The following activities are to be completed as you work your way through this novel. Please read each section carefully, and ask if you have any questions. You will get class time to work your way through this unit, HOWEVER, it is also expected that you continue to work and read at home. This project is due to be submitted on March 21st.
While it is important that you do your best work, the overall presentation of this material will also receive an academic grade. The rubrics on the sheet are indications (but not the actual rubrics) suggesting what your teacher will be looking for in your work.
When your novel study is finished, you will have completed the following:
- Five Listening Comprehension Quizzes (Approx. dates shown in Part 1) – These will be brief, so bring materials to class!
- One Vocabulary Activity
- Comprehension Questions to guide you (these will not be evaluated – but you will need to read over and consider them as they will greatly help you to: (a) understand significant ideas, character developments and events, and (b) effectively and confidently answer the questions in the rest of the booklet.
- Five In-Depth Reading Response Questions
- Three Questions on Short Story Elements (One Character, One Setting, One Plot)
- One Demand Essay Test (On March 18/19)
Part 1: Reading Schedule
Be sure to adhere (follow) the reading schedule listed below. At each progress point there will be a brief comprehension quiz to ensure it is being followed. As well, there will be times in class when your teacher may want to bring your attention to significant quotes, events, passages or details in the novel. It is therefore important that you are reading at an appropriate pace so you are not “lost” when this discussion occurs. It is perfectly fine to read ahead!
Part I (1-80) and Part II (80-122) Due Date: Feb. 10
Part III (123-170) and Part IV (171-238) Due Date: Feb. 17
Part V (239-303) and Part VI (304-350) Due Date: Feb. 24
Part VII (351-403) and Part VIII (404-455) Due Date: Mar. 5
Part IX (455-493), Part X (493-539) and Epilogue (543-550) Due Date: Mar. 12
Part 2: Vocabulary
As you read your novel, make a list of words that you come across that are unfamiliar to you. When you have finished reading the novel, complete the following activity. Include a title and any necessary headings.
1. Vocabulary Log: Choose at least 15 words from your novel that you do not know the meaning of. Record the dictionary definition for each word (quote the page number for each word used).
Category / Not Within Expectations/ Approaching Expectations / Meeting Expectations
Vocabulary
Selection / Selected words are simple or
represent proper nouns; limited selection. / Some interesting or advanced
words; some selection. / Interesting or complex words;
good selection.
Vocabulary
Usage / Meanings are not correctly interpreted / Some analysis/description was completed. Some words are incorrect. / Insightful and meaningful words are selected and correctly interpreted.
Presentation / The assignment is attempted but
not completed correctly and/
OR is difficult to read and interpret OR is not completed / The assignment is almost
completed according to
directions and is somewhat neatly presented, OR is completed but only satisfactory in presentation. / The assignment is completed
according to directions and is
neatly presented.
Part 3: Guiding Questions
This is a comprehension question package from the Book Thief. While these will not be assessed, if you “do not read them” or ignore them as you read through your novel, you may find it difficult to respond to the in-depth questions. A good strategy would be to take jot notes at some of the key points noted below so that you feel confident in responding to the evaluated sections of this booklet.
Prologue :
1. What are your thoughts on the identity of the narrator? What details from the text gave hints about the identity? How will this particular narrator affect the telling of the story in your opinion? (p. 3-15)
2. What is the relationship of each colour to the memory described? (p. 3-15)
3. What is the significance of the quote from page 14, “They fall on top of each other. The scribbled signature black, onto the blinding global white, onto the thick soupy red”?
