PartOne:TheGraveDigger’sHandbook
“ArrivalonHimmelStreet”
1. DeathopensPartIwithaflashback. Whatisaflashback? TowhatincidentdoesDeath flashback?
2. WhoareLieselandWernerMeminger?
3. Whatisthesetting?HowoldisLiesel?
4. WhathappenswhenLieselwakesfromherdreamabouttheFührer?
5. WhatobservationdoesDeathmakeforthereader?
6. Whatfallsfromthegravediggerapprentice’spocketwithouthisknowledge? Whatdoes
Lieseldowiththeobject?
7. WhyaretheMemingersonthetrain?WhatisLiesel’sultimatedestination?
8. TowhatdoesHimmeltranslate?
9. Whatkind ofatmospheredoes DeathdescribeonHimmelStreet? How does Lieselrespond tohernewhome?
10.IdentifyanddescribeLiesel’sfosterparents.
11.WhatliterarydevicedoesZusakusetoclosethechapter? Whatmightthereaderinfer fromthefinalsentenceofthechapter?
“GrowingupaSaumensch”
1. HowmanybooksmakeupthestoryofLiesel’s life? Whatsimilarity doyounoticebetween
Death’sexplanationofLiesel’sbookcollectionandtheorganizationofthenovel?
2. HowdoesDeath’sadmittedpreoccupationwithcolorsshowitselfinthischapter?
3. WhatsinglefactdoesLieselknowaboutherfather?
4. WhatactdoesLieselrefusetodofromthebeginningofherstayattheHubermanns? Who overcomesherunwillingness?How?
5. WhatdoesDeathexplaintothereaderregardingRosa’sactionstowardLiesel?
6. WhatisLieselsupposedtocalltheHubermannsafterafewmonths? Whydoyouthink
RosatellsLieseltorefertotheHubermannsinthismanner?
7. WhichparentdoesLieselseemtobondwithmoreeasily?
“TheWomanwiththeIronFist”
1. WhatmakesLiesel’sadjustmenttolifewiththeHubermannsparticularlydifficult? How
doesPapahelpher?
2. WhyisTheGravedigger’s HandbooksoimportanttoLiesel?
3. IdentifytheHubermanns’children.
4. WhatmakesschoolparticularlydifficultforLiesel?
5. IntowhatisLieselenrolledafterhertenthbirthday?
6. DescribeRosa’sfeelingsandbehaviorwithregardtoherlaundryclients?
7. WhichclientdoesRosedetestthemost?WhathappenswhenshesendsLieseltothe client’sdoor?
8. WhydoesRosatellLieselshehastodootherpeople’slaundry?
9. WhatisFrauHoltzapfelknownforattheHubermanns’home? Why? Howdoesthiseffect
Liesel?
10.BrieflyidentifyFrauHoltzapfelinthecharactergrid.
“TheKiss(AChildhoodDecisionMaker)”
1. Brieflyidentifyeachofthefollowingcharactersonthecharactergrid:RudySteiner,Frau
Diller,TommyMüller,“Pfiffikus.”BesuretonoteanyspecialconnectiontoLiesel.
2. HowarefriendshipsbetweenthechildrenmadeonHimmelStreet?
3. Whoisresponsiblefor“TheJesseOwensIncident?”Brieflydescribeit.
4. WhointroducesLieseltothe“secrets”oftheneighbors?Explain.
5. WhatisSchillerStrasse?
6. WhatchallengedoesRudyofferLieselfollowingtheirtauntingofPfiffikus? Whatisthe outcome?
“TheJesseOwensIncident”
1. WhoisJesseOwens?
2. WasLieselpresentforthe‘JesseOwensIncident’?Explain.
3. HowdoesDeath’sexplanationofMr.Steiner’spoliticsexplainhisangerwithhisson’s emulationofJesseOwens?
4. WhatisRudy’sfathertryingtomakeRudyunderstandwhenhetells Rudythat heshouldbe happythathehasblondhairandblueeyes?
5. WhatisthesignificanceoftheeventthatDeathforeshadowsattheendofthechapter?
“TheOtherSideofSandpaper”
1. WhatimportantnumberdoesDeathprovidewithregardtotheGermanssupportofHitler?
HowdoesthisrelatetoHansHubermann?
2. WhateventledtoLiesel’sbed-wetting?
3. HowisLiesel’sbed-wettingadefiningmomentinherlife?
4. Whyisthesandpaperuseful?
“TheSmellofFriendship”
1. WheredoesPapatakeLieselfortheirreadinglessons?HowdoeshegetMamatoagree?
2. LieselnoticesachangeinHanswhentheyareattheriver,butdoesn’trealizewhatit means.WhydoyoubelieveHansisgoingtotheriver?
3. WheredoPapaandLieselworkonreadingmostoftenintheirhome? Why? Howdoes
Papausethisareaforinstruction?
4. Whatelementsblendtogethertocreatethe“smelloffriendship”forLiesel? Whydoyou thinkLieselfindsthesmellsoappealing,andRosafindsitrepulsive?
“TheHeavyweightChampionoftheSchool-yard”
1. Accordingto Death,whattwo importanteventsoccurin September–November1939?
What doyouthink isthesignificanceofthefactthat Deathliststhese twoeventsunder the sameheading?
2. WhatpieceofnewsarrivesattheHubermannhousehold?HowdoesPapareact?
3. WhatchangedoesLieselexperienceinschool?Why?
4. WhateventintheclassroomsetsLieselupforantagonismintheschoolyard? Whydoes
LieselattackLudwigSchmeiklandTommyMüllerintheschoolyard?
