Essay Prompts
Prompts for the NEHS Scholarships for 2010, based on The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Prompt One
Although the primary setting of the novel is the small world of Liesel Meminger during the Nazi's reign in Germany of the 1930s and 1940s, The Book Thief could be interpreted as a "fable for our age." Drawing on your personal experiences and observations, as well as your reading of the novel, write an essay that analyzes the relevance of Liesel's world to today's world.
Prompt Two
Although fictional characters may not have the title of teacher, they may teach through actions, reactions, attitudes, insights, prejudices, abilities, or disabilities. They might be "good" teachers or we might learn from them because they teach us what not to do. Discuss one such literary character from The Book Thief and the lesson(s) he or she teaches. Discuss why the lesson the character teaches is important to you, how this character's actions and attitudes address a problem in our world today, and how you can apply what was learned by the character to your life and society.
Prompt Three
From time-to-time, books selected to be read at the high school level meet with some objections from parents, other teachers, community members, or members of school boards. Assume you have been asked to prepare a written defense of The Book Thief that will become part of a packet of information being sent to members of your local school board intended to persuade them to approve of the book's inclusion in the English curriculum.
Prompt Four
Complex narratives often involve the transformation, or metamorphosis, of a character. This may be a literal or figurative change. Consider the metamorphosis of one of the characters in The Book Thief and write an essay that explores the effects of the change on the character and how that change affects the work as a whole. You may also consider what the change says about human nature and how people react in situations that may be out of their control.
Guidelines
- The audience reading your essay will know the novel; while you are expected to reference and quote from the text, a retelling of the story in a traditional "book report format" will disqualify the essay from consideration.
- Use 12 point Times Roman font, and double space your essay.
- Quotations and references to the novel are expected, with appropriate documentation.
- Total word count should not exceed 750 words, including quotations and references.
- Do not place your name, school name, or NEHS charter name on your essay pages; staple your application form to the top of your essay before submitting.
- All scholarship application materials must be postmarked by March 8, 2010 and mailed to NEHS, Department of English, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115.