synergylanguagearts.files.wordpress.com€¦ · Web viewThe Book Thief By Marcus Zusak. Writing Prompts, Questions, Quote Notes, Activities, etc! Some content adapted, but most created

The Book Thief By Marcus ZusakWriting Prompts, Questions, Quote Notes, Activities, etc!

Some content adapted, but most created with love, for you, by Nisrene!

You must complete all the writing prompts, questions, and quote notes. You should choose at least THREE activities to complete by the due date (when we finish the book). There are ten sections.Prologue and Part One-- Introductions—Pages 1-801. Pre-reading questions for class discussion & personal blog post: Continuum

a. Choose one of the continuum prompts, and explain whether you agree or disagree with the statement and why (one paragraph). Also, make a connection between this statement and something else– a book you have read, something in history, something in your life. (one paragraph). Find an image that you think fits with this statement and include it in your post. It is okay to steal if you are in need Sometimes loving someone means leaving them Books connect people It is wrong to oppose the government Kindness should always be offered, even to those we do

not know. Your family can include people you are not related to

2. Read pp. 1-80 – Prologue, Part One3. Quote notes:Quote: Personal Response: What does this mean? What

does it make you think about? What are your thoughts about it?

“I can be amiable. Agreeable. Affable. And that’s only the A’s. Just don’t ask me to be nice. Nice has nothing to do with me.” – page 3

“Trust me though, the words were on their way, and when they arrived, Liesel would hold them in her hands like the clouds, and she would wring them out like the rain.” –page 80

4. Reading questions: Answer in complete sentences and paragraphs.1. What did Death find painful about his duties?

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2. Why was the book about grave digging significant to Liesel?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. What was Rudy’s father trying to teach his son on the night of the Jesse Owens incident?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Why did Liesel attack Ludwig Schmeikl? Do you think she was justified?______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Activity option: Research Poster Writing Situation : In these first two sections, we are

introduced to a number of historically relevant events and characters. I noticed references to Jesse Owens, air raids, communism, Hitler Youth/ BDM, the Nazi party, kristallnacht, and Adolf Hitler, but there might have been even more references that I missed.

Writing Directions : Choose one thing referenced in this section, and use internet or physical sources to research and learn more about it. Write at least three paragraphs

explaining what information you discover about your topic, and also making a connection to its appearance in the book.

Presentation: Present your paragraphs with at least three photos and in an attractive display appropriate for hanging in the hallway.

Part Two & Three—The Shoulder Shrug & Mein KampF—Pages 81-122, 123-170

1. Pre-reading questions for class discussion & personal blog post: Setting prior knowledgea. Have you read any other books or seen any other films about the Holocaust and the rise of Nazis to

power? How did the events affect the lives of the characters in the book or film? What is one interesting fact that you learned from this book/movie? How would you describe the lives of Jews and non-Jews during WWII in Germany?

2. Read pages 81-1703. Quote notes:

Technique: (add a definition) Find a quote in the book that uses this:

Flash back or Flash forward--

Cliffhanger--

Direct address--

Symbolism--

Irony--

4. Reading questions: Answer in complete sentences and paragraphs.1. How did Hans Hubermann’s Christmas gift to Liesel reveal how much he cares about her?

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2. Do you think there was some way that Hans could have made peace with his son? Why didn’t he?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Why did the people of Molching hold a bonfire? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Why did Liesel avoid the mayor’s house? And then, why did she change and look forward to delivering their laundry?_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________5. Why do you think Ilse Hermann allowed Liesel to browse through her library?

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6. Why did Papa Huberman buy a copy of Hitler’s Mein Kampf? Why did Max Vandenburg read Mein Kampf on the train?______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Activity option: Personification creative Writing

Writing Situation : In the beginning of the novel, we are introduced to our unconventional narrator, who is an idea made into a person. Death feels very human-like emotions and explains his actions and motivations. The author creates this character to introduce us to themes and ideas in a different way, and give us a unique perspective on the events in the book.

Writing Directions : Choose an idea to personify. It could be a feeling, a theory, a concept, or an event. Describe a day in the life of this idea as if the idea was a person. What do they have for breakfast? What are they scared of? What do they look forward to? Do they have friends or family? Where do they live? How do they survive? What are they excited about?

Presentation: Write about a page.

Part Four—The Standover ManRead pages 171-238Pre-reading questions for class discussion & personal blog post: Children’s books

a. What was your favorite picture book as a kid? Why did you enjoy it? Describe what the pictures looked like. Why do you think the author wrote this story for children? Does it have a message or moral?


