stupidity!by!Rudy!Steiner
1. List!the!three!acts!of!stupidity!that!Death!provides.
2.Why! is! Rudys! behavior! so! dangerous? Why! does! Rudy! behave! so!
dangerously?!What! is the!result!of!Rudys!behavior?


The!Floating!Book!(Part!II)
1. When!and!how!does!Rudy!finally!get!his!victory? 2.
Why!does!Rudy!remain!in!the!freezing!water!longer!than!necessary? 3.
Does!Rudy!finally!get!his!kiss?!

Part!Six: The!Dream!Carrier
Deaths!Diary: 1942
1. Death!shifts!the!focus!of!the!story!to!himself!in!this!chapter.!!
a. What!frustrates!Death!with!regard!to!his!appearance?
b. Why!is!Death!overwhelmed!in!1942?
c. Why!does!Death!refer!to!the!years!79!and!1346?
d. What!is!Deaths!opinion!of!war?
2. How!does!Death!find!relief!from!the!strains!of!his!job?

The!Snowman
1. What!does!Liesel!bring!Max!on!Christmas!Eve? Why!is!it!important?
2. If! there! are! no! presents! and! little! food,! why! does! Liesel! consider! this! the!
best! Christmas ever?
3. What! happens! to! Max! in! mid"February,! a! few! days! before! Liesels!
birthday?!Who! takes charge!of!the!situation!and!what!do!they!do?
4. Why!does!Liesel!feel!guilty?!!
5. What!is!a!paradox? Explain!the!paradox!in!the!final!line!of!the!chapter.

Thirteen!Presents
1. What!happens!when!Death!visits!Max? Why!is!this!significant?
2. What!happens!on!the!fifth!day!of!Maxs!stay!in!Liesels!bed?
3. How!does!Liesel!spend!her!time!with!Max?
4.Mama!forces!Liesel!to!go!out!and!play.!!What!promise!does!Liesel!extract!from!
Rosa!before leaving? Why!does!this!make!Rosa!smile?
5.What!is!the!first!gift!that!Liesel!brings!to!Max? List!the!other!gifts!and!
comment!on!Liesels selections.

Fresh!Air,!an!Old!Nightmare,!and!What!to!Do!with!a!Jewish!Corpse
1. What! desire! does! Liesel! express! to! Rudy?! How! does! he! respond?! ! What!
is! the! outcome! of
the!venture?!!What!does!Death!suggest!about!the!open!window?
2.Describe! the! dilemma,!or!conflict,!that the Hubermanns!face if!Max!does not!
survive! his illness.
3.How!does!Liesel!put!an!end!to!Mama!and!Papas!conversation!about!Maxs!
death?
4. How!would!you!interpret!Liesels!dream!in!whichMax!replaces!her!brother?
5. Why! does! Mama! come! to! Liesels! class?! ! What! ploy! does! Mama! use! that!
was! inspired! by Liesel?! ! What! does! Liesel! endure! to! ensure! that! no! one! will!

question! Mamas! presence! at school?

6. What! fear! does! Max! admit! to! Liesel? Why might he fear such a!thing? How!
does! Liesel ease!Maxs!fear?
7.Max!recovers!and!returns!to!the!basement,!returning!Liesels!inside!world!to!
normal. How does!this!contrast!to!the!world!outside?
8.Death states that Yes, the boss was at my shoulder.! !
Get it done, get it done.!In!your opinion,!who is!the!boss?!Explain!your!answer.

Deaths!Diary:!Cologne
1. What!event!does!Death!describe!in!this!chapter?
2.What!do!the!children!collect!as!Death!collects!souls? What!might!this!
symbolize?

The!Visitor
1.Who!is!the!visitor?!What!implications!might!such!a!visitor!have!for!the!
Hubermanns?
2.What!clever!stunt!does!Liesel!pull!while!playing!soccer? Why!does!she!do!so?
3.What!is!the!outcome!of!the!episode?!In!what!condition!do!the!Hubermanns!find!
Max?
4. How!do!you!believe!Max!intended!to!use!the!scissors?

