independent+novel+study


 * The Thief Lord **
 * By: Cornelia Funke **

♔ Why did you select this novel? ♔ What information did you need to know before reading the novel? ♔ What has happened before the novel began? ♔ What's going on as the story begins? ♔ Who is telling the story? How does this person’s perspective effect the way the story is told? ♔ What is the setting of the novel? Is the setting important or could the novel be happening anywhere? Why? ♔ What is the initial or first problem faced by the main character? ♔ How does the author get you to read on or hold your interest? ♔ What new things are added to the original problem as the novel progresses? ♔ What plot twists or unexpected events happen as the novel goes on? ♔ Comment on the style of the novel. Is it easy or hard to follow the events? ♔ Is the language in the novel difficult or easy? GIve examples and explain. To what age group is the novel aimed? Support your answer with evidence. Is there a message or main theme emerging in the book? How is it shown? Describe any new characters that are introduced? What is their purpose? What is the climax of the novel? How are the major and minor conflicts solved? What were the major things that helped to resolve the plot? What message did you get from the novel? How was this message conveyed? Is the novel believable? Why would you (or why wouldn't you) recommend this novel to a friend? Why did (or didn't) the novel meet your expectations?

journal entry 1 pages 5-69 Why did you select this novel? What information did you need to know before reading the novel? What has happened before the novel began?

I selected this novel because I thought that it looked like a good book and also because I recalled wanting to read it a year or two ago. One of the other reasons I chose to read "The Thief Lord" was because it takes place in Venice which uses the language Italian which is very similar to spanish which I am also taking as a class this semester.

I think that you might like to know a bit of the Italian language before you read it so I recommend reading the glossary which has all of the italian words and places used in the story and shows their english equivalent which really helps you make sense of the book at some points.

Before the novel there were these two kids one named Bo (the younger one) and the other named Prosper (the older one) who lived in Hamburg when their mother died they where going to be sent to their aunts house. the reason they did not want to go was that Bo and Prosper were stuck together like glue and Prosper would be sent away if they went to their aunts so they decided to run away to Venice because their mom had told wonderful stories about the city to them. Once they had run away and eventually made it to Venice their aunt traveled there immediately to look for Bo only (because she thought Prosper was a lost cause) and that is what happens before the story begins.

10/10

♔ //**249 words**// ♔

journal entry 2 pages 70-139

What's going on as the story begins? Who is telling the story? How does this person’s perspective effect the way the story is told? What is the setting of the novel? Is the setting important or could the novel be happening anywhere? Why?

The story begins by introducing a detective to the reader that is asked to find two runaway children in Venice (Bo and Brosper) who are the main characters in the story. After that the reader finds out that Bo and Prosper are being cared for by a group of other runaway children whose leader (the theif lord) provides them with income by stealing items that they then pawn for money. The children then go around for awhile pawning the stolen loot and buying items that they need until they find the detective (victor getz) has started following them. After some time hiding from him he eventually gets some information about where they live from Bo when he wears a disguise and asks him. When victor finally finds their home (an abandoned movie theatre) he goes inside only to get lured deeper in and then caught and tied up by the run away children.

The story is told in 2 perspectives one is from the detectives (victor getz) point of view as he is following Prosper and Bo trying to find them and the other point of view is from Bo and Prospers point of view as they join the thief lord and go around the city selling his stolen goods and buying necessary supplies.

The story takes place on the streets of Venice which is important because Venice is the city Bo/Prospers mother always told them about before she died

8/10 MORE DETAIL ON THE QUESTIONS ♔ //**240 words**// ♔

journal entry 3 pages 140-208

What is the initial or first problem faced by the main character? How does the author get you to read on or hold your interest? What new things are added to the original problem as the novel progresses?

The initial problem faced by the main character(s) is the fact that they have just run away from home and have no idea where they are going. the problem is then compounded by the fact that they end up going to a predictable place where they might be found even though they dont want to be. Another part of their initial problem is the fact that they have run away and now have almost no food, water, or shelter

I think that the author trys to grab the intrest of the reader by making them sympathize with the two main characters (run away kids who would get split up and never see each other again if found by their aunt). another way i think the author is trying to grab the intrest of the reader is by making them identify with the two main characters absolute desire to not get found by their aunt and making the reader really understand how horrible it would actually be for the to main characters if they were to be split up.

