1. Discuss the symbolism of Death as the omniscient narrator of the novel.
Since the story is during Nazi Germany, it makes only makes sense that Death is the narrator since it was a time when thousands of lives were lost. Death and war are interwined and it sometimes seems that death enjoys war. But in the book he doesnt. Instead, Death tells us that he is tired of all of the death war puts on his shoulders.
There's even a part in the book where Death indicates that he is the most loyal to Hitler's cause since he is taking hundreds of innocent lives away.
Death tries to resist Liesel because he has his hands full. But he is unable to get away from her tragic life story because he is impressed how she is devoted to her family and friends, and he finds it interesting how Liesel is obsessed with books.
The ugly and beautiful thing about Liesel, Rosa, Hans and the other characters are two basic things: the ugly is the war among humans and the beautiful is the love and friendship to survive during a time like this. Death is haunted by humans because he is afraid of them. He sees what humans do to each other. He then tries to find a way to understand humans importance for existing, so he turns to colors.
2. What is ironic about Liesel’s obsession with stealing books? Discuss other uses of irony in the novel.
Liesel's obsession with stealing books is a way for her to get back her life from Hitler. She learns that words are very important and powerful and knows that these books have the ability to give her this power. Hitler used words to make Germans against anybody who was different so Liesel uses words to try to destroy what Hitler created.
3. The Grave Digger’s Handbook is the first book Liesel steals. Why did she take the book? What is signifi cant about the titles of the books she steals? Discuss why she hides The Grave Digger’s Handbook under her mattress. Describe Hans Hubermann’s reaction when he discovers the book. What does the act of book thievery teach Liesel about life and death? Explain Rudy’s reaction when he discovers that Liesel is a book thief. How does stealing books from the mayor’s house lead to a friendship with the mayor’s wife? Explain how Liesel’s own attempt to write a book saves her life.
Liesel steals The Grave Digger's Handbook after her brother's burial. She takes it as a reminder of her brother and later sees it as a reminder of her mother as well. She hides it under her mattress because not only was the book "stolen" and she didn't want Hans to discover it, but because it was a part of her past that she wanted to keep secret. When Hans discovers the book, he is at first surprised about the content of the book but soon realizes that it means a great deal to Liesel. He then helps Liesel learn how to read.
The second time that Liesel steals a book is when she takes The Shoulder Shrug from the bonfire on Hitler's birthday. She learns that her parents were taken away because they were communists and that's the reason why she steals the book. Liesel steals the book to get back at Hitler for taking her parents.
The next book that she steals is The Whistler, from Ilsa's library. On the day that Ilsa tells her Rosa's laundry services are no longer required, Ilsa offers the book to Liesel, and Liesel refuses it. Later, Liesel goes back to steal the book with Rudy as an act of revenge against Ilsa. It is a way of taking back something that had been taken from her, namely her weekly access to Ilsa's library. Each time she steals from Ilsa from this point onwards, it is out of revenge and anger. The act of taking which makes Liesel feel good. But when Liesel realizes that Ilsa is actually giving her the books does Liesel become greatful and begins to feel guilty. She writes a letter to Ilsa indicating that she will no longer steal from the library. As a result, Ilsa gifts Liesel a journal where Liesel is able to write her own stories. Little do we know that this small act of kindness from the mayor's wife saves Liesel's life. Liesel is inspired to write just like Max did in the basement, thats why she was there on the night of the bombing so that saves her life.
4. Liesel believes that Hans Hubermann’s eyes show kindness, and from the beginning she feels closer to him than to Rosa Hubermann. How does Hans gain Liesel’s love and trust? Decide whether Liesel is a substitute for Hans’s children, who have strayed from the family. Why is it so difficult for Rosa to demonstrate the same warmth toward Liesel? Discuss how Diesel’s relationship with Rosa changes by the end of the novel.
Hans throughout the novel proves to be "worth a lot" (p. 34). He ends up earning Liesel's trust and love by being the one who was there for her when she had nightmares every night. Not only was he there, but he stayed with Liesel for many hours by playing his accordion and teaching her how to roll cigarettes. Not only that, he was the one who taught Liesel how to read and was the one who believed that Liesel had great potential. In a way, Liesel is like the child that Hans never really had. Trudy only came to visit during the holidays for a day or two while Hans Junior detest his father for not being in the Hitler group. Liesel is the only one who shows true affection to Hans and he feels special when he is with her.