The!Schmunzeler
1. A!second!visitor!arrives!following!the!Nazis!departure. Who!is!it?
2. How!does!Liesel!classify!her!condition!after!the!days!events?!!

Deaths!Diary: The!Parisians
1.Death!claims!that!the!sky!was!the!color!of!Jews.!!What!color!do!you!suppose!
that!is?!Why might!Death!classify!the!sky!as!the!color!of!Jews?
2.Death!struggles!with!his!own!inner!conflict.!!Describe!the!conflict!and!your!reacti
on!to!it.

Part!Seven:!The!Complete!Duden!Dictionary!and!Thesaurus
Champagne!and!Accordions
1. In! the! summer! of! 1942,! what! is! the! inevitable! event! the! people! of!
Molching! are! preparing for?
2. How!does!this!benefit!Hans!Hubermann?
3. What! does! Liesel! find! most! interesting! about! painting?! ! How! would! you!
characterize! Hans
based!on!Liesels!explanation!of!these!experiences?!!How!does!she!perceive!him?
4. What! does! Liesel! experience! for! the! first! time! in! one! of! the! customers!
homes?! ! What! is Hanss!explanation?
5. Liesel!writes!about!her!life!and!vows!never!to!drink!champagne!again,why?
6. What! does! Death! foreshadow?! ! How! do! you! explain! the! authors! use! of!
the! simile,! Hard times!were!coming.!!Like!a!parade.?


The!Trilogy
1. To!what!three!installments!does!the!chapter!title!refer?
2.How!does!Rudy!spend!his!time!while!Liesel!is!working!with!Hans?!What!is!his!
goal?
3. Summarize!Rudys!successes!at!the!festival. How does!Liesel!perform?
4. When! Rudy! and! Liesel! finally! talk! about! the! 100! race! final,! Rudy! tells!
Liesel! that! his disqualification was intentional. How does Rudy respond when Liesel asks
why!he!would!do such a thing?
Why!do!you!think!Rudy!got!himself!disqualified!from!the!race?
5. What!does!Rudy!do!with!his!medals?
6. What!does!Liesel!do!after!she!finishes!The!Dream!Carrier?
7. Why!does!Rudy!take!Liesel!to!the!mayors!house?
8.What!causes!Liesel!to!stop!and!look!back!at!the!mayors!house?!How!does!Liesel
!react?
9. What!does!Rudy!find!in!the!book? How does!Liesel!respond?
10. Why!does!Liesel!consider!herself!a!criminal?!!

The!Sound!of!Sirens
1. What! dilemma! confronts! the! Hubermanns! with! regard! to! the! air! raids?! !
Who! resolves! the problem?
2.Identify! the! people! who! take! shelter! in! the! Fielders! basement.! ! Which!
individuals! does Liesel!determine!to!be!the!most!fearful?!
3. How! does! Death! feel! about! the! individuals! in! the! shelter?! ! Do! you! agree!
or! disagree?! Explain.
4. Consider!the!quote,!For!those!people,!life!was!still!achievable.!Comment.
5.What!is!on!the!Hubermanns!minds!as!they!return!to!their!home!from!the!
shelter?
6.What!does!Max!admit!to!the!family?!How!long!has!it!been!since!Max!viewed!
the!outside?! How!does!the!family!react?

The!Sky!Stealer
1. How!does!the!first!raid!compare!with!the!second?
2. What!superstition!does!Hans!practice?
3. How! does! Liesel! cope! with! being! in! the! shelter! the! second! time?! ! What!
reaction! does! she receive!from!the!others!in!the!shelter?
4.Do!the!families!return!home!as!soon!as!the!raid!is!over?!!What!effect!
does!the!raid!have!on Himmel!Street?
5.What!impact!does!Rosas!retelling!of!Liesels!actions!in!the!shelter!have!on!Max?
6. What!is!Liesels!central!thought!about!future!bombings!on!Himmel!Street?

Frau!Holtzapfels!Offer
1. What!damages!were!incurred!as!a!result!of!the!raid?
2. Why!does!Frau!Holtzapfel!visit!the!Hubermanns?

