THE BOOK THIEF

GROUP MEMBERS:
KIRUBASHINI - 22
MAHALAKSHMI B - 28
PRASITHA SURESH - 37
V. PRATHIKSHA - 39
SHREYA JAIN - 52
SRI VAISHNAVI - 63
 INTRODUCTION TO THE
WRITER

MARKUS
ZUSAK

SHREYA JAIN - 52
 INTRODUCTION TO THE WRITER

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

• Born on Jun 23, 1975 in Sydney, Australia.

• Studied English and History at University of New South

Wales.

• Graduated with Bachelor or Arts and Diploma of Education.

SHREYA JAIN - 52
 INTRODUCTION TO THE WRITER CONT.

HIS BOOKS

Fighting Ruben Wolfe (2000) The Underdog (1999)

SHREYA JAIN - 52
 INTRODUCTION TO THE WRITER CONT.

HIS BOOKS

The Messenger (2002) When Dogs Cry (2001)

SHREYA JAIN - 52
 INTRODUCTION TO THE WRITER CONT.

HIS BOOKS

The Book Thief (2005) Bridge Of Clay (2018)

SHREYA JAIN - 52
 INTRODUCTION TO THE WRITER CONT.

AWARDS

 2001, Honor Book for Fighting Ruben Wolfe.

 2003, Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the year for The
Messenger.
 2005, Publishers Weekly Boost Books of the Year Children for The
Messenger.
 2006, Kathleen Mitchell Award for The Book Thief.
 2008, Ena Noel Award for The Book Thief.
 2014, Margaret A. Edward Awards, for significant contribution.

SHREYA JAIN - 52
INTRODUCTION TO THE NOVEL

V. PRATHIKSHA – 37
 INTRODUCTION TO THE NOVEL

• The “Book Thief” is a novel written by Markus

Zusak (Australian Author).
• This book got published in the year 2005 and
became an international bestseller and was
translated into 63 languages.
• Became 2013 feature film.
• This book is pure English.
• It’s a Novel-Historical Fiction (Genre).

V. PRATHIKSHA – 39
SUMMARY

V. PRATHIKSHA – 39
 SUMMARY

• The novel takes place during World War II – under Nazi’s rule in small fictional town
Molching, Germany.
• Liesel – protagonist of the novel – The Book Thief.
• The narrator of the story is Death.
• Liesel living with foster family – Hans and Rosa.
• Liesel steals many books.
• Hans teaches her how to read.
• Hans and Rosa are not Jewish.
• Hides Max in their basement.
• Anti-Nazi sentiments remains secret.
• Hans helps a Jew and gets caught.
• Max leaves the house.
V. PRATHIKSHA – 39
 SUMMARY CONT.

• Max gives a book to Liesel (that he made).

• The book named “The Word Shaker”
- which he wrote about their friendship.
• Hans is drafted into German army.
• Hans breaks his legs and was sent home.
• Max was unable to escape the Nazis.
• Liesel sees Max marching.
• Liesel is given a blank book – to write a story.
• Liesel names the book “The Book Thief”.

V. PRATHIKSHA – 39
 SUMMARY CONT.

• One day, her neighbourhood is bombed.

• Hans, Rosa and Rudy (her friend) dies.
• War ends.
• Liesel – survives – basement – writing The Book Thief
• Max goes back to find Liesel.
• Max and Liesel – happily reunited.
• The book ends with Liesel moving Australia
• Epilogue – Death – Liesel – The Book Thief – soul

V. PRATHIKSHA – 39
THEMES

I. KIRUBAKSHINI - 2
 THEMES

MAIN MESSAGE

Several Messages:
• Humans have capacity to be resilient
• Throughout the novel, the characters are faced with incredible
obstacles that they manage to overcome because they have
developed compassionate relationship with others.

I. KIRUBAKSHINI - 2
 THEMES CONT.

Morality and moral beliefs

• Respect, love and resilient

MAIN THEMES

Literacy and power

• Love and hate in human nature
• The responsibility of living to the death

I. KIRUBAKSHINI - 2
CHARACTER ANALYSIS

PRASITHA SURESH -
 CHARACTER ANALYSIS

KEY CHARACTERS

• Death
• Liesel Meminger
• Hans Hubermann
• Rosa Hubermann
• Rudy Steiner
• Max Vanderburg
• Ilsa Hermann

PRASITHA SURESH -
 CHARACTER ANALYSIS CONT.

DEATH

• Narrator
• Fascinated by humans and the colors of the world
• Regular guy
• Heart – emotions – sadness – respect – tenderness – souls
• Reveals – events beforehand – apologizes
• Increased – workload – tired – vacation

PRASITHA SURESH -
 CHARACTER ANALYSIS CONT.

LIESEL MEMINGER

• 9 – start – novel
• Book thief
• Loses – brother
• Mother – foster care
• Defensive – first
• Foster parents – Hans & Rosa Hubermann – kind
• Hans – teaches – read and write
• Learning – read – opens – world
• Liesel – learns – power of words
• Strong – resilient – smart – trustworthy
• Befriends – Max – Jew – Hubermann’s basement
• Survives Hitler’s reign

PRASITHA SURESH -
 CHARACTER ANALYSIS CONT.

HANS HUBERMANN

• Liesel’s foster father

• Gentle, quiet nature – wins – Liesel
• Encouraging – compassionate father figure – Liesel
• Painter
• Amateur accordion player
• Brave
• World War I veteran – life – saved by Eric Vanderburg
• Keeps promise – takes in son Max Vanderburg
• Avoids – joining – the Nazi Party
• Dies – air raid

PRASITHA SURESH -
 CHARACTER ANALYSIS CONT.