Part One:
1. Discuss the sensory imagery used to describe the taking of souls on page 21. What is the effect?
2. What is ironic about Himmel Street? (p. 26)
3. Discuss the “silver lining” of Liesel’s nightmares. (p. 36-38)
4. Compare the description of Rudy’s eyes with the previous description of Liesel’s. (p. 61)
5. Discuss the significance of Liesel’s experience reading in front of the class. (p. 75-78)
Part Two:
1. Discuss the significance behind Liesel’s desire to finish reading her first book. (p. 86-87)
2. In what ways is Rudy’s first letter to Liesel more appropriate than the second, approved version? (p. 94)
3. Why might Liesel, who loves books, want to watch the bonfire? (p. 107)
4. Why is the setting important in understandings what occurs in the scene on page 116?
Part Three :
1. Why do you think the descriptions of the sounds of Max’s eating are so vivid? (p. 140-141)
2. What is the meaning behind the open window in the mayor’s library? (p. 145-146)
3. Discuss the excerpt, “She was a girl. In Nazi Germany. How fitting that she was discovering the power of words.” (p. 147)
Part Four:
1. Explain what Death means when it says, “I’ve seen so many young men over the years who think they’re running at other young men. They are not. They’re running at me”. (p. 174-175)
2. “The reply floated from his mouth, then molded itself like a stain to the ceiling.” (p. 200) What does this quote tell you about Max’s inner thoughts?
3. Explain the paradox, “Everything was good. But it was awful, too.” (p. 204)
4. Identify the message behind Max’s book for Liesel, The Standover Man (p. 224-236). What does the Standover Man symbolically represent?
Part Five and Part Six:
1. What secret about Rudy is revealed on the first page of Part Five? (p. 41). What is Death’s reasoning behind giving you important information before it happens?
2. Analyze Max’s sketches on pages 279 and 280. Why do these visual representations suggest about Hitler and the German people?
3. How does Death put a different spin on the events of WWII and the Holocaust that we are already familiar with? (p. 307-309)
4. Explain the line on page 350, “They were French, they were Jews, and they were you.”
Part Seven and Eight:
1. How does Hans come about more painting work? Name some positive and negative aspects of these jobs. (p. 353-354)
2. Compare Liesel’s bomb shelter reading with the one she gave at school. (p. 381)
3. What is the symbolic significance of the dominos in the scene where the two Nazi’s come for Rudy? (p. 408-410)
4. Describe Rudy’s attempt to kill the Fuhrer (p. 426-428). How is his character changing?
5. We are told that Hans survives his tour of duty before he begins it, so why is it still difficult to read? (p. 431-437)
6. Read Max’s second book for Liesel, The Word Shaker (p. 445). Why do you think she is only to read this when “she’s ready”? How is the message of this book different from The Standover Man? (p. 224)
Part Nine:
1. What literary device is used when Death says, “It kills me sometimes, how people die” on page 464. What is the effect?
2. Why is “a broken leg…certainly something to celebrate”? (p. 479)
3. A teddy bear might seem to be an unusual inclusion in a toolbox, but what should it remind us of? (p. 482)
4. Explain how the moment when Rudy and Liesel inspect the downed plane is both ugly and beautiful. (490-491)
Part Ten:
1. How is Liesel’s life literally saved by reading? (p. 498)
2. Explain the paradox of Michael Hotzapfel’s death. (p. 502)
3. What kind of internal conflict might Max be experiencing when he marches through Molching and encounters Liesel? (p. 509-512)
4. How does Liesel use The Word Shaker during the march (p. 512-513)? You may want to refer back and re-read it before answering this question! (p. 445-450)
5. Discuss the significance of the scene between Rudy and Liesel on page 518.
6. Why might have Liesel’s kissing Rudy “tasted like regret”? (p. 536)
Part 4: Reading Response
Your task is to keep a reading log, and to complete 5 Reader Responses (TWO from Section 1, ONE question from Section 2 and TWO from Section 3). Each question should be double-spaced and multi-paragraph. Responses should address the following questions, but are to be written in paragraph form.
Response 1 Guiding Questions - (For Parts I-IV)
1. What is historical context of the book? Using evidence from the novel, show how this is significant to our understanding of the story.
2. Analyze Liesel Meminger’s character based on what you have learned about her over the first two parts of this novel. Describe her physical appearance as well as her personality traits, and background/history. Then give your impression of her so far.
3. Name and describe a character OTHER than Liesel. Describe her/him physically and describe her/his personality and history, if known. Explain how s/he is important to the story and the ideas of the book (Base this on any information contained within the first four parts of this novel).