3. What!are!Liesels!feelings!on!the!deal!Mama!makes!with!Frau!Holtzapfel?
4.Interpret! the! last! line! of! the! chapter: That! makes! two! weeks,! she! would!
later! write! in! the basement Two weekds to change the workd, and fourteen days to
ruin it.

The!Long!Walk!to!Dachau
1.What!are!the!wishes!Death!hears!as!he!exits!the!truck!with!the!dead!Jew?
2. What!arrives!in!Molching?
3. What!is!Hans!reaction!when!he!sees!Liesel!and!Rudy!on!the!street?
4. What! is! the! significance! of! Deaths! statement! that! many! of! Jews! would!
greet! Death! like their!last!true!friend?
5. Liesel! will! later! write! that! these! were! the! poorest! souls! alive.! ! What!
impacte Liesel the most!about!the!Jews!passing!through!Molching!on!their!way!to!
Dachau?
6. Why!is!Papa!beaten!by!a!German!Soldier?!!
7. Who! stands! beside! Liesel! as! the! drama! is! taking! place! on! the! street?! !
How! does! the! crowd react?
8. Why! is! Papa! suddenly! overwhelmed! by! what! has! happened? What!
consequences! does Papa!fear?

Peace
1.How!does!Max!react!to!the!events!of!the!day? What!is!scheduled!for!
four!days!later?
2.When Hans!goes to!the Amper River he only finds!a not! saying, Youve! done!
enough.! Why!is!this!significant?
3.Why!do!you!think!that!Death!does!not!equate!the!word!silence!with!the!words!
peace, quiet, or!calm!following!this!event?

The!Idiot!and!the!Coat!Men
1. Describe!Hans!feelings!following!Maxs!departure.
2. Why! might! the! Hubermanns! be! hoping! that! the! Party! comes! to! search!
their! home! for evidence!of!a!Jew?
3.Who!are!the!coat!men? Why!are!they!on!Himmel!Street? What!does!
Hans!shout!at!them?

Part!Eight:!The!Word!Shaker Dominoes!and!Darkness
1.What!concerns!Rudy!about!the!two!men!talking!with!his!parents!in!the!
kitchen?!!
2. Why have the men!come to!the!Steiners home? What do the men propose!to the
Steiners?
3. Why might!the author have chosen to intersperse the conversation in the! kitchen with
the conversation!about!dominoes!that!Rudy!and!his!siblings!hold!
outside!of!the!kitchen?


The!Thought!of!Rudy!Naked
1. How!does!this!chapter!connect!with!the!previous!chapter?
2. What!is!the!purpose!of!the!inspection!of!Rudy!and!his!classmates?
3. What!does!Rudy!finally!explain!to!Liesel?!How!does!she!react?

Punishment
1. Why!might!Hans!Hubermann!be!grateful!for!punishment!by!the!Nazi!Party?
2.What!paper!arrives!at!the!Hubermann!household?!Why!is!Hansimmediately!
suspicious?
3. What!arrives!later!in!the!week? What!is!Papas!wish?
4. What! does! Liesel! discover! as! she! walks! outside! several! days! later?! ! What!
is! Barbara Steiners!explanation?

The!Promise!Keepers!Wife
1.How!do!Alex!Steiner!and!Hans!Hubermann!spend!their!evening?!What!is!Rosas!r
eaction?
2. What!do!Liesel!and!Hans!discuss!at!the!train!station?
3.Twelve!days!after!Alex!Steiners!departure,!Rudy!decides!he!has!had!enough
and!gets!Liesel to!go!out!with!him.!Where!does!Rudy!tell!Liesel!they!are!
going? Why? In!what!way!is!this characteristic!of!Rudy?
4.What!does!Liesel!mean!when!she!states!to!Rudy,!...!and!youve!only!lost!your!f
ather!...?
5. Rudy! and! Liesel! discuss! their! mothers! appearance! on! the! sidewalk.! ! Do!
you! believe! their mothers!are!more!worried,!more!angry, or!a!different!
adjective!entirely? Explain.
6. What! image! does! Death! provide! of! Rosa! on! the! night! Hans! leaves?! ! How!
does! this! image affect!your!perception!of!Rosa?

