Part Three
“The Way Home”
As you read the chapter, use context clues to define the following italicized terms:
“The book penned by the Fuhrer himself.” (125)
“Perhaps it was her first realization that criminality spoke best for itself. Irrefutable.” (125)
“Like most humans in the grip of revelation, Hans Hubermann stood with a certain
numbness.”
“She fretted that he would tell Mama about the book.”(126)
“She brandished it in the air, as if waving a gun.” (126)
“Next is a kitchen and a volatile Hans Junior, regarding those books on the table…”(126)
“With typical affability, Hans replied, ‘Nothing my good man. Nothing at all. Heil Hitler,’
and he walked down Munich Street, holding the pages of the Fuhrer.” (128)
1. Explain the following quote: “Papa studied the title, probably wondering exactly what kind of
threat this book posed to the hearts and minds of the German people.” (126)
2. What does Hans make Liesel promise?
3. What book do you think Hans Jr. would believe to be suitable for Liesel?
4. What book did Papa buy from the Nazi party office? For what reason do the men in the Nazi
office thing Hans is buying the book? Consider what you know about Hans, do you think
these men are correct? Explain.
Now, go back and REREAD the first 8 lines of this chapter.
5. How do you think Liesel acquires Mien Kampf? How would it just show up in the middle of
the night?
6. What does the narrator mean by it in the following line: “Its journey began on the way home,
the night of the fire.”? What do you think he means by “journey”?
7. Which vocabulary term from the list above would fit with the following lines from page 126:
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph…Of course…Of course…The man was seeing something.” Explain.
8. Now consider the last three sentences of the chapter. What do you think these lines are
foreshadowing to the reader?
“The Mayor’s Library”
9. Summarize the actions between Liesel and the mayor’s wife and what explains their actions.
“Enter the Struggler”
10. Why is Max in the dark?
11. What words does Zusak use to let the reader know Max is starving?
12. List 4 things (not the food or drink) that Max was given to take with him.
13. Why do you think Zusak chose to use the words he did in the last paragraph to describe
Max’s eating experience?
14. What book do you think Max has with him?
“The Attributes of Summer” & “Tricksters”
15. Summarize the actions of Liesel and Rudy to combat hunger.
“The Aryan Shopkeeper”
16. Respond to the following quote: “The day had been a great one, and Nazi Germany was a
wondrous place.”
“The Struggler, continued”
17. Analyze the first paragraph on page 158 that begins “Look proud, he advised himself…” Why
does Max say these words to himself?
.
18. Explain the following quote: “’It could be worse.’ He looked his friend in his Jewish eyes. ‘I
could be you.’”
19. Reread the last 5 lines. What is ironic about these lines?
“The Struggler, concluded”
20. Interpret the following quote: “If they killed him tonight, at least he would die alive.”
21. Reread the description of the house again. Connect with another part of the story the words
“brown spit-stained door.”
22. Reread the last two lines. What do you think the key is for?