Part Five
“The Floating Book (Part 1)”
1. Respond to this chapter: why would it be subtitled “Part 1” and how explain the final line.
Death informs the reader that Rudy rescues a book from the Amper River, most likely
Liesel’s since he asks for a kiss and is denied. Death also informs the reader that Rudy’s death
was unfair, almost leading him/her to believe that he died from hypothermia due to his
rescueing the book, but Death then tells that this is not the case and that, instead, Rudy died in
a bombing 2 years later and that he would have enjoyed seeing Liesel kiss him.
“The Gamblers (A Seven-sided Die)”
2. Cite/Explain ways in friendship developed between Max and Liesel.
* he trusted her to cut his hair
* she would retrieve a newspaper for him every Thursday and watch him to the
crossword puzzle within it
* she reported the weather to him
3. What could a reader learn about Adolf Hitler from Max’s imaginary fight?
How he used words to convince the Germans that the Jewish were out to get them, to
take over the county, their jobs, and their land. How he used these words to convince the
Germans to fight with/for him and attempt genocide.
4. Respond to the following line from page 256: “It was as though he’d opened her palm, given
her the words, and closed it up again.”
He doesn’t tell Liesel that he loses the fight to Hitler in his dream. He tells her he wins,
giving her hope that Hitler can/will be defeated and the courage to keep fighting.
5. For what reason might the reader believe Liesel has truly come to understand the meaning
and power of words? How does the reader know Liesel is sorry for her actions.
She uses insults to hurt Frau Herman when she is angry with her and hurt by her. She
knows what she is doing when she says the words, but she doesn’t stop herself. When she
returns home, she does not give Rosa the letter from the mayor’s wife, and instead, she tells
her that it is her fault they fired Rosa, because Liesel said mean and nasty things – she does this
because she WANTS a beating, a punishment for what she did, but Rosa does not hit her
because she does not believe Liesel could really say such things.
“Rudy’s Youth” – “The Losers”
6. What type of person was Rudy Steiner? How do you know?
Kind hearted, charming, true friend – he stood up for what he believed in, stuck by his
friends (Tommy Muller, Liesel’s book, thieving apples, wanting to kiss Liesel)
7. What might the line “You’ll pay for that at a later date, my friend” foreshadow?
“Sketches”
8. Cite 5 examples of personification.
* …summer of 1941 was walling up around the likes of Rudy and Liesel…
*…it was printing and painting itself into the life of Max Vendenburg…
*…the words started piling up around him.
*… the visions began to pour and fall and occasionally limp from out of his hands.
*… the girl dragged the same thought up the steps.
* It was a collection of random thoughts and he chose to embrace them.
9. Cite 2 other examples of figurative language (simile, metaphor, allusion, alliteration, etc)
* Like a simple puzzle, he put them together. (simile)
*…he’d give it to Liesel, when she was old enough, and hopefully, when all this nonsense
was over. (metaphor)
*…the Fuhrer—the conductor! (metaphor)
* the nazi flag/sun (symbol)
* Isn’t it a lovely day… (irony)
“The Whistler and the Shoes”
10. What event marks the initiation of Liesel’s title?
She and Rudy steal The Whistler from the mayor’s library. He forgets her shoes and has
to go back for them. When they return home, he calls to her, “Good night, book thief.”
“Three Acts of Stupidity by Rudy Steiner”
First Mistake:
11. What causes Rudy to steal the potato?
greed
12. What does a “Choir of heavyset Helgas” mean?
overweight German women
13. What literary device does Zusak use to describe the merchant’s teeth?
Simile – his teeth were like a soccer crowd, crammed in.
14. Why do the people in the crowd change their minds about Rudy?
The teacher, Herr Link, told the grocer Rudy was poor and from Himmel Street, which
everyone knew as the poor side of town. He also lied and said Rudy came from a family of 8
children instead of 5 and that he often came to school without breakfast. They felt sorry for
him.
Second Mistake:
15. Why does Franz Deutscher think Rudy will step in when Tommy had a hard time?
Because he had done it in the past.
16. What does Rudy say to Franz to make Franz angry at the Hitler Youth meetings?
He pretends to not know the date of Hitler’s birthday.
17. What does Rudy do to Franz when he sees him on the street?
He throws a rock at him and hits him in the back.
18. What is the last date Rudy gives for Hitler’s birthday?
Easter Monday
Third Mistake:
19. What is the third mistake Rudy made?
He skips the Hitler Youth meetings.
20. Why do you think Rudy does this?
Not because he is afraid of Franz Deutscher because he doesn’t stop going right away.
He stops, most likely, because he doesn’t believe in the Nazi party.
21. How do his parents react?
They first threatened him – he didn’t go. Then they begged him – he didn’t go.
They feared being fined.
22. Why does Rudy change his mind about going and where does he end up?
He joins a different division that specializes in flying and air craft.
“The Floating Book (Part II)”
23. Define Rudy and Liesel’s relationship.
They are best friends and would do pretty much anything for one another. They taunt
each other like brother and sister, yet they would never allow an outsider to criticize each
other.