The!Collector
1.Where!are!Hans!Hubermann!and!Alex!Steiner!stationed?!What!duties!are!they!ass
igned?
2.What!does!Hans!learn!about!the!men!in!the!LSE? Why!have!they!been!
selected!for!service in!the!LSE?
3. Where!is!Hans!Hubermanns!seat!on!the!vehicle? Why!is!this!important?
4.Why!does!Death!explain!that!Hubermann!would!need!to!perfect!the!art!
of!forgetting?
5.Death!presents!a!letter!that!Hans!writes!home,!which!is!very!short.!Death!then!
follows!with the! details! of! Hans! task! and! the! reasons! for! the! brevity! of! his!
letter. Did! the! vivid explanation!change!your!initial!impression!of!Papas!short!
letter?!Why!or!why!not?

The!Bread!Eaters
1. Who! are! the! three! desperate! men! that! consume! Liesels! thoughts?! !

What! has! become one!of!Liesels!favorite!distractions?!

2.What!does!Rudy!plan!to!do!with!the!sackful!of!bread!that!he!shows!
Liesel?!What!argument does!he!use!to!convince!Liesel!to!help!him?
3.How!does!the!incident!strengthen!or!alter!the!readers!characterization!of!Rudy?!
!Explain.
4.Why!does!Liesel!attend!the!parades!of!the!Jews?!What!conflicting!feelings!does!Li
esel!have as!she!watches!the!Jews!in!the!parades?

The!Hidden!Sketchbook
1.As!the!neighbors!congregate!in!the!Fiedlers!shelter,!what!instruction!from!Papa!d
oes!Liesel recall?
2. After! returning! from! the! shelter,!Rosa! goes! to! her! mattress! and! opens! a!
slit to give Liesel!a gift.! What! is! the! gift? Why! would! Rosa! have! chosen! this!
particular!time! to! present! Liesel with!the!gift?!
3.What!is!your!impression!of!The!Word!Shaker? Why!do!you!believe!Max!
chooses!to!keep!the story!of!the!Word!Shaker!in!the!book?
4.What!secret!does!the!story!impart!to!Liesel?!Does!the!story!reveal!the!same!info
rmation!to you?

The!Anarchists!Suit!Collection
1.How!and!where!does!Liesel!obtain!Rudys!Christmas!gift?!What!is!the!gift?2.What
does! Death! urge! Liesel! to! do! when! Rudy! falls?! ! Does! she! oblige?!What!
might! the scene!suggest!about!the!upcoming!events!of!the!novel?

Part!Nine: The!Last!Human!Stranger!
The!Next!Temptation
1. What! does! Liesel! find! when! she! and! Rudy! go! to! the! mayors! library! after!
Christmas?! ! What does!Liesel!realize!about!the!library?
2. Who!enjoys!the!gift!of!cookies?

The!Cardplayer
1. Briefly!identify!Reinhold!Zucker!in!the!character!grid.
2.Explain!the!last!line!of!the!chapter:!!It!kills!me!sometimes,!how!people!
die. Which!literary devices!are!used!in!the!last!line?

The!Snows!of!Stalingrad
1. Who!answers!Frau!Holtzapfels!door!in!January!1943?!!
2. What!news!does!Michael!bring!to!Rosa?
3. How! does! the! description! of! the! battlefield! and! Deaths! presence! there!
affect! your impression!of!Death?

The!Ageless!Brother
1.What!does!Liesel!take!to!8!Grande!Strasse?!How!does!she!know!that!she!has!do
ne!the!right thing?


2.When!Liesel!thinks!of!the!brother,!what!fills!her!with!sadness!and!then!a!smile?!
!Explain.
3.After Liesel has accepted the death of her brother, he!no longer invades her dreams,!
but appears!to!Liesel!another!way.!!Why!is!this!significant?
4. What prayer does!Rosa offer as!she clutches the accordion? What does Liesel think!
about Rosas!prayers?

The!Accident
1. What!order!does!Zucker!give!to!Hans?!How does!Hans!respond?
2. What!happens!on!the!drive!back!to!the!camp?!What!are!the!results?
3. What! does! Hans! claim! after! he! is! safely! pulled! from! the! vehicle?! ! What!
incident! does! this recall!from!a!past!war?
4. What! does! Schipper! explain! to! Hans! about! his! injuries?! ! What! does! this!
tell! the! reader about!Hans!character?