5. WhyareLieselclassmatessilentwhenSisterMariabeatsLieselforfighting?
6. WhyisLieselovercomewithemotion?HowdoesRudyrespond?
7. WhatliterarydevicedoesZusakuseinthefinallineofthischaptertodescribeLiesel’s futureuseofwords?
PartTwo: TheShoulderShrug
“AGirlMadeofDarkness”
1. WhyisDeath’sstatisticalrecordofLiesel’sbook-stealingsignificant?
2. Inaworkofliteraturetherearemanydifferentmethodsofarrangingthedetailsofthe story. Causeandeffectisonesuchmethod. HowdoesZusakusecauseandeffectinthis chaptertorevealfutureeventsinthestory?
3. WhatisspecialaboutthesecondbookLieselsteals?Whatdoesitsignify?
“TheJoyofCigarettes”
1. Despiteherhardships,severalthingshavebroughtLieselhappiness.Whatarethey?
2. ThelastlineinTheGraveDigger’sHandbookreads,“Wewishyoueverysuccesswithyour careerinthefuneraryartsandhopethisbookhashelpedinsomeway.” Howdoesthis relatetoLieselandPapa?
3. WhydoesDeathlikePapa?
4. WhatgiftsdoesLieselreceiveforChristmasfromtheHubermanns? Whatquestiondoes thereceipt ofthesegiftsinspire Lieseltoask? WhatmightyouinferaboutLiesel’s relationshipwiththeHubermannsbasedontheanswertoLiesel’squestion?
“TheTownWalker”
1.WhydoesMamaputLieselinchargeofcollecting anddelivering thelaundrytoher customers?HowdoesLieselfeelabouthernewjob?
2. Brieflyidentifyeachofthefollowingcharactersonthecharactergrid: thePfaffelhürvers, HelenaSchmidt,theWeingartners,andMayorandFrauHermann.
3. Liesel’sclassisinstructedtowritetwoletters.TowhomdoesLieselwriteherletters? Why doesLieselhavethesenseofforebodingwithregardtooneoftheletters?
4. Whatquestions/concernsdoesLieselnowhaveregardinghermother?
“DeadLetters”
1. Brieflyexplainwhythetitleforthissectionisappropriate.
2. WhydoesMamareprimandPapaonLiesel’sbirthday?
3.ExplainwhyLieselreceives aseverebeatingfromMama. WhatdoesLieselcometo understandthatismorepainfulthanMama’sbeating? WhydoesMamaapologizeto Liesel?
4. Whydoes Lieselwritethat shehasnoanimositytowardRosa forthebeating,ortowardher mother?
“Hitler’sBirthday,1940”
1. HowareNaziPartymemberspreparingtocelebrateHitler’sbirthday?
2. WhatdotheHubermannssearch franticallytofindanddisplay? Whycouldn’ttheyfindit?
Whatmightthatsymbolize?
3. SummarizetheunrestbetweenHansandHansJunior.
4. WhatdoesDeathforeshadowforHansJunior?
“100 PercentPureGermanSweat”
1. WhydoesDeathincludeTommyMüller’sinabilitytohearinthischapter?
2. HowdoesLieselfeelaboutthebookburning? WhydoyoubelieveLieseliscompelledto seethefirelit?
3. WhatrealizationdoesLieselmakeasshehearstheword“Kommunisten”spokenofasan enemybytheGermanofficials?Whatisherreaction?
4. DescribetheepisodewithLudwigSchmeikl.Whyisthesceneimportanttothenovel?
“TheGatesofThievery”
1. WhatstatementdoesLieselmakeaboutHitlerasaresultoftherealizationsshehasmade throughouttheevening? HowdoesPaparespond? Whydoyouthinkhereactstheway thathedoes?
2. HowdoyouthinkLieselfeelsaboutPapa’sresponse?
“BookofFire”
1. WhatdoesLieselnoticewhentheworkmenarecleaninguptheremnantsofthebonfire?
HowdoesLieseldescribewhatshesees?Whyisthissignificant?WhatdoesLieseldo?
2. WhatrealizationdoesLieselmakethatcausesherfear?
PartThree: MeinKampf
“TheWayHome”
1. WhyisLieselafraidwhenHansrealizesshehasstolenanotherbook?
2. WhathappenstoPapawhenhediscoversthebookLieselhasstolen? Whatfactorsare involved?
“TheMayor’sLibrary”
1. WhosehomehasLieselbeenavoidingonherlaundryrounds? Why? Whathappenswhen shecannolongeravoidthehome?
2. HowdoesLieselknowthatthemayor’swifedidindeedspyherstealingthebookfromthe bonfire?Wheredoesthemayor’swifetakeLiesel?
3. Doyoubelievethatthemayor’swifeplanstotellanyoneaboutLiesel’stheft? Explainyour answer.
4. WhatdoesLieselfindunusualaboutthelibraryandFrauHermann?
5. WhydoesLieselrunbacktothemayor’shouse?
“EntertheStruggler”
