Podcast
Questions and Answers
Death introduces himself as the ______ of the novel.
Death introduces himself as the ______ of the novel.
narrator
The first time Death saw the book thief was on a ______.
The first time Death saw the book thief was on a ______.
train
Liesel and her mother traveled on a train to ______.
Liesel and her mother traveled on a train to ______.
Munich
Liesel's foster parents were named Hans and ______ Hubermann.
Liesel's foster parents were named Hans and ______ Hubermann.
Liesel meets and befriends a neighborhood boy named ______.
Liesel meets and befriends a neighborhood boy named ______.
The town holds a book-burning to celebrate ______'s birthday.
The town holds a book-burning to celebrate ______'s birthday.
Liesel begins delivering laundry for ______.
Liesel begins delivering laundry for ______.
A German Jew named Max hides in a closet with no food, light, or ______.
A German Jew named Max hides in a closet with no food, light, or ______.
Liesel is furious because her family is already struggling to ______ and the Hermanns have so much.
Liesel is furious because her family is already struggling to ______ and the Hermanns have so much.
For Christmas, Liesel builds Max a ______ in the basement.
For Christmas, Liesel builds Max a ______ in the basement.
When Max gets sick and falls into a ______, Hans and Rosa worry about how they will dispose of the corpse if he dies.
When Max gets sick and falls into a ______, Hans and Rosa worry about how they will dispose of the corpse if he dies.
Liesel continues stealing books from the Hermanns' ______.
Liesel continues stealing books from the Hermanns' ______.
At a Hitler Youth ______, Rudy wins three races.
At a Hitler Youth ______, Rudy wins three races.
With each ______, Liesel reads to them until it's safe to exit.
With each ______, Liesel reads to them until it's safe to exit.
Hans sees an old man struggling to keep up with the group, he gives him a piece of ______.
Hans sees an old man struggling to keep up with the group, he gives him a piece of ______.
Rudy's father, Alex, refuses to let his son go. The soldiers leave, but a few days later both Alex and Hans are ______ into the German army.
Rudy's father, Alex, refuses to let his son go. The soldiers leave, but a few days later both Alex and Hans are ______ into the German army.
When Liesel tells Rudy about hiding Max, she says she had never told anyone ______ before.
When Liesel tells Rudy about hiding Max, she says she had never told anyone ______ before.
Liesel goes to live with the ______ and his wife.
Liesel goes to live with the ______ and his wife.
Flashcards
Liesel's Anger
Liesel's Anger
Liesel is frustrated at the Hermanns' wealth despite her family's struggles.
Stealing Books
Stealing Books
Liesel steals books from the Hermanns' library with Rudy's help.
Max's Snowman
Max's Snowman
Liesel builds a snowman for Max in the basement during winter.
Max's Illness
Max's Illness
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Nazi Soldiers Inspection
Nazi Soldiers Inspection
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Rudy's Achievements
Rudy's Achievements
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Hans's Kindness
Hans's Kindness
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Liesel's Story
Liesel's Story
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Bombing and Loss
Bombing and Loss
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Reunion with Max
Reunion with Max
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Death as Narrator
Death as Narrator
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Liesel's First Sighting
Liesel's First Sighting
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Colors of Sightings
Colors of Sightings
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Liesel's Brother's Death
Liesel's Brother's Death
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Foster Parents
Foster Parents
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Rudy's Admiration
Rudy's Admiration
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Book-Burning Incident
Book-Burning Incident
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Max's Arrival
Max's Arrival
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Study Notes
Summary of "The Book Thief"
- Narrator: Death narrates the story, first introducing himself and highlighting his encounters with the protagonist, Liesel.
- Initial Sightings: Death sees Liesel three times: on a train, at a plane crash, and after a bombing, associating each with white, red, and black respectively. These relate to Nazi colors.
- Tragedy and Theft: Liesel's brother, Werner, dies on a train journey to Molching. Liesel steals a book from a gravedigger.
- Foster Care: Liesel is taken in by the foster parents, Hans and Rosa Hubermann.
- Adjusting to New Life: Liesel struggles at first, but adjusts through activities like rolling cigarettes for Hans. Nightmares persist. She befriended Rudy.
- Learning to Read: Hans teaches Liesel to read, starting with the book she stole.
- Wartime Setting: Molching faces escalating war, food shortages, and book burnings.
- Book Theft: Liesel steals more books, including from Frau Hermann's library.
- Max Vandenburg: A Jewish man hides in the Hubermann basement, becoming close friends with Liesel.
- Danger and Rescue: Max is hidden from Nazi soldiers searching for potential bomb shelters
- Friendship and Writing: Max writes Liesel a book about their friendship.
- Frau Hermann's Gift: Frau Hermann gives Liesel a dictionary and thesaurus with a note.
- Rudy and Activities: Rudy wins races at a Hitler Youth carnival.
- Allied Bombings: Allied bombing raids are frequent, and Liesel reads to people sheltering in the basement
- Continued Persecution: Nazi soldiers parade Jewish prisoners through town, leading to Hans's brief altercation with soldiers.
- Flight and Avoidance: Hans is drafted into the army, Max leaves Molching, and Rudy is likely recruited for Nazi training.
- Loss and Sacrifice: Liesel experiences the deaths of loved ones during the war. Hans faces death while in service; Rudy is killed in a bombing raid.
- Liesel's Book: Liesel finishes and hides her book, "The Book Thief."
- Death's Intervention: Death retrieves the book.
- Post-War: Max returns to Molching. Liesel moves to Australia. Death takes her soul. Death shows Liesel "The Book Thief."
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