If ilsa hermann, the mayor s wife, hadnt seen liesel steal the book from the fire, she might never have invited liesel into her library. The book thief discussion questions chicago public library. History was not the central theme of the book, but being a period book, it had a consistency of the times. Set in germany in the years 19391943, the book thief tells the story of liesel, narrated by death who has in his possession the book she wrote about these years. Along the way, liesel is witness to the atrocities of war, heartbreaking events, love, loss and other lifechanging events. What does death mean when he says, everything was good. How does liesel become acquainted with the mayor s wife.
Liesel believes the hermanns can still afford to pay rosa if they want to, and she expresses her anger the best way she can. In the book thief by markus zusak, liesel meminger, the protagonist, has a complex relationship with frau ilsa hermann liesel meets frau hermann, the mayor s wife, while picking up and dropping. Oct 31, 20 the book thief original motion picture soundtrack licensed to youtube by sme, adrev for a 3rd party on behalf of fox film music corp. The fact that three books survived the bonfire symbolizes for liesel that, no matter how extreme the nazi partys actions are in trying to rid the world of words and. The book thief is a story about the power of words to make worlds. Liesel doesnt want the mayor s wife to give her anything shed rather take it. In what language does the dying pilot thank rudy for his gift. During a nazi speech where the locals are forced to burn books in a bonfire, liesel recovers one book for her and the mayor s wife ilsa hermann witnesses her action. In june of 1941, germany invades the soviet union, and liesel and max see the mayor in the newspaper telling people to prepare for hard times.
She introduces liesel to her library, and both gives liesel books and allows liesel to steal them from her. Ilsa hermann, isa hernando, ilsa meminger, frau diller. Personification what is being personified as liesel. Their mother is taking them to a town near munich to foster parents. Liesel avoids the mayor s house at all costs because she suspects that the mayor s wife saw her steal the book from the bonfire. She is seen by ilsa hermann, wife of the burgermeister mayor.
What does rudys father alex steiner, do for a living. The mayor s wife had seen liesel steal the book from the fire, so liesel was afraid the lady would call her out for stealing. View homework help the book thief questions part 5. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in the book thief, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. The the book thief quotes below are all either spoken by ilsa hermann or refer to ilsa hermann.
Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Liesel worries about delivering the washing to the mayors wife, and wonders what kind of punishment she will receive for stealing. Rudys brothers and sisters arent major characters, but we want to list their names for you. Study 55 terms the book thief study guide flashcards quizlet. The mayors wife tells her not to punish herself, but if she isnt going to read anymore, she should write, because she is gifted. Part three, of the book thief, introduced liesel going to the mayor s house to read, even though at first she avoided the house at all cost. What does liesel lose the first time she and rudy attempt to steal a book from the mayors house. Rudy s brothers and sisters arent major characters, but we want to list their names for you. She cared for liesel and wanted to give her the book she was reading. Becoming unlikely friends with the mayors wife ilsa affords liesel the opportunity to read the books in the mayors massive. Liesel s evil words were both hurtful and surprising to ilsa hermann.
Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of the book thief and what it means. Sep 01, 2005 this is a book to treasure, a new classic. The mayor s wife saw her steal the book at the fire. When rosa asks liesel to take the laundry to the mayors spacious, gated house, she realizes that. Ilsa hermann, the mayor s wife, and max vandenburg, a hiding jew who arrives to live with the hubermanns. Liesel is the book thief referred to in the title because liesel is fascinated by the power of words. As she becomes a better reader, she becomes a writer, writing a book about her life in such a miserable time. Tommy has severe ear problems because he got lost in the snow for a long period of time as a young child. When rosa makes her go there for the washing, frau hermann says nothing to her. Character list and analysis ilsa hermann the book thief.