Rosa on the other hand appears to be a bad-mouthed heartless woman, but in fact she is a very caring person but just doesn't really show it. Perhaps the hards times of poverty and working for the rich made Rose a bitter woman. So instead of saying "I love you" to Liesel, she calls Liesel a Saumensch. Rosa does care and sacrifices a lot for others. She never questions Hans for bringing in a Jew to their house and in fact she sacrifices the little food that they have to feed Max. She also shows that she truly cares for Liesel when she goes to Liesel's school to tell her that Max has awaken. Rosa also proves her love towards her foster daughter by gifting Max's jouranl to Liesel. Towards the end of the book, Liesel comes to realize how beautiful Rosa really is. When Hans leaves for the war, Rosa stays up all night holding on to Hans' accordian and is quiet. Liesel learns that Rosa really does loves Hans and is devoted to him.
5. Abandonment is a central theme in the novel. The reader knows that Liesel feels abandoned by her mother and by the death of her brother. How does she equate love with abandonment? At what point does she understand why she was abandoned by her mother? Who else abandons Liesel in the novel? Decide whether she was abandoned by circumstance or by the heart.
Liesel sees love with abandonment because her mother left her in order to keep her safe. Later on Max abandons her, then Hans. They did not leave her because they didn't want to be with her but because they had to. Max had to leave for the safety of the Habermanns and Hans had to leave to the war because he helped feed a Jew. At the end, everybody leaves her because of the bomb. Luckily, Max returns to her.
6. Guilt is another recurring theme in the novel. Hans Hubermann’s life was spared in France during World War I, and Erik Vandenburg’s life was taken. Explain why Hans feels guilty about Erik’s death. Guilt is a powerful emotion that may cause a person to become unhappy and despondent. Discuss how Hans channels his guilt into helping others. Explain Max Vandenburg’s thought, “Living was living. The price was guilt and shame.” (p. 208) Why does he feel guilt and shame?
Hans feels guilty about Erik's death because Erik saved Hans life. During that time, Hans was a young person who didn't have his own family yet while Erik had a wife and a son. Hans is able to channel his guilt by trying to save others. He promises Erik's wife that he would do anything to help out and thus he helps Max hide from the Nazis. He also helps Liesel learn how to read even though he is not the great of a reader himself. He helps out a miserable Jew in the "parade" by giving the Jew some stale bread.
Max too feels guilt. He is constantly asking for Hans and Rosa's forgiveness for putting their lives in danger. His will to survive Nazi Germany leads him to leave his family without much of a goodbye. He feels horrible for not looking back at his family for the last time before he left and he also feels shame for not keeping them safe as well.
7. Compare and contrast the lives of Liesel and Max Vandenburg. How does Max’s life give Liesel purpose? At what point do Liesel and Max become friends? Max gives Liesel a story called “The Standover Man” for her birthday. What is the significance of this story?
Both Liesel and Max are haunted by their dreams. Liesel dreams of her dead brother while Max dreams about the way he left his family. They are both victims of Hitler's hate. As the days pass by, Liesel and Max become really good friends. By sharing words and stories to their bonds become strong. Max gives Liesel's life purpose because he helps her learn the power of words. He gives "The Stanover Man" to Liesel to show his appreciation for her friendship. what's ironic though is that he writes his little book with the pages of Hitler's Mein Kampf.
8. Death says that Liesel was a girl “with a mountain to climb.” (p. 86) What is her mountain? Who are her climbing partners? What is her greatest obstacle? At what point does she reach the summit of her mountain? Describe her descent. What does she discover at the foot of her mountain?
10. Describe Liesel’s friendship with Rudy. How does their friendship change and grow throughout the novel? Death says that Rudy doesn’t offer his friendship “for free.” (p. 51) What does Rudy want from Liesel? Discuss Death’s statement, “The only thing worse than a boy who hates you [is] a boy who loves you.” (p. 52) Why is it diffi cult for Liesel to love Rudy? Discuss why Liesel tells Mr. Steiner that she kissed Rudy’s dead body.
Liesel and Rudy are the best of friends. Rudy is in love with Liesel and is constantly trying to get her to kiss him, even though in reality he is afraid of the day when she actually kisses him (see the chapter where he saves Liesel's book from the river). At first Liesel sees Rudy as nothing more than a brother. They steal things together and pretty much survive the hardships of being poor together. Is not towards the end when Liesel confesses to Rudy about Max does she realize that she is in love with him. I think perhaps Liesel had a hard time in loving Rudy because of the fear of abandonment by death, like her brother. The reason what I think why Liesel tells Alex Steiner about kissing Rudy's dead body is to let him know that Rudy was truly loved. Mr. Steiner was not able to be there with his family and by telling him about the kiss was somewhat a way to comfort him about his family's death.