The!Bitter!Taste!of!Questions
1. What!letter!do!Rosa!and!Liesel!receive!in!mid"February? 2.
What!is!Rudys!response!when!Liesel!tells!him!the!contents!of!the!letter?

One!Toolbox,!One!Bleeder,!One!Bear
1. What! has! happened! to! Rudy! since! his! fathers! departure! and! the! news! of!
Hans Hubermanns!return?
2.What!does!Liesel!realize!when!she!sees!Rudy!walking!down!the!street!with!his!to
ol!box?
3. What!commentary!does!Rudy!offer!regarding!Liesels!thieving?
4. What!unusual!item!does!Rudy!have!in!his!tool!box? What!is!its!purpose? 5.
What!does!Rudy!end!up!stealing?
6. Why does Michael Holtzapfel!come to the Hubermanns! home! when! the! sirens!
sound?! How!do!Rosa!and!Liesel!respond? Are!they!successful?
7.What!internal!conflict!plagues!Michael!at!the!shelter?!Who!arrives!at!the!last!
minute?
8. How!does!Liesels!role!change!from!thief!to!provider!in!the!shelter?
9. What! causes! Rudy! and! Liesel! to! run! to! the! Amper! River?! ! What! do! they!
find! when! they reach!the!river?
10. Why!is!this!event!significant!for!Liesel!and!Death?
11.What!do!Death!and!Liesel!watch!Rudy!do?!!Based!on!Rudys!recent!feelings!of!
anger,!do!you consider!this!strange?!Why?
12. Analyze!the!final!paragraph!in!this!chapter.

Homecoming
1.How!many!years!have!passed!between!Liesels!arrival!to!the!Hubermanns!home!
and!Hans return?
2. Who!answers!the!door!when!Hans!returns!home?

3. What! is! Deaths! implication! in! the! last! two! lines! of! the! chapter?! ! ! How!
do Deaths! words affect!the!tone!of!the!chapter?

Part!Ten:!!The!Book!Thief
The!End!of!the!World!(Part!I)

1.Death!again!gives!the!reader!a!glimpse!of!the!end!of!the!story.!!Death!reveals!t
hat!Himmel Street will be bombed and!it will be!raining! when! the! world! ends
for!Liesel.!How! does Death!feel!about!the!bombing!of!Himmel!Street?
2. Throughout the novel,! Zusak! has! stressed the power of words.!How does!
this!theme ring true in!this!chapter?
3. When!Liesel is!rescued,! Death!states that he!could not fully share in the! rescuers
enthusiasm. Why?
4. What! does! Liesel! scream! as! the! soldiers! pull! her! from! the! rubble? Why! is
the scream significant?

The!Ninety"Eighth!Day
1. Why! do! you! think! Death! describes! the! first! ninety"seven! days! after! he!
has! already! told! the reader!the!outcome!of!the!ninety"eighth?
2. Why!are!the!Jews!brought!to!the!town!during!this!period?!For whom!
does!Liesel!look?
3. Death! presents! the! image! of! Michael! Holtzapfel! on! July! 24! as! a!
pendulum,! another! clock, stopped.!!Identify!and!explain!the!figurative!language.
4. What!does!Death!learn!about!Michaels!death!from!The!Book!Thief?
5. Who!gives!the!news!of!Michael!Holtzapfels!death!to!his!mother?

The!War!Maker
1.What!does!Death!reveal!with!regard!to!the!war!and!the!situation!in!Germany?

Way!of!the!Words
1.While!watching!the!parade!of!Jews!through!Molching,!Liesel!tries!to!decide!the!
best!way!to identify!Max!in!the!crowd!of!downcast!faces.!!
How!does!Liesel!identify!Max?!
2. Max! and! Liesel! are! reunited! when! she! runs! to! him! on! the! street.! ! A!
soldier! sees! her! and forces! her! away.! ! How! does! Liesel! reach! out! to! Max!
the! second! time! she! runs! into! the parade?!What!happens?
3. Why!would!Max!think!that!it!was!a!great!day!to!die?
4. What!happens!to!both!Max!and!Liesel?!Who!comes!to!Liesels!aid?
5. What!do!Rudys!actions!reveal!about!his!and!Liesels!relationship?!Explain.

