Book Thief: The Standover Man

Book Thief: The Standover Man

by Elle Harrington

Multiple Choice

"How many times in those first few hours of awareness did he feel like walking out of that basement and leaving the house altogether? It must have been hundreds.

Each time, though, it was only a twinge.

Which made it even worse." (208)

• simile

• hyperbole

• internal conflict

• direct

  characterization

Multiple Choice

"What shocked Liesel most was the change in her mama. Whether it was the calculated way in which she divided the food, or the considerable muzzling of her notorious mouth, or even the gentler expression on her cardboard face...." (211)

This quote is evidence that Rosa is a _____ character. 

• static

• dynamic

• flat

• round

Open Ended

"For his first few days in the basement, Liesel had nothing to do with [Max]. She denied his existence. His rustling hair, his cold, slippery fingers.

His tortured presence." (209)

WHY do you think that Liesel acts this way?

Fill in the Blank

"Perhaps it was ____ who kept her sane, with the stupidity of his talk, his lemon-soaked hair, and his cockiness.

He seemed to resonate with a kind of confidence that life was still nothing but a joke--an endless succession of soccer goals, trickery, and a constant repertoire of meaningless chatter" (212).

​FOIL CHARACTERS

​A literary foil is a character whose purpose is to accentuate or draw attention to the qualities of another character, most often the protagonist. This literary term is named after an old jewelry trick of setting a gem on a foil base to enhance its shine.

​

​How is Rudy a foil for Liesel?

Multiple Select

What other character pairs could be viewed as foils?

• Hans and

  Mr. Steiner

• Walter and Hans

• Liesel and Max

• Rosa and Hans

​Mirror Characters

​Although the similarities of mirror characters are most prevalent initially, on closer examination there are significant differences. (Just like when you look in the mirror, left is right....)

​

​In what ways could we describe Max and Liesel as mirror characters?

​A symbol is a thing that represents something else--usually an abstract idea.

​Think about The Standover Man. What does this book symbolize?

Multiple Choice

"There were the erased pages of Mein Kampf, gagging, suffocating under the paint as they turned" (237).

This passage is an example of ____.

• hyperbole

• metaphor

• characterization

• personification

Poll

In your opinion, which moment marks the biggest change in Max's life at the Hubermann's house?

• Making the book for Liesel

• Liesel's hug

• Moving upstairs to sleep by the fire

• Reading with Hans and Liesel in the basement