The Book Thief Rhetorical Analysis

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"The Book Thief," a film adaptation of Markus Zusak's novel, is a powerful and emotionally charged movie that captures the hearts and minds of it’s audience. In this rhetorical analysis, I will examine the film's effectiveness in engaging its audience through a detailed exploration of its rhetorical elements, including the writer's purpose, the intended audience, the situation, and the appeals used. The "speaker" or "writer" in "The Book Thief" is director Brian Percival, who brings Markus Zusak's novel to life on the screen. The material of the media object is the film itself, which the audience experiences primarily through visual and auditory elements such as dialogue, music, and sound effects. The film can be experienced in various settings, …show more content…

Examples of these appeals include the relationship between Liesel and her adoptive parents, Hans and Rosa; the friendship between Liesel and Max; and the beautiful yet haunting scenes of war-torn Germany. The author intends for these appeals to evoke empathy, provoke thought, and elicit strong emotional responses from the audience. For example, the film's cinematography captures the stark contrast between the beauty of the snow-covered landscape and the destruction caused by war, evoking a sense of loss and sadness. Additionally, the performances of the actors, particularly Sophie Nélisse as Liesel and Geoffrey Rush as Hans, create a strong emotional connection between the characters and the audience, allowing viewers to deeply empathize with their struggles and triumphs. The film is effective in its appeals, as it elicits emotional reactions from viewers and encourages them to think about the themes presented. While the appeals may be effective for many, others may find the film's pacing or narrative structure less engaging, affecting their overall experience differently. The effectiveness of the appeals may also vary depending on individual viewers' backgrounds,