After reading The Book Thief, apply this statement to Zusak's character Liesel. How does this statement apply to other characters in the book as well? Hans? Rosa? Rudy? Max?
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Elie Wiesel
"Let us remember: what hurts the victim the most is not the cruelty of the oppressor, but the silence of the bystander". -Elie Wiesel
Inside Auschwitz
http://www.oprah.com/world/Inside-Auschwitz/1
Click on the above link to answer the following questions:
1. Up to how many people were packed into a single rail car?
2. Upon arrival, what was the concentration camp's systematic process of determining who would live and who would die called?
3. Approximately how long did death take inside the gas chamber?
4. The average life span for prisoners NOT sentenced to the gas chambers was how long?
5. Who did Elie stay alive for?
6. The inscription on the entrance gate to Auschwitz translates to what?
7. Who was the sadistic doctor who performed medical experiments on the prisoners, and what was his nickname?
8. According to the photo captions, what was one purpose for shaving the prisoner's hair?
9. What did the suitcases symbolize to the outside world?
10. Find and list an example of personification.
11. Find and list an example of irony.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Discussion Questions
1. What is ironic about Liesel's obsession with stealing books? Discuss other uses of irony in the novel.
2. How does Zusak use the literary device of foreshadowing to pull the reader into the story?
3. Discuss the symbolism of Death as the omniscient narrator of the novel. What are Death's feelings for each victim? Describe Death's attempt to resist Liesel. Death states, "I'm always finding humans at their best and worst. I see their ugly and their beauty, and I wonder how the same thing can be both." (p. 491) What is ugly and beautiful about Liesel, Rosa and Hans Hubermann, Max Vandenburg, Rudy Steiner, and Mrs. Hermann? Why is Death haunted by humans?
4. The Grave Digger's Handbook is the first book Liesel steals. Why did she take the book? What is significant about the titles of the books she steals? Discuss why she hides The Grave Digger's Handbook under her mattress. Describe Hans Hubermann's reaction when he discovers the book. What does the act of book thievery teach Liesel about life and death? Explain Rudy's reaction when he discovers that Liesel is a book thief. How does stealing books from the mayor's house lead to a friendship with the mayor's wife? Explain how Liesel's own attempt to write a book saves her life.
5. Liesel believes that Hans Hubermann's eyes show kindness, and from the beginning she feels closer to him than to Rosa Hubermann. How does Hans gain Liesel's love and trust? Debate whether Liesel is a substitute for Hans's children, who have strayed from the family. Why is it so difficult for Rosa to demonstrate the same warmth toward Liesel? Discuss how Liesel's relationship with Rosa changes by the end of the novel.
6. Abandonment is a central theme in the novel. The reader knows that Liesel feels abandoned by her mother and by the death of her brother. How does she equate love with abandonment? At what point does she understand why she was abandoned by her mother? Who else abandons Liesel in the novel? Debate whether she was abandoned by circumstance or by the heart.
7. Guilt is another recurring theme in the novel. Hans Hubermann's life was spared in France during World War I, and Erik Vandenburg's life was taken. Explain why Hans feels guilty about Erik's death. Guilt is a powerful emotion that may cause a person to become unhappy and despondent. Discuss how Hans channels his guilt into helping others. Explain Max Vandenburg's thought, "Living was living. The price was guilt and shame." (p. 208) Why does he feel guilt and shame?
8. Compare and contrast the lives of Liesel and Max Vandenburg. How does Max's life give Liesel purpose? At what point do Liesel and Max become friends? Max gives Liesel a story called "The Standover Man" for her birthday. What is the significance of this story?
9. Death says that Liesel was a girl "with a mountain to climb." (p. 86) What is her mountain? Who are her climbing partners? What is her greatest obstacle? At what point does she reach the summit of her mountain? Describe her descent. What does she discover at the foot of her mountain?
10. Hans Junior, a Nazi soldier, calls his dad a coward because he doesn't belong to the Nazi Party. He feels that you are either for Hitler or against him. How does it take courage to oppose Hitler? There isn't one coward in the Hubermann household. Discuss how they demonstrate courage throughout the novel.
11. Describe Liesel's friendship with Rudy. How does their friendship change and grow throughout the novel? Death says that Rudy doesn't offer his friendship "for free." (p. 51) What does Rudy want from Liesel? Discuss Death's statement, "The only thing worse than a boy who hates you [is] a boy who loves you." (p. 52) Why is it difficult for Liesel to love Rudy? Discuss why Liesel tells Mr. Steiner that she kissed Rudy's dead body.
