The Heavyweight Champion of the School-Yard
The last section of Part 1 of The Book Thief...here we go.
- Death gives us an overview of the past year: (as follows)
"***SEPTEMBER-NOVEMBER 1939***
1. World War I begins.
2. Liesel Meminger becomes heavyweight champion."
How would YOU sum up 2008? What events would make it on the list in your life?
- Later on, our narrator gives his opinion on man's common view of 'Death'. (He "likes the scythe, it amuses [him].") How does Death's temporary step out of the narrating role shape our view of him? What does it add to the story?
- We also find out the identities of two of our main characters; Rudy - "the crazy one who painted himself black and defeated the world," and Liesel - "the book thief without the words." How do you think their identity will affect their lives in the future? Does this seem somewhat ironic, seeing that these life identities were given by Death?