As the story progresses the plot thickens as the two run away kids find out that their evil aunt has hired a private detective to stalk through the streets to search for them. Even further in the story the kids start to find out that the detective is getting closer and closer to finding them which the (understandably) find disturbing and alarming.

♔ //**240 words**// ♔

journal entry 4 pages 209-279

What plot twists or unexpected events happen as the novel goes on? Comment on the style of the novel. Is it easy or hard to follow the events? Is the language in the novel difficult or easy? GIve examples and explain.

in the story so far there has been many plot twists such as the two main characters provider ( the thief lord) gets a request to rob a certain house which suprises the two main characters and the other run away children. The detective following them also gets caught by the run away children and tied up. The (run away) kids move into the house that the thief lord had just tried to rob.

i think that the style of the novel is easy to follow because a lot of the characters backgrounds are explained well which really helps you identify the characters as well as the story line. Another reason this story is so easy to read is the fact that it has a large map on the first 2 pages depicting all the places used in the story which also helps with imagery when your reading.

the answer is yes and no. In the novel there are many words such as "vanished","nervous" etc. which is easily understood language however since the book is based on the streets of venice some of the characters in the book say a few words in italian, a few places in italy and most of the characters names are italian. the reason i say yes and no is because even though it has some words in italian etc. it does have a long glossary explaining what each and every italian word means and where every place is.

♔ //**244 words**// ♔

Plot summary/questions

who is telling the story, what the central conflict is in the story, what the climax is, how the climax is resolved – or if it isn’t, and whether or not you enjoyed the plot and your reasons.

not to get found by their aunt who is searching for them then trys to rob the house and almost gets caught to the conte's house ( the person who gave the thief lord the job to go rob the house) a few other runaway kids that are living in an abandoned movie theatre and being cared for by the thief lord. after a few days of walking about the streets doing chores ( buying supplies etc ) they realize they are being followed by a person who the other runaways recognize to be a detective. the detective eventually finds the kids home but he is captured and tied up by them. the thief lord then gets the job to rob the house and acquire a wooden wing and goes alone but the other kids tag along and get caught by the owner who tells a story about the wing being part of a magical carousel that can make anyone older or younger. everyone then travels to the island and complete the carousel the thief lord then jumps on the carousel and becomes much older then barbarosa ( the greedy person who the thief lord sells all his loot to ) jumps on to the carousel and ends up shattering it as he gets off. all the kids then end up living at the house they had just tried to rob ( kind of ironic ) and that is the end of the story. i enjoyed the plot of this story because it had plenty of action mystery and it was pretty well rounded over all however i didnt enjoy the plot as much because it went from one thing to another a bit to fast and the overall feeling of the story warped over time ( the story went from runaway kids>stealing>runing from a detective>robing a house>???!!!???a magical carousel that turns age forward/back???!!!??? )
 * What does the title have to do with the book?**
 * the title is related to the book because "the thief lord" is actually one of the main characters in the story
 * where does the story happen?**
 * the story takes place on the streets of venice
 * when does the story happen?**
 * the author did not specify the time period of the book
 * who is telling the story?**
 * the story is told by a narrator
 * what is the central conflict?**
 * the central conflict in the story is the 2 main characters ( bo/prosper ) trying to survive on the streets of venice while trying
 * what is the climax?**
 * i think that the climax of the story is when one of the main characters ( the thief lord ) gets a job offering 5,000,000 lire (currency in italy)
 * how is the climax resolved?**
 * the climax is resolved when the owner of the house finds out what the thief lord was trying to steal and then they go together
 * plot summary**
 * the story starts off with 2 runaway children ( bo/prosper ) that had just traveled to venice. after a little while bo/prosper join up with
 * why i enjoyed/disliked the plot**