1. Thestoryshiftssetting.Towhere?Why?
2. BrieflyidentifyMaxinthecharactergrid.
3. WhatitemsdoesavisitorbringtoMax?Whatmightyouinferfromtheman’svisit?
4. TowhomdoesMaxplead?Basedonyouranswer,whatbookwasgiventoMax?
“TheAttributesofSummer”
1. HowisLiesel’ssummerdivided?
2. Describetheprotagonist,theme,andplotofLiesel’sbook. Whymightthisbeanovelthat theNazipartywantstoburn?
3. WhydoesLieselwanttobeseparatedfromRudy?
4. WhatdoesDeathforeshadowwithregardtoLiesel’srelationshipwithIlsaHermann?
5. WhatnamedoesLieselfindontheinsideofoneofthebooks? Whoishe? Whereishe now?
6. WhatsolidifiesLieselandRudy’sfriendship?Whatistheprimaryincentive?
7. WhatisFritzHammer’sroleinRudyandLiesel’sthieveryescapades?
8. BrieflyidentifyArthurBerginthecharactergrid.
9. WhydoesArthurBergallowRudyandLieseltojoinhisgroup?
10.AreRudyandLieselsuccessfulfruitthieves?Explain.
“TheAryanShopkeeper”
1. What treasuredoRudyandLiesel discoverontheirlaundryrounds? What dotheydowith it?
2. WhatdoesthisepisodedemonstrateaboutFrauDiller?
“TheStruggler,Continued”
1. WhatdoesDeath’stitleandintroductiontothissectionindicateaboutthedivisionofthe plot?
2. WhatisMaxVandenburgreading?
3. WhatnumberisluckyforMax?
4. WhatitemsareinthebagWalterKuglerleaves?Whymighttheseitemsbeimportant?
5. WhatisironicaboutthebookthathassavedMaxandledhimtohisfreedom?
“Tricksters”
1. BrieflyidentifyOttoSturminthecharactergrid.
2. Whyisthephrase“thediabolicalplanboreitsfruit”anaptmetaphorfortheincident?
3. WhatdoRudyandLieseldowiththegoodstheyacquirefromOtto?
4. HowdoesRudyjustifystealingfromOttowhenLieselasksifhefeelsguilty?
5. WhatinferencecanbemadeaboutArthurBerginregards tothe“smalltribute” thatDeath offers?
6. How is the tone of the final passage of the chapter contradictedby the example of foreshadowinginthelastlineofthechapter?
“TheStruggler,Concluded”
1. WithwhatmetaphordoesDeathopenthechapter?Doyoufeelitisanappropriate metaphor?Explainyouranswer.
2. Howdoesthenumber13comeintoplayagaininthischapter?
3. WithwhatinternalconflictdoesMaxgrappleashewalkstowards33HimmelStreet?
PartFour: TheStandoverMan
“TheAccordionist(TheSecretLifeofHansHubermann)”
1. Whichtwoquestions doesMaxaskHansHubermann? WhydoyoubelieveMaxasksthese twoquestions?
2. DeathremembersHansfromWorldWarIandstatesthattheyneverhadascheduled meeting.HowdidHansavoidmeetingDeathduringWorldWarI?
3. What“smallbutnoteworthynote”doesDeathofferthereaderinthischapter?Doyoufeel thatthismightembodyathemeforthenovel?Whyorwhynot?
4. BrieflyidentifyErikVandenburgonthecharactergrid.
5. HowdoesHansgainpossessionofErikVandenburg’saccordion?
6. SummarizeHansHubermann’spoliticalconflict.Namehismajormistakes.
7. Whatlife-changingeventoccurredforHansHubermannonJune16,1939?
“AGoodGirl”
1. WhatoccursinNovember1940?
2. HowdoesLieselrespondtoMax’sarrival?
3. Whatdoyoubelieveisthe“wildcard”towhichDeathrefers?
“AShortHistoryoftheJewishFistFighter”
1. WhowasMax’sfavoritefist-fightingopponent?WheredidMaxtrainasachild?
2. HowdoesMaxpersonifyDeath?WhatisDeath’sreaction?
3. InhowmanyfightsdidWalterKuglerandMaxengageovertheyears?Didtheyremain friends?
4. HowoldwasMaxonthe“nightofbrokenglass”(November9,1938)?
5. HowdidMaxescapecapture?WhathappenedtoMax’sfamily?WhatisMax’sreaction?
6. WhatiswrittenonthepieceofpaperthatMaxreceivedfromhismother? Whyisthat paperimportant?
7. WhydoesthefactthattheHubermannshaveachildconcernMax?
8. Whospeaksfirstattheendofthechapter?
“TheWrathofRosa”
1. WhatstartlesLieselfromhersleep?
2. WhatdoesLieselfindunusualaboutRosa’sreactiontothestranger?
3. Explainthefinallineinthechapter?“Whoarethesepeople?”
“Liesel’sLecture”
1. WhatimportantpointaboutcharacterdoesDeathmakeintheopeningparagraph?
2. HowareRosa’sactionsandconversationsdifferentonthisday?
3. WhatstorydoesHansoffertoLiesel?
4. OfwhatpromisedoesHansremindLiesel? WhatdoesHanstellLieselwillhappenifshe breaksherpromise?
5. HowdoesRosauncharacteristicallygreetLieselwhenshereturnsfromhertalkwithHans?
“TheSleeper”
1. HowdoesMaxspendthefirstthreedayswiththeHubermanns?
2. WhatdoesMaxsayinhissleep?
“TheSwappingofNightmares”
1. WheredoesMaxdecidehebelongs?
2. BehindwhatisMaxhiddeninthebasement?
3. Why does Max want togetupandwalk outoftheHubermanns’home? What doeshedo?
Why?