Confessions
1. Where!does!Liesel!go!after!seeing!Max?!What!does!Rudy!do?
2. In! what! way! does! Liesel! demonstrate! her! supreme! trust! in! Rudy?! ! What!
does! she! show him?


3.What!does!Liesel!realize!about!Rudy!and!what!does!she!want!from!him?!!Why!is
!this!ironic?
59 Copyright 2010 BMI Educational Services, Inc.

Ilsa!Hermanns!Little!Black!Book
1. Where! does! Liesel! go! to! rejuvenate! in! mid"August?! ! What! act! of!
vandalism! does! she commit?!Why?
2.What!does!Liesel!leave!for!Frau!Hermann?!How!has!the!power!of!words!
changed!for!Liesel?
3. Frau! Hermann! arrives! at! 33! Himmel. Why has she come and what advice does!
she! offer Liesel?
4.In!addition!to!the!blank!book,!what!other!gift!does!Frau!Hermann!give!to!Liesel?

The!Rib"Cage!Planes
1. How!has!the!content!of!the!bold!sections!changed!in!this!chapter? 2.
What!literary!device!does!Liesel!use!to!describe!Papa?
The!End!of!the!World!(Part!II)
1. Why!is!Death!telling!the!story!of!the!book!thief?
2. What!is!the!sequence!of!events!the!night!of!the!air!raid?
3. Death! provides! the! reader! with! a! detailed! description! of! the! order! in!
which! he! collects! the souls! on! Himmel! Street! and! how! they! are! found.! !
Why! might! Death! be! providing! such! a detailed!description!for!the!reader?
4. Explain!Deaths!ironic!memories!of!life. How!is!Death!characterized!in!this!scene?
5. What! point! does! Death! hope! to! stress! by! listing! the! good! things! that!
Rosa! has! done! in! her life?
6. What!does!Liesel!do!when!she!sees!Rudys!lifeless!body?
7. What!does!Liesel!say!to!Rosa?
8. What!metaphor!does!Death!offer!for!Hans!body?
9. When!Liesel!is!finally!able!to!look!at!Hans,!what!does!Death!see?
10. What! vision,!which Liesel! later! reveals! to! Death,! does! she! have! of! Papa!
as! she! kneels! next to!his!dead!body?
11.What!two!items!does!Liesel!leave!beside!Papas!body?!What!happens!to!these!
items?

Epilogue:!The!Last!Color Death!and!Liesel
1. What!does!Death!tell!the!reader!about!Liesels!life?
2. How!does!Death!describe!Liesels!passing?

Wood!in!the!Afternoon
1.With whom does!Liesel!live!after the bombing? What! connection! does! she!
maintain!with Alex!Steiner?
2. What!does!Alex!Steiner!regret? Why?


Max
3. Who!arrives!in!October!1945?

The!Handover!Man
4. What! discussion! does! Death! have! with! Liesel! when! he! finally! takes! her?
What!is!the!last note that!Death!offers!us!as!readers?
5. What!play!on!words!doeWComparison
Quote/Example
Explanation