Character & description (who are they?)-- Find a quote in the book that describes this person:

Liesel--

Hans--

Rosa--

Rudy--

Max--

4. Reading questions: Answer in complete sentences and paragraphs.1. How did Erik Vanderburg save Hans Hubermann’s life in the first World War? Why did Hans feel

compelled to help Max?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Why did Hans’ business go into decline after 1933?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Why were Max’s adolescent peers surprised by his aggressiveness?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. What burden of guilt did Max bear?_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________5. What qualities did Rosa demonstrate after Max’s arrival? Were you surprised by her behavior?

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6. Why do you think Max created The Standover Man for Liesel? What was significant about the materials he used to make the book?______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Activity option: Picture Book Tribute Writing Situation : The Standover Man is a book within a book,

which tells an autobiographical story that is a moving tribute to someone important in Max’s life. It uses illustrations and few words to show the importance of Liesel and tell the trajectory of Max’s life up to the current moment.

Writing Directions : Write an illustrated short story that tells about someone important in your life, and shows the reader why they are special to you.

Presentation: Create a booklet of at least five pages, combining words and images to tell your story.

Part Five—The WhistlerRead pages 239-303

1. Pre-reading questions for discussion & personal blog post: Everyday Heros2. Ordinary citizens risked their lives to save people who were wanted by the Nazi regime. What acts of

ordinary heroism have you witness? Have you ever stood up for someone or done something admirable? Who do you admire? Why? Are they well known or not?


Event in the chapter: (describe what happened) Find a quote in the book that describes this event:

Foreshadowing of Rudy’s death:

Max’s dreams:

How Max passes the time:

Liesel and Rudy commit robbery:

The question that Rudy keeps asking Lisel:

4. Reading questions: Answer in complete sentences and paragraphs.1. What is the structure of “the gamblers”? Why? What does it add to the story?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Why was Liesel outraged against the mayor’s wife? Do you think she deserved it?_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Why had Viktor Chemmel assumed the leadership of the gang of thieves?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Why were Tommy Muller and Rudy Steiner punished during the Hitler Youth drill? Do you think Rudy deserved it? Could he have avoided it?_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. In what ways did Franz Deutscher embody the attitude of Hitler’s regime? How did his surname confirm this?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. What do you think was significant about the book entitled The Whistler? Are there any common themes that connect the books that Liesel has stolen?______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Activity option: Activity option: Texting/ Email—non-direct communication Writing Situation: Many people attempt to communicate with each other

in this novel. I wonder what they would say to each other if they knew no one could overhear them, or if they were anonymous.

Writing Directions: Choose five important points throughout the novel, and write at least two text messages or emails from characters at this point in the story. Think about questions they would ask, what they would say to each other, and coming up with more information than provided in the book. Use text speech and emoticons-- emojis even.

Presentation: Present your final text/ email messages with headings, organization, and visual impact on one piece of paper.

Part Six—The Dream CarrierRead pages 303-350

1. Pre-reading questions for discussion & personal blog post:

Totemsa. Physical objects can become strong symbols of meaning, carrying

associations and links to memories or people, or inspiration for the future. Do you have any objects that are special to you? What are they? Why are they special?


Technique in the chapter & example: Significance—what is being compared/ why is this technique being used/ what does it add to the story or your understanding

Simile—“ … she stood on Munich Street and watched a single giant cloud come over the hills like a white monster… The sun was eclipsed, and in its place, a white beast with a gray heart watched the town.”

Cliffhanger—“ ‘I know,’ she said. She knew.” – page 324

Symbolism—The book The Dream Carrier

Second person— definition:

“They were French, they were Jews, and they were you.” – page 350

Metaphor—

“He was the second snowman to be melting away before her eyes, only this one was different. It was a paradox.The colder he became, the more he melted.” – page 316

4. Reading questions: Answer in complete sentences and paragraphs.1. What happened on Christmas Day?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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4. How did Liesel respond to Max’s illness? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________5. Why did Liesel deliberately injure her leg while playing outdoors?_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. This part contains entries from Death’s diary. What is one phrase or sentence that stands out to you as having a powerful emotional impact? Why? How does Death respond to the mass destruction of human lives?______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Activity option: Diary Writing Situation: In this section we hear more directly from

Death, with the use of his diary. His diary tells us about what is he doing when he is not with the Hubermans, and we hear directly from him.

Writing Directions: Choose one character and write at least three diary (or blog!) entries from his/her perspective. Feel free to write like the character and aim to use that character’s voice to explore what they are concerned about, who they are thinking of, and what they are looking forward to.

