Matthew Zeppieri
Mr. Kilgallin
AP English Language
8 August 2012
The Book Thief Questions
In the first chapter, I discovered who the narrator was on page 21. It specifically was revealed when the narrator is talking about the dead brother of Liesel Meminger saying, “It was exactly when I knelt down and extracted his soul, holding it limply in my swollen arms” (21). revealing the narrator’s identity as Death.
The narrator’s diction on the page can be described as vain due to the fact he doesn’t need an introduction when the narrator says it is “not really necessary” (4). The narrator’s diction reveals that he has a methodical, stone cold personality that puts the narrator in a more superior position then the human race. Achieving
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Also, the race is revelatory to the characters because Rudy wants to show his affection and kiss Liesel. Liesel thinks her and Rudy are only friends while Rudy will be devoted to attract her in for a kiss.
As a parent explaining Rudy’s actions, I would tell him that your admiration for one athlete can be extremely exuberant but painting yourself his skin color in this time where prejudice of different people was very high, it clearly isn’t the smartest move. The itch in my heart is that it is morally wrong to paint yourself black and if you go that extreme with your admiration, Rudy can honestly be taken and have a higher chance to be killed by Nazi Germany.
Hans and Liesel are considered to be alike because they are both passionate and kind individuals and are non supporters of the Nazi party. Both were against the Nazi Party but Liesel couldn’t go under the radar like Hans could. Another difference between the two is that Hans had more integrity and honor buy purchasing his step-daughter a book while Liesel stole books.
Liesel most definitely could have trusted Rudy with the secret of having Max hidden in her basement. Rudy was clearly Liesel’s best friend and partner in crime when Liesel was doing her acts of thievery stealing the books from the mayor’s wife bookself. The devotion to Liesel Rudy also had was strong and I believe Liesel could have trusted Rudy.
Max is also a book thief and that makes more than one book thief. There is more than
"The walked on in silence for a while, until Rudy said, ' I just wish I was like Jesse Owens, Papa.'" (page 60) Racial discrimination and prejudice thrived in the time of Hitler's accession and was a behavior innocent, pure and youthful Rudy Steiner didn't comprehend. All he ever wanted was to be like his role model Jesse Owens. The rest of the world like Hitler saw a negro daring against society's judgment of black people, which is why he didn't shake Jesse Owens' hands when he won in the Olympics. In Rudy's eyes, he saw a courageous and hardworking man who deserved that fourth gold medal. Outside forces like the town and his father tried to put out that fire of passion for running but Rudy doesn't understand their perspective. This is where
Rudy is an African American male that was at the scene of Meredith’s murder. He an Meredith had met at a bar that night and discovered that he lived in the apartment below him. They went to her apartment and Rudy went to use the restroom. He heard screaming and immediately opened the door and said, “he saw a man and he was 101 percent certain Amanda Knox was there” (Finn). He fled the scene and went to Germany after seeing her dead and thought that, "no one would believe him. He would be a Negro found guilty”
In Rudys childhood, he was really small compared to everyone else.Eventhough he was small he still played football with him and his brothers would have a meeting spot for football.Since he was so small his brothers wouldn´t let him play on offense, but he could play defense. After football, Rudy would have his girlfriend over for dinner. During dinner Rudys family would watch tv and the only thing they would watch was Notre Dame Fighting Irish even if it was a rerun. Rudy watched Notre Dame so much he memorized what they would say at halftime. When he was in his room with his brothers he would go in his room and practice halftime talk. When Rudy was playing football just for fun
This chapter starts one night when the village is asleep. At this point in time, Jesse Owens is famous around the world...except in Germany. Rudy is young and doesn't know much about what it means to be anything other than German in Germany. Rudy is a HUGE fan of Jesse Owens, so he takes a few pieces of charcoal and colors himself. He goes out to Hubert Oval and sprints across the track, but at the end, someone is waiting for him. His father. Rudy gets a lecture about how he is safe the way he is - blonde hair, blue eyes - and that he should value that because of how quickly Germany is changing. Overall, I think Rudy's father's reaction was great because he didn't blow up or yell, he was kind, and now Rudy knows a lesson he must never forget
Rudy constantly wanted to be with Liesel. When he could not, he felt cheated and indignant.