The reality is that she is depressed over her son s death in. Sep 01, 2014 the mayors wife, families in the neighborhood or boys from school, every character offered the depth and understanding of those times. The book thief personification what is being personified as liesel thinks about max while she visiting the mayors wife. Not much information is given about the book, except that it has a jewish antagonist, which was why it was at the book burning. The eclipse next is a signature black, to show the poles of my versatility, if you like. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the book thief. Liesel believes that the mayor s wife hadnt, in fact, seen her take the book and is relieved. The book thief why was liesel outraged against the mayors wife in part five.
In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, awardwinning author markus zusak has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time. The mayors wife shows liesel the library because she knows how much liesel loves books. From hans to liesel to the mayors wife, discuss how some of the. The next time liesel is in the mayor s library, ilsa hermann is especially insistent that she take the whistler, which liesel finally accepts. With sophie nelisse, geoffrey rush, emily watson, ben schnetzer. A summary of part nine in markus zusaks the book thief. The film is about a young girl living with her adoptive german family during the nazi era. Liesel meminger is a young girl who has been placed in foster care by her mother. As the two leave on bikes, liesel turns around and sees the mayor s wife ilsa hermann standing in the window motionlessly waving to her. The film is based on the 2005 novel of the same name by markus zusak and adapted by michael petroni.
Liesel steals the book, the complete duden dictionary and thesaurus. Words burn themselves into the mind, and they can incite a person to action. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Name some acts of resistance in the book, from large to small. Hans, rosa, and liesel hide max vandenburg in their cellar. Her son, johannes hermann, was killed in world war i and she mourns his death with her silence.
As a result, the mayor of molching writes an editorial urging townspeople to prepare for hard times. If ilsa hermann, the mayor s wife, wouldnt have seen. Why does the mayors wife continue to allow liesel to steal books. The mayor s wife invites liesel to read in her library. In the twentyfirst and twentysecond chapters of the book thief, liesel makes a secret pact with her foster father over the second book she stole and discovers who the shadow was watching her when she stole it. Taught to read by her kindhearted foster father, the girl begins borrowing. The book thief by markus zusak book club discussion. How does the mayors wife assist liesel in stealing the books. Liesel stole books from a grave digger, a bonfire and the mayors wife, ilsa herman. Ilsa starts out hardly able to speak, but by the novels. The reality is that she is depressed over her sons death in. Liesel s words hit the mayor s wife hard because of her fragile state.
Through collecting laundry for her foster mother, she also begins a relationship with the mayors wife, ilsa hermann, who allows her to first read books in her. One of rosas customers is the mayors wife, ilsa hermann. The book thief has struck for the first time the beginning of an illustrious career. A week later, rudy brings liesel to the mayor s home and points out a book that has seemingly been placed intentionally on a closed window. May 27, 2018 89 videos play all the book thief audiobook by lindsay graham thebeastkilla69 the book thief. The book thief cliffsnotes study guides book summaries. Which item is not among those given to liesel by frau hermann. What items does the man bring to the jew hidden in the basement. The girl takes the book into the basement at night to write the story of her life. Then, the book thief, whose name is liesel meminger, sees that her brother, werner, has died. Tommy lives on himmel street and is friends with liesel and rudy.
It is that night that death rescues liesels journal, the book thief, from a pile of garbage and comes to know more about the soul that has so intrigued him over the years. I feel that this side bar was meant to erect a sudden burst of pity, but though the book thief is set in the time period of the holocaust, it does not often beg of sympathy for jews, as one might expect it to, being a holocaust book and all. She has fluffy hair and walks around in her bathrobe during the day. A summary of part five in markus zusaks the book thief. What did the mayor s wife leave liesel and rudy in the library. She has fluffy hair and walks around in her bathrobe during the. The book burning against liesels chest acts as a symbol for the physical effects that words can have. Eva kubler, payton johnston, and arman hosseini friendships rudy and liesel started as friendly neighbors but throughout the story became best friends rudy is in love with liesel from the beginning, yet liesel only sees him as a. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
Books aside, liesels relationship with ilsa is complicated, but, we have to say, the woman proves to be a true friend. While subjected to the horrors of world war ii germany, young liesel finds solace by stealing books and sharing them with others. Hans hubermann papa liesels foster father and husband of rosa, hans is a former german soldier during the first world war, accordion player, and painter. Why was liesel outraged against the mayors wife in part. Liesel has been reading the book when she s at ilsa s home. She lives at 8 grande strasse and gets to know liesel because rosa does the mayors washing and ironing. What does liesel steal from the mayors house the first time she breaks in. The mayor s wife in the town where the hubermanns live and one of rosa s washing customers, ilsa subjects herself to cold weather as a punishment for living when her son has died even though his death was no fault of her own. Mar 14, 2006 when her foster father helps her learn to read and she discovers the power of words, liesel begins stealing books from nazi book burnings and the mayors wifes library. At the start of the book ilsa is so shattered by the death of her son she can barely function as a person, but once she begins interacting with. The book thief study guide contains a biography of markus zusak, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Meanwhile hans hides the jewish max vandenburg, who is the son of a deceased friend that saved his life in the war, in the basement of his house and liesel becomes his friend. She views this gift as one made out of pity and turns back to the.
