Literary Analysis
- 1. Who is the protagonist?
A: The protagonist of “The Book Thief” is a little 11-year old girl named Liesel Meminger.
2. Who is the antagonist?
A: The antagonist of the book is all of Nazi Germany.
3. Where and when does the story take place?
A: The story takes place on 33 Himmel Street, Munich, Germany, during the World War II period.
4. What point of view is this story written in?
A: The point of view is from a limited 3rd person narrator, who happens to be Death.
5. Describe the tone and mood of the story.
A: The mood and tone is depressing with hints of humor, and the scent of war on the air.
6. What is the external conflict?
A: The external conflict is World War II and Hitler being a psychopath.
7. What is the internal conflict?
A: Liesel is pretty much losing everyone she loves and cares for, starting with her little brother dying.
8. What is an example of: A. irony, B. allusion, C. symbolism, or D. imagery?
A: An example of imagery is, “The last time I saw her was red. The sky was like soup, boiling and stirring. In some places, it was burned. There were black crumbs, and pepper, streaked across the redness.”
9. What was the climax of the story and how do you know?
A: The climax was when the “parade of Jews” went through Himmel Street, and Hans gave a piece of bread to one of the passing Jews. The result was the both of them getting whipped by a Nazi solider.
10. What was the falling action and resolution?
A: The falling action is Max leaving; Hans and Alex Steiner are sent to war, and everyone dying on Himmel Street, during a bombing raid….. Except Liesel. The resolution is everyone and everything that Liesel loved, dying and being destroyed from the explosions above.