It takes guts to steal books, to defy leaders, to take in the criminally wanted. In the dark times such as 1939-1945, such acts of courage are mandatory in a way, perhaps. The author of The Book Thief, Markus Zusak, finds many ways to display development and courage in his characters’ personalities. The first example of this theme would be Liesel.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is an award-winning novel surrounding the main character Liesel, and her experience in Germany throughout World War II. As Liesel grows up as the novel progresses, she discovers various things about herself and her home of Nazi Germany. Throughout the novel, Zusak uses juxtaposition to emphasize the differences between sides. Zusak most clearly demonstrates his use of juxtaposition in the duality of Nazi Germany and how hate is not everywhere, and how the power of words can be used to either save or destroy. One example of juxtaposition in the novel is the duality of Nazi Germany.
Writer Markus Zusak’s number one best-selling book The Book Thief written in 2005 demonstrates a story about a young German girl living in Nazi Germany. Zusak’s purpose of the story is to describe life growing up in Germany during World War II. He uses a serious tone to describe his reader's rhetorical devices that can have a deeper meaning. This can be demonstrated through the use of Symbolism, Imagery, and even Liesel herself.
Books can change the way people live. Books can change religion, and even the way people live their lives. In Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief, during the time of Hitler's reign, the book Mein Kampf has changed the lives of Germans and the characters. The books have been used as protection and even to express thoughts and feelings. Mein Kampf is significant to the novel because of the way Max and Germany used it, and the way it resulted.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is a book about an illiterate young girl navigating through the trenches of a war-torn Nazi Germany. While she learns to read and devours whatever books she gets her hands on, she gains a better understanding of the world around her and grows into an independent woman. In this process, she expands her vocabulary and emotional intelligence, becomes bold, and supports her family with her words. Liesel’s character growth in Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief is symbolized by her growing confidence with language and words. Language gives people power.
Larry Yang Ms. Orfei ENG1D1 05/15/23 Why the book thief should be offered for future grade 9 classes Opinion Essay Markus Zusak's "The Book Thief" is a powerful novel that portrays the devastating effects of Jewish persecution during World War II. Through the experiences of its characters, the book demonstrates how resilience, compassion, and the power of words can help individuals overcome even the most challenging hardships. This message of unity and perseverance is timeless and applicable to various challenges that people may face throughout their lives, making it an ideal book to include in future grade 9 classes.
You truly don’t know what you have until it’s gone. Everyday things are taken for granted. In “The Book Thief” It shows incredible examples of how loss transforms you for the better. “The Book Thief” Written by Markus Zusak is a novel based on Nazi-Germany during post World War 2. It Features the scary truth along with harsh humor, The story is told through the eyes of brave, Jewish girl named Liesel.
To love is to risk. Whether that is risking life, belief, health, or reputation, it is still a risk at any rate to give devotion to another. No era in history knows this better than during the Holocaust. Still, the most unexpected of people would die trying to help Jews escape persecution, they would help others who didn't share the same moral foundation as they did, they would share food rations when they barely had enough for themselves, or they would risk their public standing and forever be labeled as a sympathizer just to help a suffering soul regain his balance. Similarly, Markus Zusak's The Book Thief demonstrates a complete comprehension of how humans act against self preservation and individual comfort when challenged with harrowing situations that appeal to their own personal connections.
“It’s just a small story really, about, among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist fighter, and quite a lot of thievery…” (Zusak, pg. 5) The novel, The Book Thief written by Markus Zusak in 2005 explores the theme of family relationships. It is through nine-year-old Liesel Meminger, the protagonist, that the idea of a broken family during the era of Nazi Germany is explored. The Book Thief depicts the struggle of young German girl, Liesel Meminger, living in Germany during the time of Hitler’s reign.
The characters in a story. They are hard to bring to life, yet a story would be incomplete without them. I love to write, and I often don’t have troubles creating my characters. But what makes every character stand out is that special thing about each and every one of them. That’s one thing that I loved about “The Book Thief,” by Markus Zusak.
Based on the circumstances that they are developed in, humans are capable of both good and evil. Markus Zusak's The Book Thief explores the complexities of human nature through his use of setting, symbols and characters. Different characters possess different qualities based on their experiences. Symbols are used to illustrate both the beauty and the ugliness in humanity. Also, in the novel, the setting in which the character is raised has either a negative or positive effect on the characters actions.
Quiñano, Julianne Grace D. November 13, 2015 BSP 201A Literature 1 Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing (Proverbs 12:18). This passage from the Holy Bible is never wrong because ever since God created the universe and until know, all human beings have already experienced being hurt with the words that were thrown to us. Words are powerful that it can cause big changes in anyone’s life. As I read the bestselling novel of Markus Zusak entitled The Book Thief, aside from realizing how powerful words are, I realized also that being an author of a book is strenuous. It requires creativity, lots of courage, perseverance and of course experiences.
Growing as a Character Every event in our lives happens for a reason, whether it is to learn from our mistakes or to gain experience from them. In Markus Zusak's novel “The Book Thief,” Liesel Meminger uses her experiences with living in the 1940s to learn life lessons and experience first hand the many terrible things Hitler is doing to people around her. She learns how to deal with the many obstacles that are thrown at her. Liesel grows as a character by following her step-father’s footsteps in being a kind and generous person, going through childhood with her best friend Rudy, and being aware of what is going on around her by learning from Max.
Markus Zusak has assembled ‘The Book Thief’ using a variety of narrative conventions. These include a unique narrative viewpoint, plot structure and use of imagery, all of which provide meaning to the reader. (33 words) A narrative’s point of view refers to who is telling the story. In this case Zusak’s narrator identifies himself as Death.
The Book Thief, directed by Brian Percival, is a film adaptation of a book by Mark Zusak centred around adolescent girl Liesel Meminger (Sophie Nelisse). Set in Germany during the early-mid 1940’s, leading up to the war, Liesel is sent away from her family to live with foster parents since she is at risk of being killed due as her parents are communists. Percival uses skilfully chosen aural and visual elements as well as cinematic techniques such as lighting and camera angles to communicate and explore the central theme to the audience: the power of human spirit, especially when dealing with adversity. Percival designs the aural elements in the scenes that make up the film The Book Thief to communicate and allow the audience to explore the power of the human spirit when dealing with adversity. Percival does this by using the aforementioned techniques to create juxtapositions, contrasting the power of the human spirit against adversity.