Writing!Assignment!#3:!!Creating!Poetry
Emulating!the!narrator
In! The! Book! Thief,! the! narrator! emphasizes! the! power! of! words! and!
language! throughout! the novel.! ! Ironically,! Death! begins! to! infuse! life! into!
language! as! he! creates! poetry! from! the experiences!he!records.!!In!Part!Six,!
Thirteen!Presents,for!example,!Death!describes!the!gifts that!Liesel!brings!to!
Max!as!Max!maintains!a!precarious!hold!on!life.!Rather!than!simply!listing the!
objects,! however,! (as! a! reader! might! expect! a! cold,! lifeless! narrator! to! do),!
he! creates poetry!from!the!list!of!objects...he! gives!the!objects life!through his!
words. One!ribbon,!one!pinecone. One!button,!one!stone. One!feather, two!
newspapers. A!candy!wrapper.!A!cloud. One!toy!soldier. One!miraculous!leaf.
A!finished!whistler. A!slab!of!grief. (321"2)
Step! 1: (Observation)! Consider! ordinary! items! that! you! encounter! every! day!
that! somehow represent! your! personality,! your! beliefs,! your! life,! or! your!
struggles. Look! through! your backpack,!your!car,!or!your room,!for!examples.!
List!those objects in!the far!left!column!of!the Record!Log.!!
Step! 2:! ! (Diction! and! Description)! Notice! the! simplicity! of! Deaths! language.!
He!does not use many additional words in his poetic speech,!yet!his simple language!
carries!tremendous weight. Consider!adjectives!or!alternative!phrases!that!you!
might!use!to!descriptively!list!eachof!the!items!that!you!entered!in!the!Record!
Login
Step 3: (Composition)! Select! the! items! you! want! to! include! in! your! final!
poem,! which! should be! a! minimum! of! ten! lines.! ! Experiment! with! the!
diction! that! you! have! brainstormed! for! each item;! consider! a! variety! of!
organizational! patterns! for! your! poem.! ! Do! not! copy! the! narrators form!
exactly! ...! use! Zusaks! style! as! inspiration! for! creating! your! poem. Consider!
assigning! a title!to!your!poem,!as!well.
Step! 4: (Reflection)! Use! the! box! at! the! bottom! of! the! Record! Log
to write a!brief paragraph describing!the!creative!choices!you!made!throughout!the!

composition!of!your!poem.!!What!did you! learn! about! yourself! through! the!

writing! process! in! general! and! this! assignment! in
particular?s!Death!offer!for!the!final!chapter?

Writing!Assignment!#2:!!Analyzing!Character:!Liesel!Meminger!and!Max
Vandenburg
Throughout! The! Book! Thief,!Death highlights similarities and differences among the!
human population!in!general!and!between!Liesel!and!Max!in!particular.!!Such!
comparisons!are!evident throughout! the! novel.!In order to prove that! similarities!
exist! between! the! two! characters, however,! a! reader! must! first! gather evidence!
that! such! similarities! exist,! just! as! an! attorney must!provide!evidence!in!a!court
of!law!in!order!to!prove!his!or!her!case.!!
Assignment: Examine! the! novel! for! comparisons! between! Liesels! and! Maxs!
characters! and! experiences.! For! each! of! the! comparisons! that! you! record,!
you! should! include! three! quotes! or! examples! as evidence!of!that!comparison.
Example
In!Part!Four,!The!Sleeper,!the!narrator!states!that!Liesel,!in!the!act!of!
watching,!was!already noticing! the! similarities! between! this! stranger! and! herself.!
They! both! arrived! in! a! state! of agitation! on! Himmel! Street. They! both!
nightmared. (206)!Additional! quotes! regarding! the
Liesels!and!Maxs!nightmares!can!be!found!throughout!the!novel.

TCharacter:
Characters!physical!description:
Characters!personality!traits:
Characters!occupation/hobbies/activities:
Characters!importance!to!the!plot!(including conflicts):

The! Book! Thief!Literary!Analysis!Questions!page!2
1.!Understanding!point!of!view: The!narrator!of!a!story!provides!the!
details!of!the!story!from his!or!her!point!of!view.!!
Since!The!Book!Thief!is!told!from!the!perspective!of!a!narrator!who!is also! a!
character! in! the! story,! it! is! told! from! the! first"person! point! of! view.! !
Why might Zusak have chosen!to!tell!the!story!using!first"person!narration?!!
How!does!Zusaks!choice of!Death!as the narrator!affect!the story? What! aspects of
the novel would change if another character narrated!the!tale?! Provide! quotes! and!
examples to support your response. You might conside the! following! characters! as!
possibilities: Liesel, Liesels! brother,! Frau! Diller,! Rosa
Hubermann,!Hans!Hubermann,!Ruby!Steiner,!Max!Hubermann.
2. Understanding! literary! devices:! ! Authors! use! a! variety! of! literary! devices,!
or! strategies,! in order! to! get! their! meaning! across! to! their! readers.! ! The!
type! of! literary! devices! an! author! uses may! depend! on! his! or! her! audience,!
purpose,! or! style! of! writing.! ! In! The! Book! Thief,! Markus Zusak! uses! many!
examples! of! figurative! language,! such! as! simile,! metaphor,! personification, and!

