The Book Thief

By Marcus Zusak

Jew-

Born into a family who follows the Jewish religion

Has Jewish heritage

Converted to a Jewish religion

Because you do not have to follow the Jewish religion to be a Jew.

It creates a Jewish Race. Rather than religion

‘Stars of David were attached to their shirts as if assigned’

Jew Marches

Hans HubermanCharacters

Leisel Memeinger and Rudy Steiner

Punishment to the Jews

The Roles in the Jew March

Hans Huberman-against the injustices done to the Jews

‘Then one human, Hans Huberman’“Presented a piece of bread like magic.

‘Rudy Steiner swallowed as Hans was whipped on the street’

‘They called him a Jew lover’‘Others were silent, helping him back to safety’

‘The soldiers had the Fuhrer in their eyes’

Leisel and Rudy-against the Jew Regime

‘As she and Rudy Steiner distributed pieces of bread along the road’

Foreshadows

Children. As the grow to Men and Woman, they will accept them back into society.

The Punishment of the Jews

-They have been treated so badly they have been dehumanized

‘the first soldier did not see the bread-he was not hungry-but the first Jew saw it’-Sunk back to something that is almost not human. Have sunk back to their basic necessities.

‘The soldiers pulled over to share some food and poke at the package of Jews.-the Jews are now just a package. Not human.

Hans Hubeman-Gives the old Jew bread. By giving the old man bread, he is giving him kindness.

‘If nothing else the old man would die like a human. Or at least the thought he was a human. Me? I’m not so good that’s a good thing.

The old man dies as a human because he has been shown kindness by Hans.

It is not such a good thing because humans are generally the people who have caused this. Hitler has gone so far as to disgrace the human name. As Death sees it. So why would a Jew want to die the same way Hitler would.

Bread as a Symbol

-Bread is a Symbol for Hope that is given to the Jews.

Hope that they can make it through this.

‘Presented a piece of bread like magic’-The bread is the magic of hope.

This magic allows the Jews to become at least human.

Roles

-There are many Roles played when the Jews march.-The characters represent the different Roles that occurred during World War Two/

Community

Nazi Soldiers

Hans Huberman

Leisel and Rudy.

The Community-oblivious to the crimes done to the Jews.-May agree or disagree with the crimes done to he Jews. Their views may be split.-May be too scared of the punishment they will receive-Ignore the crimes done to the Jews

This is shown Hans Huberman is ‘Helped back to safety’ by people from the community. After giving the old Jew bread. While others called him a ‘Jew lover’.

Nazi Soldiers-Blindly follows Hitler's command, no matter what atrocities they have to commit.-Share Hitler’s hatred towards the Jews.

‘The Jew was whipped six times’ as the soldier yelled ‘You swine you filth’.

Again the Jew is dehumanized. He is now just an animal.

‘They had the Fuhrer in their eyes’

They have been so brain washed that they now see and act as Hitler would.

Hans Huberman

-Strongly disagrees about the crimes done to the Jews-Against the tide of following Hitler-showingly stands up against the Jewish regime. No matter what punishment they will receive.-Fights for what they believe in

When Hans ‘presents bead to the old Jew’ it shows that he is very brave

Leisel and Rudy-They will also fight for the Jews.-But they will fight behind the scenes.

‘as she and Rudy Steiner distributed the pieces of bread along the road’.

Are not caught for their actions. As they laid the bread prior to the Jew march.

So What Role Would You Chose?When cast in to a war where there is hatred towards the Jewish race?

The Community.-Oblivious to the crimes done to the Jews. Bystanders.

The Nazi Soldiers-Blindly follows command no matter what atrocities they have to commit

Hans Huberman- Showingly stand up to Hitler’s command

Leisel and Rudy-Help fight against Hitler’s command behind the scenes.

Ask Yourself What Role Would You fall Under?

I Believe Marcus Zusak Asked When Writing the Jew Marches

The Three Main Points

The Characters of Hans and Leisel

The Punishment of the Jews

And the Roles of the Jew March

How Hans reacted to the Jew march and how Leisel and Rudy Foreshadow the future of the Jews.

How the Jews have been dehumanized and how bread symbolizes hope given to the Jews.

How characters represent roles in the German community.What Role would you chose?