4. WhatcatchesLiesel’seyewhenshefinallygoesintothebasement?WhatdoesLiesel attempttoaskMax?
5. WhatistheonlythingthatMamaandPapaargueaboutafterMax’sarrival?
6. WhatdoesLiesellearnaboutRosaafterMax’sarrival,accordingtoDeath?
7. WhathelpsLieseltomaintainhersanity?
8. WhatcomparisondoesDeathmaketoLieselreadinginthemayor’slibraryandMaxliving inthebasement?
9. HowdoesHansandLiesel’sreadingsaveMax’slife?
10.WhatchangedotheHubermannsmakeintheirroutineinordertopreserveMax’shealth andsafety?
11. HowdonewstoriesentertheHubermanns’homenightly?
12. WhatworddoesMaxusetocharacterizehimself?Doyouagreeordisagreewiththat characterization?Explainyouranswer.
13. WhatpromptsLieseltotellPapashedoesnotneedhimtostaywithherwhenshehasa nightmare?WhydoyouthinkLieseltellsPapashenolongerneedshimtostaywithher?
14. WhatgiftdoesLieselbringtoMaxdaily?
15. WhatgiftdoesLieselreceiveforhertwelfthbirthday? HowdoessheincludeMaxinher specialday?
“PagesfromtheBasement”
1. WhyisLieselkeptfromthebasement?
2. HowmanypagesdoesMaxthinkhewillneed?
3. CommentonthebookthatMaxgivestoLiesel. Whatdoyoufeelistheimportance ofthis book?
4. HowdoesMaxgivethebooktoLiesel?HowdoesLieselreacttothegift?
PartFive: TheWhistler
“TheFloatingBook”(PartI)
1. What announcement does Death make about Rudy Steiner?Why would Death characterizestheannouncementas“small?”
2. WhatdoesDeathforeshadowregardingRudy’sdeath? HowdoesDeathfeelaboutRudy’s death?
“TheGamblers(ASeven-SidedDie)”
1. Whydoyouthinkthesymbolofa seven-sideddieisselectedbytheauthor?
2. Listthesevensidesofthedie.
3. Deathexplainshisownintereststothereader.Howdoesthatexplanationsupporttheidea thatthepointofviewmatterstothethemeandoverallpowerofanovel?
4. MaxasksRosatocuthishair,butsheisunabletofindthescissors. Asthesceneplaysout, whatdoesitrevealaboutlifeintheHubermannhousehold?
5. WhatisLieseltemptedtotellthemayor’swife?Why?
6. WhatbondedErikandHans?WhatbondsLIeselandMax?Explain.
7. WhatinspiresMaxtodrawthepictureofhimselfandLieselwalkingthetightropetothe sun?
8. WhydoesMaxexercise?
9.AsMaxbecomesstronger,heimaginesheisboxingHitler. Howdotherulesthereferee statesmimictherealityoflifeinGermany?
10. WhatdoesHitlershouttotheaudiencewatchingtheimaginaryfight? Whatdoesheask them in his rhetorical tongue? How does the audience respond? What does this symbolize?
11. Whoisthelastindividualtoenterthering?Whatdoesthissymbolize?
12. HowdoesDeathrelateMax’sdreamtothewell-recognizedjoke,“There’saJewanda
Germanstandinginabasement,right?”Doyoufindthereferencepowerful?Explain.
13. Whyistheseven-sideddieanappropriatesymbolforthisstory?
14. Whatdoesthemayor’swifegivetoLiesel?HowdoesLieselrespond?
15. WhatformdoesLiesel’ssubconscioustakewhensheisverballyattackingthemayor’swife?
16. HowdoesLieselfeelafterherverbalassaultofFrauHermann?Explain.
“Rudy’sYouth”
1. WhatthreeproblemscharacterizeRudy’syounglife?Explain.
2. Thestoryflashesforwardtwoyears,whatdoesLiesellongtodo?WhatdoesLieselcometo understandabouther,andRudy’sexperienceswiththeHitlerYouth?
“TheLosers”
1. BrieflyidentifyViktorChemmelonthecharactergrid.
2.Compare ViktorChemmel andArthurBergasleaders. Whatparallelsmightyoudraw betweentheirleadershipstylesandleadersfromthishistoricalperiod?
3. OnwhattermsdoViktorandRudyseparate?
“Sketches”
1. Max spendshistime writingabook forLiesel. Heintendsthe book tobeanautobiography, butthatisnotwhatemerges.WhatinspiresMax’swriting?Howdoesthebookchange?
2. WhathappenswhenLieselsneaksapeekofMax’ssketches?
“TheWhistlerandtheShoes”
1. WhydoesRudytellLiesel,“Ineedawin,Liesel.Honestly.”?
2. Lieseldecidesthatstealingsomething,morespecifically,stealingsomethingback,would be thebestwaytoimproveRudy’sspirits? FromwhomdoesLieselchoosetosteal? What doessherealizewhentheopportunitytostealpresentsitself?
3. Hearingsomeonewalkingontheflooraboveher, Liesel findsthebook,goesoutthe window,andsheandRudyrunaway. WhatdoesLieselrealize hasbeenleftbehind? What doesRudydo?