onomatopoeia.! ! The! following! passages! are! examples.! ! Why! might! Zusak!

have! chosen! to
use!the!following!literary!devices!in!his!writing?!!What!purpose!might!he!
have?!!Does!The!Book
Thiefs!intended!audience!have!anything!to!do!with!the!figurative!language!
that!Zusak!chose!to include?!!
Why!or!why!not?!List!and!discuss!any!other!examples!of!figurative!language!that!y
ou find!throughout!the!novel.
1. Simile: To!her right,!a book!protruded!like!a!bone.!(450)
2. Personification: The!sound!of!crying!children!kicked!and!punched!(380).
3.Onomatopoeia: Grimly! she! realized! that! clocks! dont! make! a! sound! that!
even remotely!resembles!ticking, tocking. (259)
4. Metaphor: Another!human!pendulum. Another!clock, stopped.!(502)

3.!Exploring!theme:!The!theme!of!a!piece!of!literature!is!the!message!or!point!tha
t an!author attempts to!pass along to the reader. Within a!given novel, various!themes!
might!operate simultaneously. Using the chart below as a possible format, brainstorm
various!themes!in!The Book! Thief! and! list! quotes! and! examples! from! the! text!
(evidence)! that! serve! as! evidence! to support!your!claim,!or!thesis.

Theme Quotes/Examples!(page!#)
How!do!the!quotes!and examples!listed!in!the!second column!support!the!theme
listed!in!the!first!column?
The! Book! Thief!Literary!Analysis!Questions!page!3
5. Understanding! Irony: Irony!occurs when the outcome of a particular event is the!
opposite of!what!is!expected!to!happen. Consider!the!following!two!passages.
Passage! #1: The following excerpt from Part III,!The Struggler Continued, refers to!
Max Vandenburg!(159"160). Papers That!was!what!he!dreaded!to!hear. It!was bad!
enough when he was!stopped on the platform. He knew he could!not!withstand!it!twice.
The!shivering!hands. The!smellno, the!stenchof!guilt. He simply couldnt bear it again.
Fortunately, they came through! early! and only asked!for!the!ticket,!and now!all that! was
left! was! a! window! of! small! towns,! the! congregations!of!lights, and!the!woman!
snoring!on!the!other!side!of!the!compartment. For! most! of! the! journey,! he! made!
his! way! through! the! book,! trying! never to!look!up. The!words!lolled about in his
mouth!as!he!read!them. Strangely, as he turned the pages and progressed through the
chapters, it was!only!two!words!he!ever!tasted. Mein!Kampf.!!My!struggle"The!title,
over!and over again, as the train prattled!on, from!one German town!to!the!next.
Mein!Kampf. Of!all!the!things!to!save!him.!!
Passage! #2:!The following!excerpt from the Epilogue,Wood in the Afternoon! focuses!
on Alex!Steiner!(546"7). There! were! two! ceremonies! for! the! Steiner! family.! ! The!
first! was! immediately upon!their!burial.!The!second!was as!soon!as!Alex! Steiner!
Made it!home,!when!he was!given!leave!after!the!bombing. Since!the!news
had!found!him,!Alex!had!been!whittled!away.Crucified!Christ,!he!said,!if!only!Id!let
Rudy!go!to!that!school. You!save!someone. You!kill!them.
How!was!he!supposed!to!know?

The!only!thing!he!did!know!was!that!hed!have!done!anything!to!have!been
on!Himmel!Street!that!night!so!that!Rudy!survived!rather!than!himself.
1. How!are!the!above!excerpts!examples!of!irony?!!
2. Why!might!Zusak!have!chosen!to!use!irony!in!the!novel?!!
3. How! does! the! use! of! irony! in! The! Book! Thief! affect! the! tone,!
characterization,and/or!theme!of!the!novel?!