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Examples Of Sacrifices In The Book Thief

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Sacrifices are made everyday by people everywhere. You can sacrifice your free time for homework, sacrifice your seat on the metro for an elderly person, sacrifice your money to a charitable organization, or sacrifice your life for your country. All sacrifices show a person’s priorities or what a person values. In the book The Book Thief, several sacrifices of all sizes are made throughout the story. The main character Liesel makes many sacrifices in her life, but one of the most prominent sacrifices throughout the book is her sacrifice of safety and security for her love of books. Liesel steals six books, and each book has a significant impact on her life. When Liesel steals The Shoulder Shrug from the book burning, she puts herself in great danger. She knows that she lives under the rule of Nazi Germany, and if she is caught, she and her family will suffer the consequences. The text makes it evident that she knew she was in danger and sacrificed her security anyway by describing the situation with imagery like “the sick beauty of nerves proved more ghastly with each stride” (Zusak 120). Liesel was so nervous because she was purposely endangering herself just to steal a book from the fire. This sacrifice illustrates …show more content…

One example of how the book shows the importance of words is how Hitler used words. One of the stories that Max makes for Liesel,“The Word Shaker,” highlights how Hitler never used guns or fear to convince an entire country, but that he “ruled the world with words” (Zusak 445). In fact, there are several ways this novel portrays this theme of how important words are. In The Book Thief, words are how Hitler gains power, how Liesel and Papa bond, how Max shows his love and appreciation for Liesel, and how Death learns about Liesel’s story. Books and words truly are the reason this story even exists, and the sacrifices that Liesel makes for these words further highlight their

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Hans loved his cigarettes, but he loved his family more. He would rather make Liesel happy then himself. Hans’s sacrifice of cigarettes helped to give a deeper meaning to the theme of love. In conclusion, there are many sacrifices in The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

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a. "She had watched a bomber pilot die in a metal case. She had seen a Jewish man who had twice given her the most beautiful pages of her life marched to a concentration camp"(521). - Liesel has been through so many struggles. Her brother died in front of her, her mother sent her away, and she witnessed almost everyone she loved depart from the world. She had more than enough reasons to quit, but she decided to stay strong through it all.

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According to Harmful and Undesirable by Guenter Lewy, “Hitler had argued in Mein Kampf that the Jews had “poisoned German culture,” including literature, and had “wrecked all the conceptions of beauty and dignity” (101). Words were important for Liesel. She stated, “I have hated the words and I have loved them” (Zusak 528). She hated the words because a powerful word “communism” had tore her away from her mother. She loved the words because they connected her with her friend Max Vandenburg.

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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.

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Liesel, known as the book thief to the audience has a distinct passion for books and how much they mean to her. Stealing book after the book becomes a hobby for the young girl whose love of books is fostered by her foster father, Hans Hubermann. As Hans teaches Liesel how to read and write they develop an

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Although humans may originally behave due to innate reasons, much of literature argues external forces shape character and possess the power to influence the way societies behave. Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief exhibits how individuals may react in times of discrimination, and demonstrates the love and hate accompanying war. Difficult times challenge morality, and tests one’s limits; Liesel Meminger perseveres through arduous events, namely due to her identity as a creative and brave adolescent. Liesel’s identity is shaped and ultimately strengthened by outside forces.

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Only the girl saw it. She bent down and picked it up and held it firmly in her fingers. The book had silver writing on it” (Zusak, 24). The reader begins to question why Liesel steals this book as it is clear that she does not have a specific reason for obtaining it. Later in the novel, the reader discovers something about Liesel that contradicts the decision to steal a

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“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.

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In the novel, Liesel’s behavior shows justice and love through her friendship with Max. Although her relationship with Max in the beginning of the book was rather awkward, soon her perspective towards Max soothes and their relationship bonds to a friendship. There are some times when Liesel’s actions were unbelievable, especially during the Jew parade. “ ‘ You have to let go of me Liesel.’

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For this reason, Liesel best illustrates courage in The Book Thief by befriending

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Having no one familiar to turn to, she finds a passion for words and continues to steal more books and develops strength through her burgeoning intellect of words. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is about the power of words; in this novel Zusak reveals that one who truly knows the hidden strength behind all words, can dominate others because words are more powerful than any weapon. The importance of words is shown through the symbolism of certain words throughout the novel; the motif of hunger, how it leads to her hunger for words; and how different Liesel’s world would be without words. Simple words can have deeper meanings.

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This make Liesel really seem like a thief, but in reality, she just a girl with a passion about books. Also you don’t get to know that the Mayor and his wife takes her in after the

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862 Words | 4 Pages

The theme of this book is learning to love and care for the people around. How I came to this conclusion is by how Liesel acts towards Max, her foster parents, Rudy, and her neighbors. Liesel cares for people even if they weren't like her and she doesn't understand why there is hatred in this world. She wanted the world to be a happy place for everyone including Jews to be friends with one another. On page 426 in ‘The Book Thief’, when Rudy’s father went to war Liesel could relate to Rudy because “her mother.

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1301 Words | 6 Pages

Her favorite thing to do with the stolen books was read with her father. Her Papa frequently read with her. “ ‘ Do you want to read it?’ Again, ‘Yes Papa’ “ (Zusak 64). One of Liesel’s friends, Max, is constantly filled with guilt as well.

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529 Words | 3 Pages

The Book Thief. MZ, 2005, p. 301. ). The author of The Book Thief , Markus Zusak demonstrates the idea that a person's survival or life may strongly depend on the power of words. In The Book Thief we learn that words have a lot of power, not only do we but throughout the story unfold Liesel also learns that also.

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