4. WhatindicationdoesthereaderhavethatLieselhas becomeas attachedto Rosaas shehas toHans?
5. What“officialtitle”doesLieselreceiveinOctoberof1941?Bywhom?
“ThreeActsofStupiditybyRudySteiner”
1. ListthethreeactsofstupiditythatDeathprovides.
2. WhyisRudy’sbehaviorsodangerous? WhydoesRudybehavesodangerously? Whatis theresultofRudy’sbehavior?
“TheFloatingBook(PartII)”
1. WhenandhowdoesRudyfinallygethisvictory?
2. WhydoesRudyremaininthefreezingwaterlongerthannecessary?
3. DoesRudyfinallygethiskiss?
PartSix: TheDreamCarrier
“Death’sDiary: 1942”
1. Deathshiftsthefocusofthestorytohimselfinthischapter. a.WhatfrustratesDeathwithregardtohisappearance? b.WhyisDeathoverwhelmedin1942?
c.WhydoesDeathrefertotheyears79and1346?
d.WhatisDeath’sopinionofwar?
2. HowdoesDeathfindrelieffromthestrainsofhisjob?
“TheSnowman”
1. WhatdoesLieselbringMaxonChristmasEve?Whyisitimportant?
2. Iftherearenopresentsandlittlefood,whydoesLieselconsiderthisthebestChristmas ever?
3. WhathappenstoMaxinmid-February,afewdaysbeforeLiesel’sbirthday? Whotakes chargeofthesituationandwhatdotheydo?
4. WhydoesLieselfeelguilty?
5. Whatisaparadox?Explaintheparadoxinthefinallineofthechapter.
“ThirteenPresents”
1. WhathappenswhenDeathvisitsMax?Whyisthissignificant?
2. WhathappensonthefifthdayofMax’sstayinLiesel’sbed?
3. HowdoesLieselspendhertimewithMax?
4. MamaforcesLieseltogooutandplay. Whatpromise doesLieselextractfromRosabefore leaving? WhydoesthismakeRosasmile?
5. WhatisthefirstgiftthatLieselbringstoMax? Listtheothergiftsandcomment onLiesel’s selections.
“FreshAir,anOldNightmare,andWhattoDowithaJewishCorpse”
1. WhatdesiredoesLieselexpresstoRudy?Howdoesherespond? Whatistheoutcomeof theventure?WhatdoesDeathsuggestabouttheopenwindow?
2. Describethedilemma,orconflict,thattheHubermannsfaceifMaxdoesnotsurvivehis illness.
3. HowdoesLieselputanendtoMamaandPapa’sconversationaboutMax’sdeath?
4. HowwouldyouinterpretLiesel’sdreaminwhichMaxreplacesherbrother?
5. WhydoesMamacometoLiesel’sclass? WhatploydoesMamausethatwasinspiredby Liesel? WhatdoesLieselenduretoensurethatnoonewillquestionMama’spresenceat school?
6. WhatfeardoesMaxadmittoLiesel? Whymighthefearsuchathing? HowdoesLiesel easeMax’sfear?
7. Maxrecoversandreturns tothebasement,returningLiesel’s insideworld tonormal. How doesthiscontrasttotheworldoutside?
8. Deathstatesthat“’Yes,thebosswasatmyshoulder. Getitdone,getitdone.’” Inyour opinion,whois“theboss?”Explainyouranswer.
“Death’sDiary: Cologne”
1. WhateventdoesDeathdescribeinthischapter?
2. WhatdothechildrencollectasDeathcollectssouls?Whatmightthissymbolize?
“TheVisitor”
1. Whoisthe“visitor”?WhatimplicationsmightsuchavisitorhavefortheHubermanns?
2. WhatcleverstuntdoesLieselpullwhileplayingsoccer?Whydoesshedoso?
3. Whatistheoutcomeoftheepisode?InwhatconditiondotheHubermannsfindMax?
4. HowdoyoubelieveMaxintendedtousethescissors?
“TheSchmunzeler”
1. AsecondvisitorarrivesfollowingtheNazi’sdeparture. Whoisit?
2. HowdoesLieselclassifyherconditionaftertheday’sevents?
“Death’sDiary: TheParisians”
1. Deathclaimsthat“theskywasthecolorof Jews.”Whatcolordoyousupposethat is? Why mightDeathclassifytheskyasthecolorofJews?
2. Deathstruggleswithhisowninnerconflict.Describetheconflictandyourreactiontoit.
PartSeven:TheCompleteDudenDictionaryandThesaurus
“ChampagneandAccordions”
1. Inthesummerof1942,whatistheinevitableeventthepeopleofMolchingarepreparing for?
2. HowdoesthisbenefitHansHubermann?
3. WhatdoesLieselfindmostinterestingaboutpainting? HowwouldyoucharacterizeHans basedonLiesel’sexplanationoftheseexperiences?Howdoessheperceivehim?
4. WhatdoesLieselexperienceforthefirsttimeinoneofthecustomer’shomes? Whatis
Hans’sexplanation?
5. Lieselwritesaboutherlifeandvowsnevertodrinkchampagneagain,why?
6. WhatdoesDeathforeshadow? Howdoyouexplaintheauthor’suseofthesimile,“Hard timeswerecoming.Likeaparade.”?
“TheTrilogy”
1. Towhatthreeinstallmentsdoesthechaptertitlerefer?
2. HowdoesRudyspendhistimewhileLieselisworkingwithHans?Whatishisgoal?
3. SummarizeRudy’ssuccessesatthefestival.HowdoesLieselperform?
4.When RudyandLiesel finally talkabout the100racefinal,RudytellsLieselthathis disqualificationwasintentional.HowdoesRudyrespondwhenLieselaskswhyhe woulddo suchathing?WhydoyouthinkRudygothimselfdisqualifiedfromtherace?
