The Book Theif
Prologue, Part One
Questions:
1. What did Death find painful about his duties? Death couldn’t stand to look at the survivors, or leftover humans. 2. What mistake did Death make at the train line? After taking Werner’s spirit, he stuck around to watch Liesel. He was curious. 3. What tragedy struck Liesel’s family while on board the train? Liesel’s brother, Werner died on their way to Molching. 4. Why were Liesel and her brother supposed to be placed in foster care in January 1939? The foster parents are able to take care of the children better than the mother would. 5. Why did Death think it was foolish for the poor people to escape poverty? 6. Why was the book about grave digging significant to Liesel? She found the book on the day she last saw her brother and mother. 7. What helped Liesel adjust to the foster home? Hans Hubermann was nice to her and taught her how to role cigarettes. 8. Why was school a failure to Liesel? Liesel didn’t know how to read so she had to be bumped down in the class with the younger kids. 9. What was Rudy’s father trying to teach his son on the night of the Jesse Owens incident? He should be proud of his blue eyes and blonde hair; he is the perfect image of the Aryan race. 10. Why did Liesel insist on participating in the reading examination? Why did it end in disaster? Liesel didn’t want the class to think the teacher was going easy one her. Instead of reading from the class book, she repeated a line from The Grave Digger’s Handbook. 11. Why did the narrators work increase in the beginning of September 1939?
Questions for discussion 1. Why do you suppose that Death saw life in terms of color and referred to color in terms of taste? What tastes would you assign to colors such as red, blue, green, yellow, and purple? Looking at life in colors makes things more relaxing, it takes away stress. 2. Why do you think the Hubermann’s insisted that Liesel call them “Mama” and
Questions:
1. What did Death find painful about his duties? Death couldn’t stand to look at the survivors, or leftover humans. 2. What mistake did Death make at the train line? After taking Werner’s spirit, he stuck around to watch Liesel. He was curious. 3. What tragedy struck Liesel’s family while on board the train? Liesel’s brother, Werner died on their way to Molching. 4. Why were Liesel and her brother supposed to be placed in foster care in January 1939? The foster parents are able to take care of the children better than the mother would. 5. Why did Death think it was foolish for the poor people to escape poverty? 6. Why was the book about grave digging significant to Liesel? She found the book on the day she last saw her brother and mother. 7. What helped Liesel adjust to the foster home? Hans Hubermann was nice to her and taught her how to role cigarettes. 8. Why was school a failure to Liesel? Liesel didn’t know how to read so she had to be bumped down in the class with the younger kids. 9. What was Rudy’s father trying to teach his son on the night of the Jesse Owens incident? He should be proud of his blue eyes and blonde hair; he is the perfect image of the Aryan race. 10. Why did Liesel insist on participating in the reading examination? Why did it end in disaster? Liesel didn’t want the class to think the teacher was going easy one her. Instead of reading from the class book, she repeated a line from The Grave Digger’s Handbook. 11. Why did the narrators work increase in the beginning of September 1939?
Questions for discussion 1. Why do you suppose that Death saw life in terms of color and referred to color in terms of taste? What tastes would you assign to colors such as red, blue, green, yellow, and purple? Looking at life in colors makes things more relaxing, it takes away stress. 2. Why do you think the Hubermann’s insisted that Liesel call them “Mama” and