THEMES AND QUOTES

1. THEMES AND QUOTES THE BOOK THIEF

2. THEMES AND IDEAS • DEATH • HUMANITY • RELATIONSHIPS • WORDS AND BOOKS • GUILT • COURAGE • IDENTITY AND BELONGING

3. DEATH and loss • The story is narrated by ‘Death’ – what impact does this have? • ‘Death’ as the narrator is reluctant to do his ‘job’. He is sentimental and cares for souls: - “ your soul will be in my arms..I will carry you gently away” p4

4. DEATH and loss • Max and Liesel have been touched by death and loss • Death is all around: • Devastation of war • Hatred of the Jews- loss of freedom and identity • Frau Hermann’s grief following the loss of her son is evident. • Michael Holtzapfel hangs himself after his brother dies in war

5. THE BEAUTY AND BRUTALITY OF HUMANITY • ‘The consequence of this is that I’m always finding humans at their best and worst. I see their ugly and their beauty, and I wonder how the same thing can be both . . .’ (p522) • The novel describes Rudy Steiner: • ‘In years to come he would be a giver of bread, not a stealer – proof again of the contradictory human being. So much good, so much evil. Just add water.'(p 178) • Even ‘Death’ cannot comprehend how humans can be so cruel and yet so good at the same time. • - He is “haunted by humans” p584 • Brutality of humanity • Suffering endured by Max, Liesel and many other characters in the novel • The atrocities committed in the war, the persecution and deaths of millions of Jews • The horrors of war, e.g. The dying pilot scene

6. THE BEAUTY OF HUMANITY • Erik Vandenburg (Max’ father) saves Hans’ life • Walter helps Max to initially escape the concentration camps • Hans gives one of the starving Jewish camp prisoners a piece of bread- a risky decision • Max and Liesel’s friendship, developed amidst war and suffering • Rudy leaves a teddy bear on the chest of the American pilot who crashes his plane (Part Nine) • Hans and Rosa accepting Liesel into their home, despite their own lack of wealth and food • Hans’ patience in teaching Liesel and his selflessness through buying her the books for Christmas • Hans helps Max by allowing him to stay with the family, despite the obvious risks • Frau Hermann sharing her books with Liesel

7. courage • It amazes me what humans can do, even when streams are flowing down their faces and they stagger on, coughing and searching and finding” (p570) • Hans shows compassion and courage, and rebels against Hitler and the Nazis by hiding Max in his basement • Liesel stealing books and sticking up for herself at school • He is trying to uphold his beliefs and morals in a society where they are not tolerated and accepted. • “Since 1933, 90% of Germans showed unflinching support for Adolf Hitler. That leaves 10% who didn’t. Hans Hubermann belonged to the 10%” p65 • Who else shows courage in the novel?

8. Words and books • Liesel finds solace and sanity in books she has stolen or salvaged from the Nazi bonfires of banned books. • The Shoulder Shrug- stolen at the bonfire • Liesel develops a bond with the Mayor’s wife after she is allowed into the library. • She is striving for knowledge at a time when ideas are being squashed • She is comforted by reading after her nightmares • She is able to tell her own story through her book • Max’ books “ The Word Shaker” and “The Standover Man” • “she knew how powerless a person could be without words” – (Max, The Word Shaker p476)

9. Words and book continued • “The words. Why did they have to exist? Without them, there wouldn't be any of this. Without words, the Führer was nothing.” – Liesel p553 • She “wanted to kill the words” p554 • ‘It was a nation of farmed thoughts…our Führer also planted seeds to create symbols.'(p 475) - Max's story suggests that Hitler's power lay in the words he planted • She said it audibly now, to the orange-lit room. "What good are the words?"(p.553) • I have hated the words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right. (p.562) • Liesel grows to understand how words are used to invoke and spread feelings of hatred during the war, and how powerful they can be (i.e. To the Nazi Party) •  Gravediggers Handbook is a link to Liesel’s past. Why?

10. Words and books Continued • Storytelling – The Book Thief, ultimately saves Liesel. How? • “The words were on their way, and when they arrived, Liesel would hold them out like the clouds and she would wring them out like the rain” p85 • “She was holding desperately on to the words that had saved her life” (p499) • Liesel reads aloud to calm everyone as they await the bomb raids- [find a quote and highlight.] • Frau Hermann gives Liesel a blank book to record her story. • Liesel reads aloud to Frau Holtzapfel as a favour. Why does Frau Holtzapfel enjoy this? What does she get out of this? • Max and Mein Kampf • He carries it with him on his journey to Munich. How does the book ‘save’ him? How is this ironic? • He uses it to make The Standover Man (he paints over the words)

11. RELATIONSHIPS • Liesel and Rosa • “a woman with an iron fist” • Made to clean Frau Holtzapfel’s spit off the doorstep, made to help with the housework and ironing • “She did love LieselMeminger..her way of showing it just happened to be strange. It involved bashing her with wooden spoon and words..” p35 • Liesel watching Mama wearing Hans’ accordion when he is taken off to war • “I came and watched you and you were beautiful. God damn it, you were so beautiful, Mama” p571 • Liesel and Hans • The accordion • Education in the basement, and night-time reading • He buys her two books for Christmas after selling his cigarettes • Hans gains Liesel’s trust early on when she is suffering from nightmares every night “a stranger to kill the aloneness” . He convinces Liesel to take a bath when she arrives in Molching. • His eyes were made of “kindness, and silver” p34

12. Relationship continued • Liesel and Max • Max makes a book for Liesel as a birthday present (The Standover Man) • Max and Liesel have many things in common • Max asks Liesel to cut his hair • The Word Shaker is a symbol of their strong friendship which has developed throughout Max’ stay with the Hubermanns. • Liesel diligently watched the Jewish marches looking out for Max, signifying her affection and hope for Max. • “Often I wish this would all be over, Liesel but then you go and do something like walk down the stairs with a snowman in your hands” p335 • Rudy and Liesel • A strong friendship from the start • “He was there for her at the beginning and he would be there later on... But he wouldn’t do it for free” p53 • Liesel finally gives Rudy the kiss he always wanted after he dies from the bombs in Himmel Street.

13. GUILT • Max’ guilt for leaving his family behind to be arrested • Feels guilty for sleeping in Liesel’s room like a guest and moves into the basement • Liesel’s guilt at calling Frau Hermann “a pathetic woman” • Rudy feels guilty for his father being drafted into the Nazi Party to fight in the war • Frau Holtzapfel’s son’s guilt at wanting to live while his brother is dead.

14. Identity and belonging • Liesel is unsure of her identity as she is taken away from her family to be raised with an unknown foster family • She suffers ridicule at school because she cannot read well • Through her education at home with Hans, Liesel creates her own identity as she becomes independent in her reading. • She becomes the ‘Book Thief’