PART THREE
Quotations
- "Listen, Liesel." Papa placed his arm around her and walked her on. "This is our secret, this book. We'll read it at night or in the basement, just like the others—but you have to promise me something."
"Anything, Papa." The night was smooth and still. Everything listened.
"If I ever ask you to keep a secret for me, you will do it."
"I promise."--Death (127)
Liesel has such faith and trust in Papa that she doesn't even worry about what he'd ask of her or question his requests. This could turn into something bad because Hans could tell Liesel a secret that could end up risking her life and she would not be able to tell anyone as we see happen later in this part.
- " * * * A SMALL TRIBUTE TO ARTHUR BERG, * * *
A STILL LIVING MAN
The Cologne sky was yellow and rotting, flaking at the edges. He sat propped against a wall with a child
in his arms. His sister. When she stopped breathing, he stayed with her, and I could sense he would hold her for hours. There were two stolen apples in his pocket." --Death (166-167)
Arthur Berg finally took his thieving habit too far and he paid dearly for it. Whatever or whoever caught him stealing took his sisters life in return. Arthur lost his sister because of his bad habits but if he had stayed in Molching, one of his "fruit-stealing troop" members could be in her position.
- "Of course, there was the scratchy feeling of sin. How could he do this? How could he show up and ask people to risk their lives for him? How could he be so selfish?"--Death (169)
Even as Max Vandenburg stands within inches of protection, he still cares more about this family that is willing to help him and their safety. This quote shows Max's true character and how much he cares for others. I think it is amazing that someone who is facing death, still worries about the lives of others before his own.
"Anything, Papa." The night was smooth and still. Everything listened.
"If I ever ask you to keep a secret for me, you will do it."
"I promise."--Death (127)
Liesel has such faith and trust in Papa that she doesn't even worry about what he'd ask of her or question his requests. This could turn into something bad because Hans could tell Liesel a secret that could end up risking her life and she would not be able to tell anyone as we see happen later in this part.
- " * * * A SMALL TRIBUTE TO ARTHUR BERG, * * *
A STILL LIVING MAN
The Cologne sky was yellow and rotting, flaking at the edges. He sat propped against a wall with a child
in his arms. His sister. When she stopped breathing, he stayed with her, and I could sense he would hold her for hours. There were two stolen apples in his pocket." --Death (166-167)
Arthur Berg finally took his thieving habit too far and he paid dearly for it. Whatever or whoever caught him stealing took his sisters life in return. Arthur lost his sister because of his bad habits but if he had stayed in Molching, one of his "fruit-stealing troop" members could be in her position.
- "Of course, there was the scratchy feeling of sin. How could he do this? How could he show up and ask people to risk their lives for him? How could he be so selfish?"--Death (169)
Even as Max Vandenburg stands within inches of protection, he still cares more about this family that is willing to help him and their safety. This quote shows Max's true character and how much he cares for others. I think it is amazing that someone who is facing death, still worries about the lives of others before his own.
Images
Max Vandenburg as he's secretly heading towards house 33, holding Mein Kampf, the book he should hate the most but ended up being what saved him. The motifs of books and writing is demonstrated in this part because of MKPF saving his life.
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Liesel as she sees the mayor's library for the first time. The excitement on her face is evident as she runs her fingers over the spines of more books than she can count. This part made me happy because Liesel finally gets to see something she loves more than anything.
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Connections and Historical Context
"Heil Hitler,' Rudy led.
"Heil Hitler," she responded, straightening taller behind the counter. "Are you?" She glared at Liesel, who promptly gave her a "heil Hitler" of her own."—Death, Part 3 (155) |
"Heil Hitler" is the Nazi salute. Certain stores in Germany would not serve you if you did not announce it when you walked in.
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"The depressing pea soup and Rudy's hunger finally drove them to thievery. It inspired their attachment to an older group of kids who stole from farmers. Fruit stealers."—Death (150)
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Due to food rations, food was so scarce in most households that many children would steal from local farmers to get food.
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Questions
- Why do you think Papa wants to be sure Liesel will keep a secret for him if he needs?
- If Liesel had stayed at the mayor's house long enough to hear what the mayor's wife said, how do you think their conversation would have gone?
- Do you think Mama would be mad if she found out Liesel had stolen the apples because she was hungry?
- What is the importance in the fact that the book that helps Max Vandenburg get to a save place is Mein Kampf?
- If Liesel had stayed at the mayor's house long enough to hear what the mayor's wife said, how do you think their conversation would have gone?
- Do you think Mama would be mad if she found out Liesel had stolen the apples because she was hungry?
- What is the importance in the fact that the book that helps Max Vandenburg get to a save place is Mein Kampf?
My Thoughts and Response
In this part, the readers are finally introduced to Max Vandenburg. He is hiding in a dark room all alone with no food or water. He's starving, dirty, and lonely. It made me wonder if he's any better off there or if he's just trying to live as normal of a life as he can until the Nazis catch him, if they do. Although we have just been introduced to him, I would hate to see a character leave so soon. As I continued to read though I realized that he's being helped, and by the end of the chapter all those lonely nights in that dark room paid off.
I feel happy for Liesel in this part. In a way she has found another friend, one that might need her more than she needs them. This person Liesel has befriended is Ilsa Hermann, the mayor's wife. Liesel is thankful that she let her come in the library because she will probably never see another library, but at the same time, the mayor's wife is completely heart broken over her son and the company of Liesel is slowly helping put the pieces back together.
"Their [humans] great skill is their capacity to escalate."—Death, Part 2 (109)
This line really came into play in this part. Liesel starts out stealing a book, something to help her learn and to comfort her when she misses her mother and brother. But now she and Rudy are stealing fruit and Rudy is almost caught by a farmer with an ax. Her theft started out innocent but escalated quickly. For Arthur he escalated even more and it tragically caused the death of his sister. Even though stealing is wrong and it deserves consequences, I still feel horrible for Arthur and I wish his sister hadn't died just as a punishment towards him.
I feel happy for Liesel in this part. In a way she has found another friend, one that might need her more than she needs them. This person Liesel has befriended is Ilsa Hermann, the mayor's wife. Liesel is thankful that she let her come in the library because she will probably never see another library, but at the same time, the mayor's wife is completely heart broken over her son and the company of Liesel is slowly helping put the pieces back together.
"Their [humans] great skill is their capacity to escalate."—Death, Part 2 (109)
This line really came into play in this part. Liesel starts out stealing a book, something to help her learn and to comfort her when she misses her mother and brother. But now she and Rudy are stealing fruit and Rudy is almost caught by a farmer with an ax. Her theft started out innocent but escalated quickly. For Arthur he escalated even more and it tragically caused the death of his sister. Even though stealing is wrong and it deserves consequences, I still feel horrible for Arthur and I wish his sister hadn't died just as a punishment towards him.