5. WhatdoesRudydowithhismedals?
6. WhatdoesLieseldoaftershefinishesTheDreamCarrier?
7. WhydoesRudytakeLieseltothemayor’shouse?
8. WhatcausesLieseltostopandlookbackatthemayor’shouse?HowdoesLieselreact?
9. WhatdoesRudyfindinthebook?HowdoesLieselrespond?
10.WhydoesLieselconsiderherselfacriminal?
“TheSoundofSirens”
1. WhatdilemmaconfrontstheHubermannswithregardtotheairraids? Whoresolvesthe problem?
2. IdentifythepeoplewhotakeshelterintheFielders’basement.Whichindividualsdoes
Lieseldeterminetobethemostfearful?
3. HowdoesDeathfeelabouttheindividualsintheshelter?Doyouagreeordisagree?
Explain.
4. Considerthequote,“Forthosepeople,lifewasstillachievable.”Comment.
5. WhatisontheHubermanns’mindsastheyreturntotheirhomefromtheshelter?
6. WhatdoesMaxadmittothefamily? HowlonghasitbeensinceMaxviewedtheoutside?
Howdoesthefamilyreact?
“TheSkyStealer”
1. Howdoesthefirstraidcomparewiththesecond?
2. WhatsuperstitiondoesHanspractice?
3. HowdoesLieselcopewithbeingintheshelterthesecondtime? Whatreactiondoesshe receivefromtheothersintheshelter?
4. Dothefamilies returnhomeassoonastheraidisover? Whateffectdoestheraidhaveon
HimmelStreet?
5. WhatimpactdoesRosa’sretellingofLiesel’sactionsintheshelterhaveonMax?
6. WhatisLiesel’scentralthoughtaboutfuturebombingsonHimmelStreet?
“FrauHoltzapfel’sOffer”
1. Whatdamageswereincurredasaresultoftheraid?
2. WhydoesFrauHoltzapfelvisittheHubermanns?
3. WhatareLiesel’sfeelingsonthedealMamamakeswithFrauHoltzapfel?
4. Interpretthelastlineofthechapter: “Thatmakestwoweeks,shewouldlaterwriteinthe basement.Twoweekstochange theworld,and fourteendays toruinit.”
“TheLongWalktoDachau”
1. WhatarethewishesDeathhearsasheexitsthetruckwiththedeadJew?
2. WhatarrivesinMolching?
3. WhatisHans’reactionwhenheseesLieselandRudyonthestreet?
4. WhatisthesignificanceofDeath’sstatementthatmanyofJewswouldgreetDeathlike theirlasttruefriend?
5. Lieselwilllaterwritethatthesewerethepoorestsoulsalive. WhatimpactedLieselthe mostabouttheJewspassingthroughMolchingontheirwaytoDachau?
6. WhyisPapabeatenbyaGermanSoldier?
7. WhostandsbesideLieselasthedramaistakingplaceonthestreet? Howdoesthecrowd react?
8. WhyisPapasuddenlyoverwhelmedbywhathashappened?Whatconsequencesdoes
Papafear?
“Peace”
1. HowdoesMaxreacttotheeventsoftheday?Whatisscheduledforfourdayslater?
2. WhenHansgoestotheAmperRiverheonlyfindsanotesaying,“You’vedoneenough.” Whyisthissignificant?
3. Whydoyou thinkthatDeathdoes not equatethe wordsilencewiththewordspeace,quiet,
orcalm followingthisevent?
“TheIdiotandtheCoatMen”
1. DescribeHans’feelingsfollowingMax’sdeparture.
2. WhymighttheHubermannsbehopingthatthePartycomestosearchtheirhomefor evidenceofaJew?
3. Whoarethecoatmen?WhyaretheyonHimmelStreet?WhatdoesHansshoutatthem?
PartEight: TheWordShaker
“DominoesandDarkness”
1. WhatconcernsRudyaboutthetwomentalkingwithhisparentsinthekitchen?
2. Why have the men come to the Steiners’home?What do the men proposeto the
Steiners?
3. Whymighttheauthorhavechosentointerspersetheconversationinthekitchenwiththe conversationaboutdominoesthatRudyandhissiblingsholdoutsideofthekitchen?
“TheThoughtofRudyNaked”
1. Howdoesthischapterconnectwiththepreviouschapter?
2. WhatisthepurposeoftheinspectionofRudyandhisclassmates?
3. WhatdoesRudyfinallyexplaintoLiesel?Howdoesshereact?
“Punishment”
1. WhymightHansHubermannbegratefulforpunishmentbytheNaziParty?
2. WhatpaperarrivesattheHubermannhousehold?WhyisHansimmediatelysuspicious?
3. Whatarriveslaterintheweek?WhatisPapa’swish?
4. What does Liesel discover as she walks outside several days later?What is Barbara
Steiner’sexplanation?
“ThePromiseKeeper’sWife”
1. HowdoAlexSteinerandHansHubermannspendtheirevening?WhatisRosa’sreaction?
2. WhatdoLieselandHansdiscussatthetrainstation?
3. Twelve daysafterAlexSteiner’sdeparture,Rudydecideshehashadenough andgetsLiesel togooutwithhim. Where doesRudytellLieseltheyaregoing? Why? Inwhatwayisthis characteristicofRudy?
