Open Response Questions Book Thief
Part 1
1. What is the narrator’s impression of Rudy?
2. What is the importance of the three colors(red, white, black) that Death sees the three
times he meets Liesel?
3. Does the narrator agree or disagree with the Liesel’s feelings about Hans?
4. What is the purpose of making Death the narrator?
Part 2
1. How is Rosa a victim of circumstance? P 100
2. How do Hans Jr. and Hans views differ on the Nazi party?
Part 3
1. How does Ilsa Hermann make “suffering her triumph?”
2. Why is it fitting that Liesel begins discovering the power of words?
3. How is Rudy and Liesel’s stealing food an act of resistance?
4. How is it ironic that Mein Kampf saves Max?
5. Based on the quote on page 164 what is the narrator’s views of human beings?
“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.”
6. Discuss the paradox on page 168. “If they killed him tonight, at least he would die
alive.”
Part IV
1. Why does Hans feels he owes something to Max Vanderberg?
2. What are Hans’s politics?
3. Why does Max keep fighting even though he loses?
4. How is Rosa a good woman for a crisis?
5. What are Rosa’s politics?
6. What is “The Standover Man” about?
Part 5
1. Death claims to have a heart. How does the reader know this is true?
2. What is the author’s purpose of including Viktor Chimmel in the novel?
3. How do Rudy’s three acts of stupidity effect him and the others in the book?
4. Why will Rudy never ask for a kiss from Liesel again?