12. Liesel Meminger lived to be an old woman. Death says that he would like to tell the book thief about beauty and brutality, but those are things that she had lived. How does her life represent beauty in the wake of brutality? Discuss how Zusak’s poetic writing style enhances the beauty of Liesel's story.
1. What is ironic about Liesel's obsession with stealing books? Discuss other uses of irony in the novel.
2. How does Zusak use the literary device of foreshadowing to pull the reader into the story?
3. Discuss the symbolism of Death as the omniscient narrator of the novel. What are Death's feelings for each victim? Describe Death's attempt to resist Liesel. Death states, "I'm always finding humans at their best and worst. I see their ugly and their beauty, and I wonder how the same thing can be both." (p. 491) What is ugly and beautiful about Liesel, Rosa and Hans Hubermann, Max Vandenburg, Rudy Steiner, and Mrs. Hermann? Why is Death haunted by humans?
4. The Grave Digger's Handbook is the first book Liesel steals. Why did she take the book? What is significant about the titles of the books she steals? Discuss why she hides The Grave Digger's Handbook under her mattress. Describe Hans Hubermann's reaction when he discovers the book. What does the act of book thievery teach Liesel about life and death? Explain Rudy's reaction when he discovers that Liesel is a book thief. How does stealing books from the mayor's house lead to a friendship with the mayor's wife? Explain how Liesel's own attempt to write a book saves her life.
5. Liesel believes that Hans Hubermann's eyes show kindness, and from the beginning she feels closer to him than to Rosa Hubermann. How does Hans gain Liesel's love and trust? Debate whether Liesel is a substitute for Hans's children, who have strayed from the family. Why is it so difficult for Rosa to demonstrate the same warmth toward Liesel? Discuss how Liesel's relationship with Rosa changes by the end of the novel.
6. Abandonment is a central theme in the novel. The reader knows that Liesel feels abandoned by her mother and by the death of her brother. How does she equate love with abandonment? At what point does she understand why she was abandoned by her mother? Who else abandons Liesel in the novel? Debate whether she was abandoned by circumstance or by the heart.
7. Guilt is another recurring theme in the novel. Hans Hubermann's life was spared in France during World War I, and Erik Vandenburg's life was taken. Explain why Hans feels guilty about Erik's death. Guilt is a powerful emotion that may cause a person to become unhappy and despondent. Discuss how Hans channels his guilt into helping others. Explain Max Vandenburg's thought, "Living was living. The price was guilt and shame." (p. 208) Why does he feel guilt and shame?
8. Compare and contrast the lives of Liesel and Max Vandenburg. How does Max's life give Liesel purpose? At what point do Liesel and Max become friends? Max gives Liesel a story called "The Standover Man" for her birthday. What is the significance of this story?
9. Death says that Liesel was a girl "with a mountain to climb." (p. 86) What is her mountain? Who are her climbing partners? What is her greatest obstacle? At what point does she reach the summit of her mountain? Describe her descent. What does she discover at the foot of her mountain?
10. Hans Junior, a Nazi soldier, calls his dad a coward because he doesn't belong to the Nazi Party. He feels that you are either for Hitler or against him. How does it take courage to oppose Hitler? There isn't one coward in the Hubermann household. Discuss how they demonstrate courage throughout the novel.
11. Describe Liesel's friendship with Rudy. How does their friendship change and grow throughout the novel? Death says that Rudy doesn't offer his friendship "for free." (p. 51) What does Rudy want from Liesel? Discuss Death's statement, "The only thing worse than a boy who hates you [is] a boy who loves you." (p. 52) Why is it difficult for Liesel to love Rudy? Discuss why Liesel tells Mr. Steiner that she kissed Rudy's dead body.
12. Liesel Meminger lived to be an old woman. Death says that he would like to tell the book thief about beauty and brutality, but those are things that she had lived. How does her life represent beauty in the wake of brutality? Discuss how Zusak’s poetic writing style enhances the beauty of Liesel's story.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Crank Response Questions
*Throughout the novel, you will be required to write 5-10 paragraphs in which you respond to something in each chapter or something that draws your attention and apply it to your life.
1. How would you describe Bree? Is this the same way that Kristina
would describe her? Where did Bree come from?
2. For Kristina, what is the lure of crystal meth? What does it provide
for her? What does it take away?
3. Describe Kristina's mother, father, and stepfather. Are they in any
way responsible for her addiction? Do you think that there's
anything else they could have -- or should have -- done to help
her?