4. WhatdoesLieselmeanwhenshestatestoRudy,“…andyou’veonlylostyourfather…”?
5. RudyandLieseldiscusstheirmothers’appearanceonthesidewalk. Doyoubelievetheir mothersaremoreworried,moreangry,oradifferentadjectiveentirely?Explain.
6. WhatimagedoesDeathprovideofRosaonthenightHansleaves? Howdoesthisimage affectyourperceptionofRosa?
“TheCollector”
1. WhereareHansHubermannandAlexSteinerstationed?Whatdutiesaretheyassigned?
2. WhatdoesHanslearnaboutthemenintheLSE? Whyhavetheybeenselectedforservice intheLSE?
3. WhereisHansHubermann’sseatonthevehicle?Whyisthisimportant?
4. WhydoesDeathexplainthatHubermannwould“needtoperfecttheartofforgetting?”
5. DeathpresentsaletterthatHanswriteshome,whichisveryshort. Deaththenfollowswith thedetailsofHans’taskandthereasons forthebrevityofhisletter. Didthevivid explanationchangeyourinitialimpressionofPapa’sshortletter?Whyorwhynot?
“TheBreadEaters”
1. Whoarethe“threedesperatemen”thatconsumeLiesel’sthoughts? Whathasbecome oneofLiesel’sfavoritedistractions?
2. WhatdoesRudyplantodowiththesackful ofbreadthatheshows Liesel? Whatargument doesheusetoconvinceLieseltohelphim?
3. Howdoestheincidentstrengthenoralterthereader’scharacterizationofRudy?Explain.
4. WhydoesLieselattend theparadesoftheJews? WhatconflictingfeelingsdoesLieselhave asshewatchestheJewsintheparades?
“TheHiddenSketchbook”
1. AstheneighborscongregateintheFiedlers’shelter, whatinstructionfromPapadoesLiesel recall?
2. Afterreturningfromtheshelter,RosagoestohermattressandopensaslittogiveLiesela gift. Whatisthegift? WhywouldRosahavechosenthisparticulartimetopresentLiesel withthegift?
3. WhatisyourimpressionofTheWordShaker?WhydoyoubelieveMaxchoosestokeepthe storyoftheWordShakerinthebook?
4. What secret doesthestoryimparttoLiesel? Doesthestoryrevealthesame informationto you?
“TheAnarchist’sSuitCollection”
1. HowandwheredoesLieselobtainRudy’sChristmasgift?Whatisthegift?
2. WhatdoesDeathurgeLieseltodowhenRudyfalls? Doessheoblige?Whatmightthe scenesuggestabouttheupcomingeventsofthenovel?
PartNine: TheLastHumanStranger
“TheNextTemptation”
1. WhatdoesLieselfindwhensheandRudygotothemayor’slibraryafterChristmas? What doesLieselrealizeaboutthelibrary?
2. Whoenjoysthegiftofcookies?
“TheCardplayer”
1. BrieflyidentifyReinholdZuckerinthecharactergrid.
2. Explainthe lastlineofthe chapter: “Itkills mesometimes,how peopledie.” Whichliterary devicesareusedinthelastline?
“TheSnowsofStalingrad”
1. WhoanswersFrauHoltzapfel’sdoorinJanuary1943?
2. WhatnewsdoesMichaelbringtoRosa?
3. How does the description of the battlefield and Death’s presence there affect your impressionofDeath?
“TheAgelessBrother”
1. WhatdoesLieseltaketo8GrandeStrasse?Howdoessheknowthatshehas donetheright thing?
2. WhenLieselthinksofthebrother,whatfillsherwithsadnessandthenasmile?Explain.
3. AfterLieselhasacceptedthedeathofherbrother,henolongerinvadesherdreams,but appearstoLieselanotherway.Whyisthissignificant?
4. WhatprayerdoesRosaofferassheclutchestheaccordion? WhatdoesLieselthinkabout
Rosa’sprayers?
“TheAccident”
1. WhatorderdoesZuckergivetoHans?HowdoesHansrespond?
2. Whathappensonthedrivebacktothecamp?Whataretheresults?
3. WhatdoesHansclaimafterheissafelypulledfromthevehicle? Whatincidentdoesthis recallfromapastwar?
4. WhatdoesSchipperexplaintoHansabouthisinjuries?Whatdoesthistellthereader aboutHans’character?
“TheBitterTasteofQuestions”
1. WhatletterdoRosaandLieselreceiveinmid-February?
2. WhatisRudy’sresponsewhenLieseltellshimthecontentsoftheletter?
“OneToolbox,OneBleeder,OneBear”
1. What has happened to Rudy since his father’s departure and the news of Hans
Hubermann’sreturn?
2. WhatdoesLieselrealizewhensheseesRudywalkingdownthestreetwithhistoolbox?
3. WhatcommentarydoesRudyofferregardingLiesel’sthieving?
4. WhatunusualitemdoesRudyhaveinhistoolbox?Whatisitspurpose?
5. WhatdoesRudyendupstealing?
6. WhydoesMichaelHoltzapfelcometotheHubermanns’homewhenthesirenssound?
HowdoRosaandLieselrespond? Aretheysuccessful?
7. WhatinternalconflictplaguesMichaelattheshelter?Whoarrivesatthelastminute?
8. HowdoesLiesel’srolechangefromthieftoproviderintheshelter?
9. WhatcausesRudyandLieseltoruntotheAmperRiver? Whatdotheyfindwhenthey reachtheriver?
10.WhyisthiseventsignificantforLieselandDeath?
