Lesson Plan:

The Book Thief portrays everyday life in an extraordinarily terrible time, and depicts the small choices made by ordinary people that carry great ethical weight. Liesel Meminger is a child growing up in Nazi Germany, living in a town near Munich with foster parents Hans and Rosa Huberman. The narrator of The Book Thief is Death.

The novel touches on many philosophical topics, including:

• The nature of courage
• The relationship between character and moral behavior
• The meaning of community and the extent of our moral obligations to others

You can highlight selected passages to explore the book’s philosophical themes, as follows:

PASSAGE 1

 After lodging his form at the Nazi headquarters on Munich Street, he witnessed four men throw several bricks into a clothing store named Kleinmann’s. It was one of the few Jewish shops that were still in operation in Molching. Inside, a small man was stuttering about, crushing the broken glass beneath his feet as he cleaned up. A star the color of mustard was smeared to the door. In sloppy lettering, the words JEWISH FILTH were spilling over at their edges. The movement inside tapered from hurried to morose, then stopped altogether.

Hans moved closer and stuck his head inside. “Do you need some help?”

Discussion questions

Why did Hans offer to help Mr. Kleinmann?

Was Han’s offer of help courageous?

PASSAGE 2

“I can no longer join, ” Hans stated.

The man was shocked. “Why not?”

Hans looked at the knuckles of his right hand and swallowed. He could already taste the error, like a metal tablet in his mouth. “Forget it. ” He turned and walked home.

. . .

Innocuously, a man walked past. “Heil Hitler, ” he said.

“Heil Hitler, ” Hans replied.

Discussion questions

When Hans tells the Nazi Party member, “Forget it,” and when he says “Heil Hitler” even though we know he doesn’t support Hitler, is he demonstrating a lack of courage?

What is the relationship between courage and being careful? Between courage and recklessness?

Does Hans have courage?

PASSAGE 3

When a Jew shows up at your place of residence in the early hours of morning, in the very birthplace of Nazism, you’re likely to experience extreme levels of discomfort. Anxiety, disbelief, paranoia. Each plays its part, and each leads to a sneaking suspicion that a less than heavenly consequence awaits. The fear is shiny. Ruthless in the eyes.

The surprising point to make is that despite this iridescent fear glowing as it did in the dark, they somehow resisted the urge for hysteria.

Discussion questions

Is “resisting the urge for hysteria” a kind of courage?

What is the relationship between courage and fear? Can you be afraid and still be courageous?

Can you be courageous and not be afraid?

Does courage always involve action? Can it take courage to do nothing? To remain silent? To think in a particular way? To refuse to care what other people think?

Can a community be courageous?