4. Why is Kristina drawn to Adam? To Chase? To Brendan? In what
ways are these three similar and in what ways are they different?
How does Kristina's relationship with each one affect her? Which
boy is most harmful to her?
5. Why does Kristina decide to keep her baby? What reasons might
she have had for giving it up? Do you think she made the right
decision?
6. Why does Kristina always call crank "the monster"? How do you
think her renaming of the drug affects her attitude toward it and
her sense of responsibility regarding it? Are there other things or
people in the story that get renamed? How does this affect the way
in which they are regarded?
7. Kristina sometimes refers to herself and her life before drugs as
boring and worthless, yet at other times she seems to regard it as
something very precious. What attitude do you think is closest to
her true feelings? Do you think those around her would agree with
her assessment?
8. The author chose to write this story in verse. Why do you think that
she chose this format? What effect does this have on how you feel
about the characters and events?
9. What is the overall message of this book? Do you think the story
will act as a deterrent for teens who are considering drugs?
Activities: Pick 1
1. As we can see in Crank, poetry allows us to express ourselves in
new and creative ways. Write a poem or series of poems about
something that has happened in your life.
2. Choose a drug -- crystal meth or some other drug that you've heard
of -- and research its effects on the user. Find out exactly what it
does in the body, how long the side effects last, how much it
typically costs, and any other pertinent facts.
3. Kristina has an alter ego who allows her to be more careless and
daring. What would your alter ego be like? Choose a name, list all
the character traits s/he would have, and list the things that s/he
could help you do. Imagine what your life would be like if you acted
more like your alter ego.
4. Write a short story about what you think will happen to Kristina and
her baby after the events depicted in the book.
5. There are several other books about teenage drug addiction,
including Go Ask Alice and Smack. Read one of these other books
and compare it to Crank.
1. How would you describe Bree? Is this the same way that Kristina
would describe her? Where did Bree come from?
2. For Kristina, what is the lure of crystal meth? What does it provide
for her? What does it take away?
3. Describe Kristina's mother, father, and stepfather. Are they in any
way responsible for her addiction? Do you think that there's
anything else they could have -- or should have -- done to help
her?
4. Why is Kristina drawn to Adam? To Chase? To Brendan? In what
ways are these three similar and in what ways are they different?
How does Kristina's relationship with each one affect her? Which
boy is most harmful to her?
5. Why does Kristina decide to keep her baby? What reasons might
she have had for giving it up? Do you think she made the right
decision?
6. Why does Kristina always call crank "the monster"? How do you
think her renaming of the drug affects her attitude toward it and
her sense of responsibility regarding it? Are there other things or
people in the story that get renamed? How does this affect the way
in which they are regarded?
7. Kristina sometimes refers to herself and her life before drugs as
boring and worthless, yet at other times she seems to regard it as
something very precious. What attitude do you think is closest to
her true feelings? Do you think those around her would agree with
her assessment?
8. The author chose to write this story in verse. Why do you think that
she chose this format? What effect does this have on how you feel
about the characters and events?
9. What is the overall message of this book? Do you think the story
will act as a deterrent for teens who are considering drugs?
Activities: Pick 1
1. As we can see in Crank, poetry allows us to express ourselves in
new and creative ways. Write a poem or series of poems about
something that has happened in your life.
2. Choose a drug -- crystal meth or some other drug that you've heard
of -- and research its effects on the user. Find out exactly what it
does in the body, how long the side effects last, how much it
typically costs, and any other pertinent facts.
3. Kristina has an alter ego who allows her to be more careless and
daring. What would your alter ego be like? Choose a name, list all
the character traits s/he would have, and list the things that s/he
could help you do. Imagine what your life would be like if you acted
more like your alter ego.
4. Write a short story about what you think will happen to Kristina and
her baby after the events depicted in the book.
5. There are several other books about teenage drug addiction,
including Go Ask Alice and Smack. Read one of these other books
and compare it to Crank.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
The Crucible by Arthur Miller
Click on the link below and complete #1-2 Student Activities.
Do not do #3 activity. Instead, upon completion of the book, you are to create a podcast, iMovie, or slideshow about the Salem Witch Trials. Working with a partner or independently, choose one of the following topics or one of your own (pre approved):
-Faces and Places of the Salem Witch Trials
-Impact of the Spanish Inquisition to the Witch Trials
-Interrogation Methods Used
-Compare/Contrast the Witchcraft Terror to the 1950's Communist Scare
The Crucible Study Guide
http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/cruc/cructg.html
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