What happened the 1st time liesel went to the mayor s house after the bonfire. Observed by the mayor s wife, liesel steals a book from the book burning. As the book quivered in liesels lap, the secret sat in her mouth. The book thief is a 20 world war ii war drama film directed by brian percival and starring geoffrey rush, emily watson, and sophie nelisse. As she begins her walk home, liesel becomes increasingly angry with the mayor and his wife, especially with the gift of the whistler. What happens when liesel puts the book under her shirt. The mayors wife was just one of a worldwide brigade. A clip from the book thief, in theaters november 15, 20, starring geoffrey rush and emily watson. Becoming unlikely friends with the mayors wife ilsa affords liesel the opportunity to read the books in the mayors massive library. Friendship and family in the book thief by eva kubler on prezi. This quote also shows how a lovely, developing relationship can. Terms in this set 14 how does the setting of the mayors library effect liesel. One day liesel is invited into ilsa hermanns study, where she marvels at the walls of books.
When the town holds a bookburning to celebrate hitlers birthday, liesel steals another book from the flames. Many of the people living in molching believe that frau hermann is insane. From hans to liesel to the mayors wife, discuss how some of the characters in the book thief deal with their past. Liesels words hit the mayor s wife hard because of her fragile state. His mother is asleep when death comes onto the train. I saw the movie the book thief several years ago and loved it. What game are rudy s siblings playing when the nazi soldiers come to take rudy away. The book thief by markus zusak is a novel of cruelty, poverty, and hope. The book thief part three summary and analysis gradesaver. The next time liesel visits the mayors wife, frau hermann, she.
Through this book liesel unlocks a world full of books. In markus zusaks book, the book thief, liesel has to face many obstacles in order to see that she just. Ilsa is a silent and mysterious woman who lives in sorrow over the death of. Liesel has been reading the book when shes at ilsas home. What wondrous thing does the mayor s wife show liesel. She is paranoid that the mayor s wife saw her stealing the book. Ilsa hermann character analysis in the book thief litcharts. In which room of the house is liesel hiding in during the final air raid. Liesels evil words were both hurtful and surprising to ilsa hermann. I get the distinct sense that zusak is hinting towards a more conflicting relationship between liesel. Liesel reacts after frau hermann, the mayors wife, tells liesel that they will no longer need her rosa to do their washing, a job that liesels family needed. Liesel character since the beginning of time, people have used bravery to continue fighting in order to overcome the hardest things in life. The soldiers take her to the police station where mrs.
Why is liesel afraid to pick up wash from the mayor s wife. She lives at 8 grande strasse and gets to know liesel because rosa does the mayor s washing and ironing. In many ways, the book thief is a novel about words. She wins the love of fellow himmel streeters by reading to them during the air raids and expresses her love for max by reading to him when hes in a coma. What is the relationship between ilsa hermann and liesel.
1542 108 835 217 1125 1162 815 2 136 7 1123 944 1309 145 901 272 1192 32 1066 75 1437 504 292 352 246 405 284 132 942 975 273