The Book Thief Annotation Guide

The Book Thief - Reading Calendar

You are expected to have the assigned reading completed for the day. It is safe to assume that there will be a reading quiz based on the readings. Please keep in mind that you should be reading at least 30 minutes every night. Even if you are absent, you are expected to keep up with the assigned reading.

Week Due Dates Page Numbers Length to be Read 1. February 23-27 2 March 2-6 March 2 Anticipation Guide 41 3-45 March 4 46-61 15 March 5 62-80 11 3 March 9-13 March 9 83-100 18 March 10 100-113 13 March 12 114-122 8 4. March 16-20 5. March 23-27 March 23 125-141 16 March 24 142-156 14 March 26 157-170 13 6. March 30-April 3 March 30 173-196 23 April 1 197-222 25 7. April 6-10 April 7 223-238 15 April 9 241-266 25 8. April 13-17 April 13 267-292 25 April 14 293-303 10 April 16 307-335 28 9. April 20-24 April 20 335-358 23 April 21 359-388 29 April 23 389-403 14 10. April 27-May 1 April 27 407-430 23 April 28 431-455 24 April 30 459-480 21 11. May 4-8 May 4 481-493 12 May 5 497-515 18 May 7 516-552 36

The Book Thief – Annotation Guide The following are major thematic ideas and concepts discussed in the novel. I have numbered them; as you read look for these thematic ideas & place the number of the thematic idea in the margins of the novel as it comes up.

1. The power of words 2. The human capacity to love 3. The human capacity to hate 4. Relationships – Family 5. Courage 6. Suffering 7. Death 8. Friendship 9. The role of chance/fate 10. Hope

The following are literary terms we will discuss as we read the novel. As you read, look for and annotate where the terms are used. Place the letter of the term in the margins of the novel when it is used.

A. Allusion – A reference to a person, place, poem, book, event, etc., which is not part of the story, that the author expects the reader will recognize. Example: In Romeo and Juliet, Mercutio alludes to several historical figures and Greek & Roman myths when he says that Juliet, in Romeo’s mind, is prettier than Dido, Cleopatra, Helen, Hero, and Thisbe. B. Imagery – The use of words in order to appeal our one of the five senses. C. Metaphor – A comparison of two different things without using “like” or “as”. D. Personification – A figure of speech in which an object, abstract idea, or animal is given human characteristics. E. Simile – a comparison between two different things using either “like” or “as”.

The following are symbols & motifs in the novel. As you read, look for and annotate where these symbols and motifs are found and developed. Place a star by the symbol or motif and make note of which symbol or motif it is when it is used in the novel. (A motif is situation, incident, idea, or image that is repeated significantly in a literary work. Examples: In Hamlet, revenge is a frequently repeated idea. In The Cather in the Rye, Holden continually comments on the phoniness of the people he meets.)

 Accordion  Lightness & darkness  Books & words  Promises & secrets  Bread  Stealing  Cigarettes  The kiss  Colors  The snowman  Drawing & pictures  Weather  Dreams & nightmares  Fighting  Fire The Book Thief – Journal Guide

As you read you will keep response journals. You should have ONE response journal for each week’s assigned reading. Due dates for the journals are:

March 23 (2 entries) April 20 (4 entries) May 11 (3 entries)

These journals will include one quote that pertains to either: 1. The development of theme; 2. The use of a literary term 3. The development of a symbol or motif 4. The development of a major character

They should be a minimum of 1 page each, typed, double-spaced. In each entry, you should include: a. The quote & page reference b. The speaker c. The person or people being spoken to d. The context in which the quote was said e. The importance of the quote to the overall story f. Any connections the quote may have to one of the themes/thematic ideas g. Any connections the quote has to your life or the world outside of the book

On the following page is an example of a journal entry you will be expected to write: Pamela Strobel Mrs. Smith English 10 February 1, 2015

Journal Entry #1

“Katya, do you know what is as asinine as kommunizm? Autocracy. One man, one person, cannot rule the hearts and minds of millions. Liberty, freedom, truth – this America can be such a silly place, so fickle and naïve – sometimes so childish! – but it saves itself because of those first three things” (Alexander, 23).

Misha is speaking to his granddaughter Kate (Katya) while he tells her the story of how he has come from kitchen boy to the Romanovs in the House of Special Purpose to an old man in the United States. Misha is a character that is critical of both himself and others.

Misha explains that the idea of autocracy is just as foolish as the idea of communism; that is, Imperialist Russia was just as silly as Communist Russia. And why is that so?

Because, as he states “One man, one person, cannot rule the hearts and minds of millions.”

As Misha sees it – one person cannot rule over many because he cannot effectively care for the hopes and concerns of so many people. The ruler will, ultimately, protect himself first, then those below him.

He is mildly critical, even, of American sentiments and personalities, but says that

America saves herself because of her belief in the ideas of “liberty, freedom, [and] truth”.

What becomes evident is that Misha deeply believes in the values he has stated, and trusts that America will be safe as long as she holds to these values.

I don’t disagree with Misha’s understanding of autocracy and communism, but I sometimes wonder if he isn’t critical enough of America. Do we still truly hold to the ideals of liberty, freedom and truth, or do we let people in charge make decisions for us while we blindly follow? I think sometimes we allow people to make decisions for us and tell us that they do so in the name of liberty, freedom, and truth. If we are not careful, we are going to see our liberties and freedoms revoked because we have turned a blind eye to truth.

The Book Thief Anticipation Guide

Determine whether the following statements are true or false. Put a check in the appropriate column, and then write at least two sentences explaining your viewpoint for each statement. Tru False Justification e 1. Friendship runs deeper than simply having fun together. 2. The views of one person can completely move a nation.

3. Words are powerful weapons. Use them with care.

4. Death is ugly and scary.

5. Guilt and our conscience can lead us to do things we wouldn’t otherwise do. 6. Those that truly love us would never abandon us.