Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Book Thief links

This is an interesting site I came upon. Check out the link to the NPR interview and the ABC news interview with Marcus Zusak. There is definitely some thought-provoking insight into the novel in them!
sherid.wordpress.com/2006/11/18/the-book-thief-by-marcus-zusak/

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Torn Thread

Papa's advice, "One more hour. . . Try to stay alive for one more hour...." first appears on page 20 and runs through the book like the refrain of a song. What does this statement imply about the preciousness of life? In what other passages does the book convey a sense of life's beauty and goodness, even in dark hours, which makes it worth fighting for?

Friedrich

Which character in Friedrich might be called the most heroic? Why?

The Devil's Arithmetic

What is the lesson Hannah learns from being transported in time? How do you think she will behave around her family from now on?

Boy in the Striped Pajamas

When Bruno dresses in the filthy striped pajamas, he remembers something his grandmother once said. "You wear the right outfit and you feel like the person you're pretending to be." (p, 205) How is this true for Bruno? What about his father? What does this statement contribute to the overall meaning of the story?

The Book Thief - Discussion Question #4

Do Max and Liesel end up together?

The Book Thief - Discussion Question #3

In the novel, words have the power to both detroy and save lives. Discuss, giving examples of both sides.

The Book Thief - Discussion Question #2

In the book, there are many, many instances of courage. Which act (and by whom) do you think best illustrates courage?

The Book Thief - Discussion Question #1

Who was your favorite character and why?