The Book Thief - Reading Calendar

You are expected to have the assigned reading completed for the day. It is
safe to assume that there will be a reading quiz based on the readings.
Please keep in mind that you should be reading at least 30 minutes every
night. Even if you are absent, you are expected to keep up with the assigned
reading. Also, be prepared for a Lectio Divina discussion the day of the quiz.

Due Date Assignment Page Numbers Number of

Pages
March 24th Prologue 3-15 12
March 29th Part One 17-80 63
April 5th Parts TWO and THREE 81-170 89
April 19th Parts FOUR and FIVE 171-303 132
April 26th Parts SIX Through EIGHT 305-455 150
May 3rd Parts NINE-TEN 457-552 95
 The Book Thief Annotation Guide
The following are major thematic ideas and concepts discussed in the novel. I
have numbered them; as you read look for these thematic ideas & place the
number of the thematic idea in the margins of the novel as it comes up along with
your justification for that choice. This option is only available if you have your own
copy of the novel. If you are using a novel provided by me, you must write the text
word for word from the novel on a piece of paper along with the page numbers, the
number you are choosing from the list below, as well as your justification. Label the
paper with the assigned part for that week. You will submit either your novel or the
paper on the date of the quiz for an annotation check.

1. The power of words 6. Suffering

2. The human capacity to love 7. Death
3. The human capacity to hate 8. Friendship
4. Relationships Family 9. The role of chance/fate
5. Courage 10.Hope
11.
12.The following are literary terms we will discuss as we read the novel. As you
read, look for and annotate where the terms are used. Place the letter of the
term in the margins of the novel when it is used or copy the text and label it
with the appropriate literary term on your notebook paper.

A. Allusion A reference to a person, place, poem, book, event, etc., which is

not part of the story, that the author expects the reader will recognize.
Example: Your backyard is a Garden of Eden. Your plan sank like the
Titanic. Youre no Einstein.
B. Imagery The use of words in order to appeal to one of our five senses.
C. Metaphor A comparison of two different things without using like or as.
D. Personification A figure of speech in which an object, abstract idea, or
animal is given human characteristics.
E. Simile a comparison between two different things using either like or as.
13.
14.The following are symbols & motifs in the novel. As you read, look for and
annotate where these symbols and motifs are found and developed. Place a
star by the symbol or motif and make note of which symbol or motif is being
used. Again, this option is only available if you have your own text. You will
then either explain what the symbol is symbolic for or why you think the
motif is being used repeatedly in the text. (A motif is situation, incident, idea,
or image that is repeated significantly in a literary work. Examples: In The
Hunger Games, there were various motifs throughout the novel. Some were
concrete, such as fire and bread, and some were abstract, such as defiance
and hunger.
15.
Accordion Cigarettes
Books & words Colors
Bread Drawing & pictures
 Dreams & nightmares Stealing
Fighting The kiss
Fire The snowman
Lightness & darkness Weather
Promises & secrets
 16. The Book Thief Journal Guide
17.
18. As you read, you will keep response journals. You should have
ONE response journal for EACH PART of the novel. ALL journals will be
collected the date of the final assessment.
19.
20. These journals MUST include one quote that pertains to either:
21. 1. The development of theme;
22. 2. The use of a literary term
23. 3. The development of a symbol or motif
24. 4. The development of a major character
25.
26. Your journal should be a minimum of 1 page each, typed, double-
spaced, Times New Roman, Size 12 font. In each entry, you should
include:
a. The quote & page reference
b. The speaker
c. The person or people being spoken to
d. The context in which the quote was said
e. The importance of the quote to the overall story
f. Any connections the quote may have to one of the
themes/thematic ideas
g. Any connections the quote has to your life or the world outside of
the book
27.
28. On the following page is an example of a journal entry you will be
expected to write:
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
 49.
50. Notice this part is single
51. spaced. The text you cite
should not be double spaced.
52.
You are not using it to add to
53. your length requirement.
54. Pamela Strobel Single space the text citation,
55. Mrs. Pollett double space your analysis.
56. English 10 GT
57. February 1, 2015
58.
59. Journal Entry: Part #1
60.
61. Katya, do you know what is as asinine as kommunizm? Autocracy. One man, one person,
cannot rule the hearts and minds of millions. Liberty, freedom, truth this America can
be such a silly place, so fickle and nave sometimes so childish! but it saves itself
because of those first three things (Alexander, 23).
62.
63. Misha is speaking to his granddaughter Kate (Katya) while he tells her the story

of how he has come from kitchen boy to the Romanovs in the House of Special Purpose

to an old man in the United States. Misha is a character that is critical of both himself and

others.

64. Misha explains that the idea of autocracy is just as foolish as the idea of

communism; that is, Imperialist Russia was just as silly as Communist Russia. And why is that

so? Because, as he states One man, one person, cannot rule the hearts and minds of millions.

As Misha sees it one person cannot rule over many because he cannot effectively care for the

hopes and concerns of so many people. The ruler will, ultimately, protect himself first, then those

below him.

65. He is mildly critical, even, of American sentiments and personalities, but says that

America saves herself because of her belief in the ideas of liberty, freedom, [and] truth. What

becomes evident is that Misha deeply believes in the values he has stated, and trusts that America

will be safe as long as she holds to these values.

66. I dont disagree with Mishas understanding of autocracy and communism, but I

sometimes wonder if he isnt critical enough of America. Do we still truly hold to the ideals of
liberty, freedom and truth, or do we let people in charge make decisions for us while we blindly

follow? I think sometimes we allow people to make decisions for us and tell us that they do so in

the name of liberty, freedom, and truth. If we are not careful, we are going to see our liberties

and freedoms revoked because we have turned a blind eye to truth.