Names:
Part 6
“Death’s Diary: 1942”
1. Whom does Death say he looks like?
2. Respond to the following quote from page 309: “They say that war is death’s best friend, but I must offer you a different point of view on that one. To me, war is like the new boss who expects the impossible. He stands over your shoulder repeating one thing, incessantly: “Get it done, get it done.” So you work harder. You get the job done. The boss, however, does not thank you. He asks for more.”
“The Snowman”
3. Explain the paradox: “The more he warmed, the more he melted.”
“Thirteen Presents” – “Fresh Air, an Old Nightmare, and What to do With a Jewish Corpse”
4. What does Death say happened when he came for Max on Himmel Street that winter?
5. What does Death suggest about the mayor’s open window? 6. What book does Liesel steal from the mayor’s wife this time? Why?
7. Why is it so important for Max to live?
“Death’s Diary: Cologne” – “Death’s Diary: The Parisians”
8. Respond to the bottom paragraph on page 349.
Part 7
“Champagne and Accordians” – “The Trilogy”
6. Explain Rudy’s performance at the Hitler Youth carnival.
How does Death attempt to support the idea that Rudy disqualified himself in the last
event on purpose?
7. What book does Liesel steal next? 8. How does Liesel acquire a dictionary?
“The Sound of Sirens” – “Frau Holtzapfel’s Offer”
6. Why didn’t Death feel sympathy for the Germans who hid in their basements during the air
raids?
7. What does Death say is Liesel’s accordion? Explain.
8. How does Liesel’s reading come to help the family’s situation just slightly?
What does Liesel think is the reason for this situation?
“The Long Walk to Dachau” – “The Idiot and the Coat Men”
9. Interpret the following lines:
Poke at the package of Jews.
His beard was a ball and chain. They could all smell me.
It is perfect weather for a parade.
…the Jews…like a catalog of colors…
They had the Fuhrer in their eyes.
10. In what way is Hans’s act of compassion “stupid”?
11. Whom does Death refer to as “the idiot”?
12. What happens to Max?
13. For whom do the coat men come? Take a guess as to why.
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Comparison Text
Read Emily Dickinson’s poem “Because I Could Not Stop For Death.” Then answer the questions that follow. Because I could not stop for Death – He kindly stopped for me – The Carriage held but just Ourselves – And Immortality.
We slowly drove – He knew no haste And I had put away My labor and my leisure too, For His Civility –
We passed the School, where Children strove At Recess – in the Ring – We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain – We passed the Setting Sun –
Or rather – He passed us – The Dews drew quivering and chill – For only Gossamer, my Gown – My Tippet – only Tulle –
We paused before a House that seemed A Swelling of the Ground – The Roof was scarcely visible – The Cornice – in the Ground –
Since then – 'tis Centuries – and yet Feels shorter than the Day I first surmised the Horses' Heads Were toward Eternity – 1. How does Dickinson personify Death? What attributes does she give him?
2. What tone is created in the poem by making Death a person?
3. How is Death in The Book Thief similar and different to Death in “Because I Could Not Stop
For Death”? Novel Similarities Poem
In what ways has your perspective of Death changed after reading these pieces?