The Book Thief
IT IS 1939. NAZI GERMANY. THE COUNTRY IS HOLDING ITS BREATH. DEATH HAS NEVER BEEN BUSIER, AND WILL BECOME BUSIER STILL.
By her brother's graveside, Liesel's life is changed when she picks up a single object, partially hidden in the snow. It is The Gravedigger's Handbook, left there by accident, and it is her first act of book thievery. So begins a love affair with books and words, as Liesel, with the help of her accordion-playing foster father, learns to read. Soon she is stealing books from Nazi book-burnings, the mayor's wife's library, wherever there are books to be found. But these are dangerous times. When Liesel's foster family hides a Jewish fist-fighter in their basement, Liesel's world is both opened up, and closed down. In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, award-winning author Markus Zusak has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time. |
The Social, Political and Historical Setting
Worksheets and Tasks
|
Useful Links for Research
Imperial War MuseumExplore the history of World War II through the Imperial War Museum website. 'The Road to 1939' details the lead up to the outbreak of war, and recalls the key events that followed. This will help contextualise the novel and the world of Liesel Meminger.
|
Holocaust Centre of New ZealandThe aim of this website is to support schools, students and adult groups interested in the Holocaust with educational resources based on personal stories of holocaust survivors. The organisation aims to tell of humanity lost, of resilience and survival, and through the stories of the refugees that came to Wellington, teach tolerance, courage and racial harmony.
|
United States Holocaust Memorial MuseumOrganized by theme, this learning site presents an overview of the Holocaust through historical photographs, maps, images of artifacts, and audio clips. It is a resource for middle and secondary level students and teachers, with content that reflects the history as it is presented in the Museum’s permanent exhibition.
|
Characterisation and Character Analysis
'Washing-Line' Activity
|
'Round Robin' Task
|
round_robin_instructions.pdf | |
File Size: | 45 kb |
File Type: |
round_robin_sheets.pdf | |
File Size: | 692 kb |
File Type: |
Close Analysis - Minor Character:
|
characterisation_-_michael_holtzapfel.pdf | |
File Size: | 452 kb |
File Type: |
Themes, Motifs and Symbols
Read and Highlight Notes
|
Useful Links for Analysis and Exam Preparation
SparknotesSparknotes is an educational website to support you with your studies. As they say, 'When your books and teachers don't make sense, we do...'
|
ShmoopShmoop is an educational website that uses 'student speak' to get the message across. Through the use of videos, notes, and quizzes, Shmoop can support your analysis of The Book Thief...
|
Interviews with the Writer, Director and Actors
from the film version of 'The Book Thief'
Graphic Organisers and Revision Tools
Mind Mapping...Follow the link to learn 'What is a Mind Map?' and to be taken through the '7 Steps to Making a Mind Map' by Tony Buzan (the inventor of Mind Mapping). By the end of this process you will have developed a personalised graphic organiser that combines all of your notes, quotes, and understanding of the play on one sheet of paper!
|
Argument TreesClick on the link to download an Argument Tree Template. This should be used to help you to track the development of the play, character, or theme in the form of a Graphic Essay Plan (Compare to 'Gattaca' Tree).
|
Past Papers, Essay Questions, and Exemplar Essays
Follow the link to access a range of materials on the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) website: http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/qualifications-standards/qualifications/ncea/subjects/english/sample-external-assessments/level-2/
Past Paper and Assessment Criteria
|
Exemplar Essays
|