Rudy’s perception of himself changed over the course because when he used to live in Hawaii and he used to always skip school. For example he would also run around naked get drunk and smoke weed with his friends in Kahaluu. In the book it clearly states “ every one of my highschool teachers would tell you i was hardly the next einstein “ that means to me that his teachers thought he wasn’t the smartest kid out there. The book also states “ i would party and get drunk with the townies on the weekends and go diving with my kahaluu friends on the weekdays “. I can relate to Rudy’s life because when the waves are big and the swells come in i always skip school just to go surf. In conclusion i think Rudy changed because he wanted to live a better
Throughout the story, Rudy must grow up and become more responsible, as his father is drafted to the war, and he must help his mom take care of his family. The Jesse Owens Incident is a huge turning point for Rudy. Rudy’s father tells Rudy important things after he brings him home. “On the way home, Mr. Steiner decided to talk politics with the boy as best he could. Only in the years ahead would Rudy understand it all- when it was too late to bother understanding anything.”. This quote shows that Rudy was told things with the intent of helping him grow up, but he didn’t comprehend or use the things that were spoken to
Even at a young age, people said he had to play all time center while playing backyard football because he was to small. These doubts continued throughout the rest of his life as he only stood at 5’6 and was never the fastest on the field. These flaws of course lead to Rudy not getting any scholarship offers for his athletic ability. When people were told to get on the bus to tour Notre Dame, Rudy was told not to get on the bus because he would never get accepted into the university, and was told college wasn’t for everyone. This forced Rudy to work at a steel mill instead, rock bottom for this man. The only real bright spot in Rudy’s life during this time was his best friend Pete, who always kept his hopes up. Pete forced the first step in the hero’s journey, The Departure, when Pete died in an accident at the mill Something from Pete’s death put a fire in Rudy to make the trip to Notre
Now here comes the name calling bit. In the book, Liesel and Rudy hardly ever call each other by their actual names. They usually call each other “saumensch” or “saukerl.” They call each other that so many times, that if I were to point out the times they called each other that from the first half of the book, this essay would be done. But they never use these words for their true meaning as insults. Instead, they use these words as a term of
This might be why the inspirations were such an impact on Rudy. Rudy would listen and memorize the words of Norte Dames coach pre-game prep talk. Rudy would also every game that Norte Dame played and he would never miss a play. Rudy was so fascinated and inspired by the school that he would make it a life longed dream to play and attend the University of Norte Dame. In a movie review article an author shows us how Pete, Rudy's best friend, inspires Rudy by saying some important words, "having dreams is what makes life tolerable" (Richard Harrington, 1). This gives Rudy a reason to reach for his dream and to never give up. With the possibility that anything can happen at any time, Rudy was determined to accomplish hi s goal of playing ball.
rudy wants to be the best athlete like jesse owens, Liesel is dealing with the loss of her mother and her whole world changing because of a mad tyrant hell bent on eradicating the jews, this is mainly seen towards the end of the novel when we see jews being marched toward the death camps in nazi germany, one of the je he was hiding in the the Hubbermans house, Max. Max and Liesel became close while he was in hiding; Liesel being around Max made her more mature because she realized that someone was going through the same problems as her dealing with the loss of family, losing their home and having to relocate, but also it gave Liesel someone to find comfort in other than papa( Hans Hubberman). Rudy had his own problems that he had to deal with; he didn't want to be apart of the Nazi party, particularly because he took favor in being a black athlete, but as the war goes on Rudy must start coming to the realization that his dream isn't possible; Rudy also experiences the hardships of the war which basically destroy his childhood innocence, and forces him to mature, but besides all of that Rudy dealt with bullying and problems at
Historically, people have used literacy to obtain political power. In the novel The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, it is evident that books, reading, and words themselves represent power for different characters in different ways. Close analysis of Liesel Meminger and Max Vandenburg reveals that power can be achieved through literacy in a context where literacy is severely limited.
In the beginning of the movie, Rudy’s friend Pete died in an accident at the factory. Prior to his death, Pete was the only person who supported Rudy. However, when Pete died, Rudy chose to be proactive and continued trying to accomplish his goal without any support. Rudy talked to Father Cavanaugh and was offered to attend the Holy Cross junior college. He was then told that if he improved his grades, he could potentially transfer to Notre Dame. Instead of being upset about his friend’s death, Rudy became one step closer to achieving his goal.
The young Rudy grants humanity to someone who is commonly dehumanized when he retrieves a book for Liesel, feeds the jews bread, and gives the teddy bear to the dying pilot. Liesel is a young girl who has had a tough life. She has lost her biological mother, lost her brother, and he has been stationed at a foster home. Rody jumps into Liesel’s life, and giver her comfort through all the pain she has faced. One day, a bully threw Liesel's new book into the river and Rudy stood up for her when he “Jumped in, caught up to it, and held it in his right hand” (241). When Rudy retrieved this book, he was acting out against the bullying that Liesel faced, and he was acting in support of Liesel. Just as Hans Hubermann handed out bread to Jews, Rudy and Liesel do the same. This act could get Rudy in heaps of trouble, but he does so anyways in protest to the dehumanization of the Jews. We know Rudy and liesel are very happy and proud when they support humanity as “There was the trace of a grin on
Although Rudy is a very bright individual, he is as capable of making foolish mistakes as any other person, displaying a dual nature. Take for example his fate tempting adventure in Mamer’s Grocery Store, during the chapter Three Acts of Stupidity by Rudy Steiner, where he masterfully weaves through a line of shoppers attempting to buy potatoes, almost escaping notice. As he reaches the front, he seizes the largest potato of all—which is unfortunately being eyed by many other hungry Germans. Almost immediately, Rudy is surrounded by the other customers and restrained by the grocer, Thomas Mamer, who threatens to call the police. The situation is looking bleak for Rudy until he is struck by a stroke of genius. Spying in the crowd Herr Link, one of his schoolteachers, Rudy urges him to convince the shopkeeper how poor he is. Herr Link recognizes Rudy’s dire situation and aids him in escaping the grocery store without any serious repercussions (293-299). Rudy’s narrow escape exemplifies a major part of his dual nature. His belief that he can steal the most magnificent potato from a grocer and a crowd of hungry Germans is insane. However, his quick thinking shows just how clever he can be.