The issue of war is one that is deeply etched into the history of humanity, previously proven to bring out both the good, and bad in human nature. Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief, set in Nazi Germany, and Steven Galloway’s The Cellist of Sarajevo, set in wartime Sarajevo, these aspects of humanity are explored. The theme of courage is explored by Zusak using symbolism and characterisation, with Galloway too using characterisation and the motif of water. Zusak uses the motif of books, with Galloway using the symbol of the cello to convey humanity’s ability to find beauty in times of great horror. The theme of evil in human nature is shown by both authors through setting, with each author using narrator to portray the idea of both good and bad
One example of this symbolism is the musical aspect that the author decides to include, the songs. Through the songs and the context in which they are used, the author establishes the mood, provides the reader with better
Jennifer Riocasa Period 2 The Power of Words From 1941 to 1945, six million Jews were killed during the Holocaust. In Nazi Germany, your identity was a big deal considering whether you live or die. Imagine yourself as a prisoner in a Nazi concentration camp, where heaps of dead bodies lay scattered on the ground, rotting in the sun. You will be confined in a one meter by one-meter cell, large enough for only one person, but sometimes Nazis force up to four people into the tight space.
To illustrate, “The sound of the accordion was, in fact, also the announcement of safety” (Zusak 38). To Liesel, the accordion was a comforting distraction from the reality of her brother’s death and her mother’s departure. Liesel was completely focused on her brother’s death and her mother’s departure, as she never understood why the way things happened the way they did. The accordion draws Liesel’s attention by the solace music notes and generates the feeling of relaxation, as it puts Liesel’s heart into ease from all the hectic conflict from her past. The text states, “...the fact that Rosa Hubermann was sitting on the edge of the bed with her husband’s accordion tied to her chest” (Zusak 429).
German citizens suffered during World War II. Some may think that they were great, but instead, they suffered greatly. Nazi, Germany is where Adolf Hitler, also known as the Füher began his mass murder plan to take over the world and breed a race of blonde hair and blue eyes, Killing Jews, “Jew feeders”, “Jew Lovers”, and anyone who hid a “Jew”, Everybody was poor and struggling, each day a gamble of who was going to live and who would die. “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak takes place in Germany during World War II. The author intrigues readers with foreshadowing, time jumps, and symbolism.
The door of 33 Himmel Street has repeatedly been an important symbol through out The Book Thief. It's first appearance came when Liesel first arrived on Himmel street, kicking and screaming, once she had finally entered the house, she was met with an entirely new life. She learned to read and write, she became friends with the neighbor boy and a Jew in the basement. Most of all she was loved, not that her mother hadn't, she was love by Hans and Rosa, by Rudy and Max, by Ilsa and her audience in the Fiedlers' Basement.
The setting changes because in the book it says, "Eric whirled around to see a man in a brown leather vest reading from a scroll: 'Eric, a boy apprenticed to Randolph the silversmith, has fled from the neighboring town.' " This means that the setting has changed, and it’s acting like it was the olden days. I know this because in the book, this is the first time eric went to sleep so that means he’s dreaming, but not actually living it. I also know this because page 58 paragraph 7 and paragraph 10 , it says “Before, the people at the fair were wearing T-Shirts, and shorts, now everyone seemed to be in full costume.”
Markus was inspired to write about this genre from his personal context. When Markus was younger his parents told him stories about their experiences from World War II, this led Markus to be inspired to write a book that coincided with his Parents experiences. In regards to the context of the book, Zusak first drafted a book, where a girl steals a book in modern day Sydney. It was not only till later when thinking about writing a book on his parents childhood in Germany and Austria during World War II, Zusak integrated these ideas and created a book that efficiently depicted Nazi Germany and the issues of the time.
Words in The Book Thief demonstrates that words and language have immense power. Words can be used in a negative or positive ways. Hitler used words to spread propaganda in a fallacious way which led to deleterious human beings. The people (Germans) that lived during the war were credulous about what Hitler said therefore their life turned out to be debacle. Hitler used words to deceive and outsmart the others, he implanted words and images into the Jews heads to think a certain way(Zusak, Markus Frank.
(Zusak 2005, pg. 34). Liesel associates his accordion playing with the presence of safety. When asked about the character
In the 1947 the Cold War started with it brought the policies. During the Cold War we had many policies. Most were foreign policies as well as many American policies. With the breakup of the Soviet Union into separate nations, and the re-emergence of the nation of Russia, the world of pro-U.S. and pro-Soviet alliances broke down.(Bodden 12) Different challenges presented themselves, such as climate change and the threat of nuclear terrorism. Thus bringing us to the policies that were made.
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.
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.
Michelle Nkansah. The Book Thief Part A: Movie Title: • The Book thief Movie Director: • Brian Percival Studio • Miramax Year film was released: • 2013 Movie Characters: Liesel: Liesel was the main character/ protagonist of the movie. Throughout her life she goes through a lot.