4. Describe the relationship between two characters. Include their history together and details of their relationship. Explain the significance of their relationship to the book (Base this on any information contained within the first four parts of this novel).
5. Describe one important event in the novel so far and explain why it is significant to the story (Meaning: What does it contribute to the plot, the characters, the themes, symbolic nature, etc…of the book).
6. Explain one specific aspect of the culture described in the book. Make a text-to-self connection and also analyze how it compares to your culture.
7. How has Zusak used the literary device of foreshadowing to help pull the reader into this story? (The first 15 pages of the novel contain many examples of foreshadowing. You are not limited to using this section, but you might want to review it when considering examples).
8. What is the significance of the colours in this novel? The narrator begins the prologue discussing colours, then he ends it discussing the three colours associated with the little girl: red, white, and black. What is the literal meaning of these colours? What are the figurative, symbolic meanings?
Response 2 Guiding Questions - (For Parts V-VIII)
1. A good story always has connections to real life. Tell about a connection you made with the story from Parts five to eight (text-to-self, text-to-text/media, or text-to-world). Explain how your connection helped you understand the story better.
2. What is the general feeling or atmosphere of this section of the novel? Give specific examples showing how the author creates that feeling (Setting? Conflict? Events? Diction/Description? Figurative Language?).
3.How does the humanization of Death contribute to the overall story? Do you agree with Zusak’s narrative choice? Is Death a reliable narrator so far in this novel?
4.Why do Max and Liesel become friends? What do they have in common? Provide specific examples.
5. In this section of the novel, Max writes two books for Liesel: The Standover Man (p. 224-236) and The Word Shaker (445-450). Why does Max write these books for Liesel? In your response, compare and contrast the meaning behind both books and also mention why Max only wanted Liesel to read The Word Shaker “when she’s ready”.
Response 3 Guiding Questions - (for Parts VIII-X; however, you will want to consider the entire novel when answering this question)
1. Even though most of the characters have been killed in a bombing by the end of the novel, why can we find hope in Max’s ironic survival?
2. Over their long friendship, Liesel won’t give Rudy the kiss he requests. Why do you think he won’t?
3. How do you believe each member of the Hubermann household demonstrated courage throughout the novel?
4. At the end of the novel (Part X), there is a large gap in time. Write a final chapter from Liesel’s perspective, discussing what has changed in her life. Use what you know ABOUT your character and infer (educated guesses) as to what they would likely want to explain and talk about. Possible suggestions could include (but are not limited to):
Ø Just after she and Max reunited
Ø The events and decisions that lead her to leave Germany
Ø Who she married and how they met
Ø Imagining that Liesel returned to Germany as an adult, and the events/decisions that lead her to return?
Ø What feelings, emotions and memories were evoked before, during and after her visit? Who and where did she visit?
r
Ideas/Content / Entries do not show reflection
about readings. The connections
do little to help me understand the story. Questions are quick, literal questions and often not related to the story. Reading log not completed. / Entries include some reflection
of readings, but also lots of
summary, or “stories.” Connections often recount events. Questions relate to
predictions and content.
Reading log is almost completed OR only partially completed. / Entries show evidence of
reflection of readings and
original ideas, not summaries, or “stories.” Connections relate to the story and are often tied to
an emotional response. Questions
are relevant to the story and help to learn more about the meaning. Reading log completed with accuracy and detail.
Evidence From
Novel / Not enough detail is included in
examples from the novel to show
the reader what part of the novel is being discussed. / Examples and references from
the novel are provided but more
detail is often OR sometimes needed. / Examples and references from
the novel are provided in detail
where necessary.
Fluency / Journals are difficult to read
and understand. / Journals are mostly easy to read
and understand. / Journals are coherent, fluid, and well-written. Word choice is effective.
Quantity & Presentation / Many journal entries are not the
required length. Presentation is not clear. Proper format has been attempted only. / One or two journals are not quite
long enough. Presentation is adequate. Journals are fairly neatly presented. / All journal entries are of
adequate length. Presentation is very clear. Journals are neatly written and are clearly labeled.
Part 5: Story Element Activities (Character, Setting, Plot)