Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Discussion Topic #4 - Question

My intentionally thought provoking question concerning "The Book Thief" is about Leisel. I was thinking about the book and how Leisel was a really remarkable character even though she initially appears average. So my question is: Who's life do you think Leisel influenced the most?

Initially, I would answer my own question with Hans, or Max. But there's also Rosa, Rudy, and Death to consider.

15 comments:

  1. I think Liesel influenced Max's life the most. While he was living in the Hubermann's basement, she constantly kept him company and listened to his stories. Without her, Max could've very easily gone insane in that basement. I think if you were to ask Max who influenced him the most in his life, he'd answer Liesel as well.

    I don't think it would be Rudy because Rudy's life wouldn't have been much different if Liesel hadn't arrived on Himmel Street. He would still have been Jessie Owens, he most likely still would have gotten involved in stealing, and he would still have been a great athlete. Though Liesel definately influenced his life, it wasn't in a significant way.

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  2. I think that Liesel influences Hans life the most because he seems so uplifted by her and she is a great addition to their family. I also think that since Hans was only living with Rosa, Liesel is definitely a relief for him and they spend so much time together. I think she inspires him also when he teaches her to read because he is able to teach someone something that he knows and that can be influencing.

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  3. I think Liesel influences Hans life the greatest because of the courage and passion she brings to the household. Her love for books and creativity rubs off on him and keeps him thinking positive in the small things even though there is current devistation in society.

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  4. I love that question! I truly do believe that Liesel influenced Hans' life the most just because he has never had someone that cares for him as much as she does. Hans deserves a character like Liesel and Leisel definitely deserves a kind, warming father like Hans. But i'm not saying that Liesel didn't have a huge influence on the other characters like Rudy, Rosa, and Death, because i believe she did.

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  5. I think Liesel influences Death the most. This is because, in the very beginning of the book, Death told us that he tries not to notice the people still living, and yet he noticed Liesel a total of three times. I could understand a slip up once, but three times? And then how Death feels it is important to recount this story to us that he practically knows by heart, but why? Because Liesel influenced him so much.

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  6. I think Liesel influenced two people's lives greatly. First off, i think she really influenced Hans life because she brought a young "innocent" mind to the Hubbermann household, and gave Hans a purpose to his life in many ways. He taught her how to read which is a beautiful thing, and he was always there for her where as before her coming his nights were probably only for sleeping. Second of all, like Emily, I really think that Liesel had a great influence on Death, because he was so intrigued by her that he told her story even though she was one of the living, not his dead.

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  7. I think she's influneced Hans's life the most out of anyone. Even in the beginning of the book we see the two characters become rather close. Liesel and Hansreally got along together and are close now.

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  8. I think Liesel has influenced Hans' life the most for two reasons. First of all, her personality is very similar to that of Hans, bringing them closer together. Hans is able to see that there are still optimistic people. Also, Liesel brings into the Hubermann household a sense of hope. Hans continues acting like a father and Liesel's passion in life rubs of onto him to. Liesel basically makes Hans feel more important.

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  9. I think that Liesel influenced Hans' life the most because he has had troubles with Rosa and Liesel was someone that was important to him. She cares a lot for him and he does for her too. I also think her liking for reading and creativity helped him through the hard times.

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  10. I think that Liesel influenced Max's life the most. Liesel was a breath of fresh air for Max, especially during his most troubling times. Liesel provided happiness and a child-like innocence that took his mind away from his desperate situation and dreary days. Liesel had many things in common with Max which they could bond over, and she became Max's best friend.

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  11. I think that Liesel has influenced Max's life. When others would not want anything to do with Max because he was Jewish, Liesle didnt care and offered him friendship. Liesel always looked out for max, by bringing him things like newspapers or snow, and by reading to him everyday while he was sleeping. Max has become a best friend to liesel, and their connections of words and dreams brought them together.

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  12. I definetely agree that Max is influence by Liesel the most. Liesel is the reason Max doesn't die, though he slept for days and was very close to giving in. Liesel is a glimmer of hope in Max's life. This is evident in the drawings Max does that mock Hitler and show him and Liesel holding hands and looking up at the sky. Liesel saved Max's life and gave him a reason to want to live.

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  13. I think that Hans is the most influential person in Liesel's life. He teaches tolerance to Jews to Liesel rather than have her be taught Nazi ideals. He also brings her books and teaches her how to read which influences her stealing books and her thought.

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  14. I think Liesel influenced Death the most. She made Death realize that there's more to the dead than colors and light souls. Death learned from her that the souls they collect have more than just a history, but a tangled web of connections.

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  15. I also think that Leisel influences death the most. He seems completely changed by her life. And people die every second, so it's not as if he has a lot of free time to just sit around writing books and such.

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