Three Characters we will explore and what they experienced, how they acted, and what they did when in conflict/crisis: Max – feared for his life Hans – helped others in their time of need (Jews) Leisel – stole books

 Max goes to the Huberman’s home (their basement-his source of comfort and safety) seeking protection, the most precious thing if someone is wanting to survive something.  This sparked a relationship with Leisel and together we get a sense of compare/contrast between them - lifestyles - history - cultures - experiences

 Encounters with fear “Angst-fear: an unpleasant, often strong emotion cause by anticipation or awareness of danger”  - the “awareness of danger” Max is experiencing is that of being hunted; by a very powerful predator. Fear is an inbuilt response to the knowledge that something bad is going to happen, which forces us to make an irrational decision on what to do. Max realises that if he left the basement he would be caught and sent to a concentration camp, can you imagine the fear that would put in his heart? That thousands were being taken to these concentration camps and never returning, how would you feel?

Leisel

She uses the book “gravediggers handbook” to establish a relationship with Hans because she goes to him for comfort in her time of need (brothers death “We know, of course, the boy didn’t make it.”), and allows her to have a place to escape to away from her worldly problems. But what we discover as an audience is that it becomes the actual ‘stealing’ of the books that give her the satisfaction rather than the books themselves.

During the first bombings where everyone was already in the bomb shelter Leisel began to read, and soon everyone was listening (gaining comfort from her story) “By page three, everyone was silent but Leisel”.

The thing I found interesting is that every time Leisel needs comfort its to do with either death and/or a book (her brother, with Hans, and when the bombs destroy Himmel street at the end – she still has the book in her hand from in the basement). I believe Leisel is an incredibly strong character from all this.

Hans

Had a conflict with the Nazi party (even though he wasn’t hunted by them he was being victimised by being accused of collaborating with the Jews) The intriguing aspect of this is that the Nazi party didn’t know Hans was keeping a Jew (Max) in his basement, which also added to the danger of his actions – by helping the Jew during the parade down Himmel street he was immediately suspected of ‘treason’ “They immediately called him a Jew- lover”.

Hans had become more than a protector for Max because he had become emotionally connected with him – meaning that his own interests (keeping him safe) were at stake. His motivation was to be a comfort to people who were in greater need than himself. This concept can be called ‘paracletos’, a Greek word which means one who comes alongside – being a comfort.

Han’s past is what drives him to help the Jews, this is because “A Jew had once saved his life and he could not forget that”. The fact that he “could not forget that” makes us realise that he feels as though he is in debt to them as a people and will do anything in his power to help them in their time of need, even if it does mean putting himself and his family in danger.

Conclusion Throughout the novel characters were faced with conflict which forced them to feel and act in different and interesting ways. This an illustration of how humans have reacted throughout history. Markus Zusak has crafted this for us brilliantly.