The Book Thief Rhetorical Devices

Often, the most powerful stories go overlooked. While people are focused on their own lives, the world is dying around them. In The Book Thief, Zusak displays the large impact of Liesel's story through the narration of Death, ultimately portraying his use of rhetorical appeals such as ethos, logos, and pathos. Through this compelling historical fiction, the author portrays his purpose of using rhetoric to persuade the reader and the characters. One example of rhetoric used throughout the story is alliteration. At the beginning of the story, when Death is introducing himself, he uses alliteration to build trust with the reader. He builds credibility by stating, “Please, trust me”. I most definitely can be cheerful. I can be amiable to you. Agreeable.

Overall, persuading the reader to understand the magnitude of Liesel’s story through ethos and credibility. To establish the warmer tone of a usually dark character, Zusak uses hyperbole to exaggerate the heart of death. As death is reflecting on the story and the limited effect he was able to make, he states, “It kills me sometimes how people die. I am haunted by humans. Even death has a heart. I wanted to tell the book thief many things, about beauty and brutality.” (Zusak 550) Zusak persuades the reader to believe that death has feelings outside of the job he is supposed to do. Furthermore, given that he specifically chose to narrate and care for Liesel’s story, he demonstrates his heart and Liesel’s power. Zusak uses Death's involvement in Liesel’s life to shed light on the power and magnitude of her story and her influence on those around her. Even though the Jewish population is being hunted, murdered, and tortured, they still see the beauty in their surroundings. This amplifies Death's point of beauty and brutality through his time watching humans. But the inclusion of the exact number demonstrates just how closely he cares for human beings and their individual