- Answer one question from Part 3 OR Part 4
- Comment on one other student's reaction/response
- **YOU MUST COMPLETE BOTH TASKS FOR FULL CREDIT
- **Make sure to label your response with PART __ and QUESTION __
- **Make sure to write you name (first and last initial)
1). Who saw Leisel steal the book? Do you trust this character? What does the narrator mean when he says, “She [Leisel] had gotten away with nothing. The [person] had seen her, all right. She was just waiting for the right moment”?
2). In Part Three, Leisel’s book-thieving habits progress to stealing food. Do you think that Leisel, Rudy, and the gang were justified in this thievery? Doe the fact that they were hungry make it ok for them to steal the food? Why or why not?
3). Describe the Struggler we meet in Part Three. Where is he hiding? Why is he in hiding? What do you think has happened to his family? How is the Struggler’s gift (a copy of Mein Kampf) ironic?
4). The narrator talk in Part Three about the “contradictory human being. So much good, so much evil. Just add water”. What does he mean by this statement? Use some examples from the story to support your answer.
PART 4:
1. Liesel must keep a family secret. Can you imagine how the pressure of keeping a family secret might feel? Discuss the reasons for or against maintaining a secret. How would you decide?
2. How does death demonstrate his character thus far in the novel? Explain the following quote: "Two war for two escapes... Not many men are lucky enough to cheat me twice." What does this quote suggest and/or foreshadow about Hans?
3. Guilt is a 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?
4. The books that Liesel steals are not "real" in our world, but they follow similar story patterns to many novels. Discuss what you believe is significant about these novels she has acquired so far: The Gravedigger's Handbook, The Shoulder Shrug, and The Whistler. (For more insight, look into Part 5 on The Whistler)