11.Whatdo DeathandLieselwatchRudydo? Basedon Rudy’srecentfeelingsofanger,do you considerthisstrange?Why?
12.Analyzethefinalparagraphinthischapter.
“Homecoming”
1. HowmanyyearshavepassedbetweenLiesel’sarrivaltotheHubermanns’homeandHan’s return?
2. WhoanswersthedoorwhenHansreturnshome?
3. WhatisDeath’simplicationinthelasttwolinesofthechapter?HowdoDeath’swords affectthetoneofthechapter?
PartTen: TheBookThief
“TheEndoftheWorld(PartI)
1. Deathagaingivesthereaderaglimpseoftheendofthestory. DeathrevealsthatHimmel StreetwillbebombedanditwillberainingwhentheworldendsforLiesel. Howdoes DeathfeelaboutthebombingofHimmelStreet?
2. Throughoutthenovel,Zusakhasstressedthepowerofwords. Howdoesthisthemering trueinthischapter?
3. When Liesel is rescued, Death states that he could not fully share in the rescuers enthusiasm.Why?
4. WhatdoesLieselscreamasthesoldiers pullherfromtherubble? Whyisthescream significant?
“TheNinety-EighthDay”
1. WhydoyouthinkDeathdescribesthefirstninety-sevendaysafterhehasalreadytoldthe
readertheoutcomeoftheninety-eighth?
2. WhyaretheJewsbroughttothetownduringthisperiod?ForwhomdoesLiesellook?
3. DeathpresentstheimageofMichaelHoltzapfelonJuly24asa“pendulum,anotherclock, stopped.”Identifyandexplainthefigurativelanguage.
4. WhatdoesDeathlearnaboutMichael’sdeathfromTheBookThief?
5. WhogivesthenewsofMichaelHoltzapfel’sdeathtohismother?
“TheWarMaker”
1. WhatdoesDeathrevealwithregardtothewarandthesituationinGermany?
“WayoftheWords”
1. WhilewatchingtheparadeofJewsthroughMolching,Lieseltriestodecidethebestwayto identifyMaxinthecrowdofdowncastfaces.HowdoesLieselidentifyMax?
2. MaxandLieselarereunitedwhensherunstohimonthestreet. Asoldierseesherand forcesheraway. HowdoesLieselreachouttoMaxthesecond timesherunsintothe parade?Whathappens?
3. WhywouldMaxthinkthatitwasagreatdaytodie?
4. WhathappenstobothMaxandLiesel?WhocomestoLiesel’said?
5. WhatdoRudy’sactionsrevealabouthisandLiesel’srelationship?Explain.
“Confessions”
1. WheredoesLieselgoafterseeingMax?WhatdoesRudydo?
2. InwhatwaydoesLieseldemonstratehersupremetrustinRudy? Whatdoessheshow him?
3. WhatdoesLieselrealizeaboutRudyandwhatdoesshewantfromhim?Whyisthisironic?
“IlsaHermann’sLittleBlackBook”
1. WheredoesLiesel go to rejuvenatein mid-August? Whatact of vandalismdoesshe commit?Why?
2. WhatdoesLieselleaveforFrauHermann?HowhasthepowerofwordschangedforLiesel?
3. FrauHermannarrivesat33Himmel. Whyhasshecomeandwhatadvicedoessheoffer
Liesel?
4. Inadditiontotheblankbook,whatothergiftdoesFrauHermanngivetoLiesel?
“TheRib-CagePlanes”
1. Howhasthecontentoftheboldsectionschangedinthischapter?
2. WhatliterarydevicedoesLieselusetodescribePapa?
“TheEndoftheWorld(PartII)”
1. WhyisDeathtellingthestoryofthebookthief?
2. Whatisthesequenceofeventsthenightoftheairraid?
3. Deathprovidesthereaderwithadetaileddescriptionoftheorderinwhichhecollectsthe soulsonHimmelStreetandhowtheyarefound. WhymightDeathbeprovidingsucha detaileddescriptionforthereader?
4. ExplainDeath’sironicmemoriesoflife.HowisDeathcharacterizedinthisscene?
5. WhatpointdoesDeathhopetostressbylistingthegoodthingsthatRosahasdoneinher life?
6. WhatdoesLieseldowhensheseesRudy’slifelessbody?
7. WhatdoesLieselsaytoRosa?
8. WhatmetaphordoesDeathofferforHans’body?
9. WhenLieselisfinallyabletolookatHans,whatdoesDeathsee?
10.Whatvision,whichLiesellaterrevealstoDeath,doesshehaveofPapaasshekneelsnext tohisdeadbody?
11.WhattwoitemsdoesLieselleavebesidePapa’sbody?Whathappenstotheseitems?
Epilogue:TheLastColor
“DeathandLiesel”
1. WhatdoesDeathtellthereaderaboutLiesel’slife?
2. HowdoesDeathdescribeLiesel’spassing?
“WoodintheAfternoon”
1. WithwhomdoesLieselliveafterthebombing? Whatconnectiondoesshemaintainwith
AlexSteiner?
2. WhatdoesAlexSteinerregret?Why?
“Max”
3. WhoarrivesinOctober1945?
“TheHandoverMan”
4. WhatdiscussiondoesDeathhavewithLieselwhenhefinallytakesher? Whatisthelast notethatDeathoffersusasreaders?
5. WhatplayonwordsdoesDeathofferforthefinalchapter?