AJR+BookThief

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= Individual Assignment #1 =
 * Create a new WIKI page using your initials and the name of your novel(s) as the title. Link it to your main page.
 * As you read your story, pay attention to the following:
 * 1) Name the major character(s). Name the minor character(s). In what ways do the minor character(s) affect the main character(s)?
 * 2) What decision(s) has a character made that you totally disagree with. Tell why you disagree with it.
 * 3) How does this story change your thinking?

Write your ideas on your WIKI page. This should be an ongoing assignment throughout the week. As you read more chapters, add more information. Your insights can be written using bullet points, using short sentences, or writing paragraphs - your choice.

Due date: Friday, March 9

1. The major characters have an interesting role in the story. Unlike most stories, The Book Thief features a narrator, and even more unusual is that this narrator is Death. This provides an interesting perspective on the story. In some chapters, it is hardly noticeable that Death is narrating the story; it just feels like an average onlooker. Other chapters, Death makes comments like, "A small soul was in my arms." (8) This never ceases to shock me, because it is so unusual. Another major character is the book thief, Liesel Meminger. Her mother gives her to a foster family in order for her to have a better life. Liesel has no idea how to read or write, and at first she is extremely shy around her new foster family, who also play an important roll in the story. Rosa and Hans Hubermann have a big impact in the story, while their adult children play minor characters. Rosa's swearing often intimidates Liesel, but Rosa really loves Liesel. Liesel immediately grows attached to Hans. He comforts her when she has nightmares, teaches her how to read, and does just the right thing to make her happy. Trundy, short for Trudel, is a housemaid in Munich. Hans Junior is an extremely devoted Nazi, which is where he and his father clash in opinions. Although Junior is a Nazi, Hans still cares about his opinion. When Junior returns home for Hitler's birthday, "it didn't take long for old tensions to rise up." (103) Hans is neutral about Hitler; he does not want to join the party but he is not openly against it either. Junior is frustrated that his father will not join the party, and calls his father a coward. Holding respect for his son's opinion, Hans is hurt by this accusation, and tries to chase down Junior after he storms off. Liesel's biological mother and brother play minor characters in this story, but they have a large impact on Liesel. She is still haunted by the memory of her brother's death, resulting in horrific nightmares almost every night. Liesel longs to see her mother again, writing letters, and thinking about her almost every day. Although these characters are not totally involved in the story, their memories have a big impact on Liesel. Sister Maria, Liesel's teacher, is another minor character. Since Liesel doesn't know how to read or write, she is put in a younger class. Liesel desperately wants to move back into her own age group, but Sister Maria places no faith in her. Liesel often becomes frustrated by this, usually resulting in her stubbornness and smart-alicky comments. Sister Maria has no tolerance for her behavior, and Liesel usually received a fierce beating in the hallway. One of Liesel's best friends is Rudy, a boy from down the street. He also plays a main character, and his quirky influence makes Liesel's stay with the Hubermanns just a little bit more enjoyable. Rudy cracks jokes, acts crazy, and makes Liesel laugh with his funny antics. Liesel's relationship with Hans and her relationship with Rose are very similar to the relationships between Anne Frank and her mother and father. We know that Anne and her mother DO love each other, but have a difficult time expressing their feelings. Anne is very close to her dad...ironic that he is the one who lives and can learn more about Anne through her diary. 2. One decision that I totally disagree with is Rosa's to make Liesel return the laundry. I understand her reasoning, that hopefully people would pity Liesel and be less likely to drop Rosa's services. However, I think that this idea of trying to keep customers by playing on their emotions is dishonest, and it seems kind of underhanded. Plus, it means that Liesel would have to deliver all the laundry by herself. I know Rosa was getting desperate, but in a time like that, with Germany in an economic depression, Rosa would probably end up losing the customers anyway. There is no way that anyone in that time would keep up those services just because they pitied a little girl; they just didn't have the money. You're right; Rosa is very manipulative. Perhaps she is embarrassed to have to beg for people's business, so to cover that up, she sends Leisel. Then she doesn't have to face the scrutiny of her customers. 3. This story changes my thinking in a couple ways. It helps me look at things from a different perspective. With Death as the narrator, some things are portrayed a little bit differently. Also, it changes my thinking about the Nazis and which side the common people of Germany took. Before, I always wondered how Hitler could mislead so many people to those corrupt ideals. Now, I realize that most people were not the infamous, crazed Nazi supporters. Most did what they had to in order to stay out of trouble. Even if they didn't necessarily believe in the Nazi ideals, they couldn't just blatantly oppose the Nazis; they would be killed. I realized that most people only supported Hitler out of fear. Not everyone could be the Jew-hiding heros of that time.

Exactly. Good reflections and well-written!