Presentation: Present your final diary entries with headings, organization, and visual impact on one piece of paper.

Part Seven—The Complete Duden Dictionary and ThesaurusRead pages 350- 403

4. Pre-reading questions for discussion & personal blog post: Wordsa. Do you think you can experience something as fully if you don’t have the words to describe it?

Why do we aim to improve our vocabulary? Do you think there is a link between our acquisition of language and our development of emotions? Why or why not?


Technique in the chapter & example:Words and definitions--

Significance—what is this describing/ why is this technique being used/ what does it add to the story or your understanding

“Zufriedenheit—Happiness:Coming from happy—enjoyingpleasure and contentment.Related words: joy, gladness,feeling fortunate or prosperous.” –page 359

“Verzeihung—ForgivenessTo stop feeling anger,animosity, or resentment.Related words: absolution,acquittal, mercy.” – page 368

“Angst—Fear:An unpleasant, often strongemotion caused by anticipationor awareness of danger.Related words: terror, horror,panic, fright, alarm.” – page 375

“Wort—word:A meaningful unit oflanguage/ a promise/ ashort remark, statementor conversation.Related words: term,name, expression.” – page 382

“Gelegenheit—Opportunity:A chance for advancement or progress.Related words:prospect, opening, break.” – page 386

“Elend—Misery:Great suffering,unhappiness, and distress.Related words:anguish, torment, despair,wretchedness, desolation.” – page 391

“Schweigen—Silence:The absence of sound or noise.Related words:quiet, calmness, peace.” – page 398

“Nachtrauern—Regret:Sorrow filled with longing,disappointment, or loss.Related words: rue, repent,mourn, grieve.” – page 401

4. Reading questions: Answer in complete sentences and paragraphs.1. Why do you think Rudy got himself disqualified and left his medals behind?

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2. Why did Liesel say she was a criminal even though she had Ilse Hermann’s permission to take books?_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________3. Why is it ironic that a book helped the Germans live through the second air raid in Molching?_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Do you agree with Hans Huberman that his act of compassion was “stupid”? Why or why not?______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Activity option: Quote Poster Writing

Situation: The Book Thief

focuses a lot on the power of words—what the characters say, read, and write shape their lives and their world.

Writing Directions: Choose three quotes from The Book Thief that you think are important and present them in a poster form – include visuals, information about context and connections/ relevance, and what chapter it is from.

Presentation: Present your final poster with headings and visual impact on one piece of paper.

Part Eight—The Word ShakerRead pages 405-455

1. Pre-reading questions for discussion & personal blog post:

Good Deedsa. “No good deed goes unpunished.” Consider this

statement. What does it mean? Do you agree or disagree? Why? What examples support this?


Technique in the chapter & example: Significance—what is being compared/ why is this technique being used/ what does it add to the story or your understanding

Personification—

example: “Even when they made it around the corner, away from the center of the wreckage, the haze of the collapsed building attempted to follow. It was white and warm, and it crept behind them.”

Allegory—Definition: A work where characters, events, or settings represent something else.

Max’s illustrated story“Soon, the demand for the lovely ugly words and symbols increased to such a point that the forests grew. Many people were needed to maintain them. Some were employed to climb the trees and throw the words to those below. They were then fed directly into the remainder of the Fuhrer’s people, not to mention those who came back for more.”

Symbolism—example: Rudy’s lined up dominoes

4. Reading questions: Answer in complete sentences and paragraphs.1. Why was Rudy selected for examination by the Nazi medical authorities? What was ironic about this

selection?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Why do you think Hans’ letters home were so brief? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Why do you think Liesel did not seize the opportunity to kiss Rudy inside his father’s shop on Christmas night?______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Activity option: Poems Writing Situation: The Book Thief is very poetic, and uses

different types of writing to develop different ideas. Sometimes there are short lists or breaks from the narrative to give facts or information. However, there are aspects that could be developed or considered more deeply in separate poems. Find some of these spots or characters that you could hear more from as inspiration for your own poems.

Writing Directions: Write at least three poems that relate to the book. Look back at your list of poems (for the menu assignment) to get inspiration about different types of poems. They can be about issues raised by the novel, from the point of view of the characters, or link the book to current events.

Presentation: Present your final poems entries with organization and visual impact on one piece of paper.

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synergylanguagearts.files.wordpress.com€¦ · Web viewThe Book Thief By Marcus Zusak. Writing Prompts, Questions, Quote Notes, Activities, etc! Some content adapted, but most created