ROSA HUBERMANN

• Liesel’s foster mother

• Short and plump
• Washing – ironing – 5 wealthy households
• Ability – aggravate – anyone
• Cares – loves – Liesel – hard – her
• Helps – hide – Max
• Outside world – cold – harsh – woman – loves – fiercely
• Dies – air raid

PRASITHA SURESH -
 CHARACTER ANALYSIS CONT.

HANS JUNIOR

• Hans and Rosa’s son

• Supports the Nazi party
• Falling out – father – believes – didn’t try – party

TRUDEL OR TRUDY

• Hans and Rosa’s daughter

• Live-in housemaid in wealthy part of Munich
• She watches over the children

PRASITHA SURESH -
 CHARACTER ANALYSIS CONT.

FRAU HOLTZAPFEL 

• Hubermann’s neighbor
• Feud – Rosa Hubermann – spits – door
• Never married – two sons
• Argument – softens – Liesel – read books – return – coffee

ROBERT HOLTZAPFEL 

• Frau Holtzapfel's son,

• Battle of Stalingard – dies – legs – blown off

PRASITHA SURESH -
 CHARACTER ANALYSIS CONT.

MICHAEL HOLTZAPFEL 

• Son of Frau Holtzapfel

• Survives - loses three fingers.
• Kills himself – survivor’s guilt

ALEX STEINER

• Owns a tailor shop

• Has six children
• Member of the Nazi Party – did not hate the Jews
• Angers – party leaders – refusing – Rudy – training
• Punishment – army

PRASITHA SURESH -
 CHARACTER ANALYSIS CONT.

RUDY STEINER

• Son of Alex Steiner

• Liesel’s best friend
• Partner in crime
• Good student
• Gifted athlete
• Sticks up for Liesel
• Loves – Liesel
• Dies – air raid

PRASITHA SURESH -
 CHARACTER ANALYSIS CONT.

MAX VANDERBURG

• A Jew
• Son of Eric Vanderburg – saved Hans Hubermann – WW1
• Twenty four years old – Hans house
• Left his family to survive – survivor’s guilt
• Hides from the Nazis – Hubermann’s basement
• Befriends Liesel – similar – nightmares
• Writes book – Liesel - The Word Shaker
• Leaves – house – Hans - old Jew - a piece of bread – public
• Max – survives – camp
• Reunites – Liesel – war’s end

PRASITHA SURESH -
 CHARACTER ANALYSIS CONT.

ILSA HERMANN

• Mayor's wife
• Knows – Liesel – Rosa – mayor’s washing and ironing
• Mourning – depressed – death – son – Johann – WW1
• Sees – Liesel – steal – The Shoulder Shrug – burning event – Hitler’s birthday
• Invites – Liesel – own library – shares
• Liking – Liesel
• Gives – Liesel – journal – encourages – write – The Book Thief
• Take – Liesel – home – Hans – Rosa – killed – bombing

PRASITHA SURESH -
 SYMBOLISM

BOOKS:
Liesel and books
Powerless to more matured
Comfort

DEATH:
Bitter reality
Intriguing narrator

SRI VAISHNAVI -
 SYMBOLISM CONT.

 HANS ACCORDIAN:
Debt
Earn money

 BREAD:
Selfless act
Sacrifice

SRI VAISHNAVI -
RELEVANCE AND IMPORTANCE OF THE
TITLE

 OBVIOUS IDEOLOGY:
Theft of books

 INTERESTING FACT :
Other thieves
1. Rudy
2. Death
3. Max – Big thief

SRI VAISHNAVI -
 HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

 World war – II
 Jews and Nazi
 Hitler and German Aggression
 Book burning

SRI VAISHNAVI -
STYLE AND CRITICISM

MAHALAKSHMI. B -
 STYLE AND CRITICISM

STYLE AND CRITICISM

Reputation

• Received 8 awards - best literary novel - written;

• Ranked - top must read book - best novel - WW 2;
• Ranked - best experimental - inspirational book;
• best book- on Holocaust - despite partly fiction;
• Considered unique - portrayal of death as narrator.

• MAHALAKSHMI. B -
 STYLE AND CRITICISM CONT

CRITICAL REVIEW
• Unique writing style;
• Vague about narrator;
• Talk about death - depressing along the way;
• Lots of beautiful - tear-jerking moments;
• Innocent love story;
• Story portrayed - lives of common German folk;
• Good-hearted poverty stricken Germans - harbouring a Jewish fist fighter - during
holocaust;
• Fresh story - allows new perspective- Hitler reign.

MAHALAKSHMI. B -
 STYLE AND CRITICISM CONT

Positives of the book:

• Unique perspective- observation by death;

• Showed lives - common Germans- WW2;
• Great character development;
• The characters trials - provided unique perspective - life in Germany - Nazi
regime - disagreeing rebels;
• Relationship between - main characters- noble quality.

MAHALAKSHMI. B -
 STYLE AND CRITICISM CONT

Negatives:

• Observation by death - poorly executed;

• Specifications - meaning of German words- break flow of story;
• Boring start, confusing - slow;
• first chapter almost unreadable- confusing, disjointed;
• Contains profanity- the foster mother;
• Readers unhappy - book not compelling or good enough - confusing method
of narration, style

MAHALAKSHMI. B -
 AWA R D S R E C EI V E D BY TH E BO O K

• 2006: Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best Book (South East Asia & South Pacific)
• 2006: School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
• 2006: Daniel Elliott Peace Award
• 2006: Publishers Weekly Best Children's Book of the Year
• 2006: National Jewish Book Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature
• 2006: Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book
• 2007: Michael L. Printz Honor Book. The Printz award is given to the best book for teens, based only on
the quality of the writing.
• 2007: Book Sense Book of the Year Award for Children's Literature

MAHALAKSHMI. B -