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The Book Thief Symbolism Analysis

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Symbolism Compared and Contrasted

A book. A piece of bread. An accordion. Three entirely different objects, used for entirely different purposes. Yet, in context of The Book Thief written by Markus Zusak, the items accommodate a manifold of symbolic significance in between the pages, crumbs, and keys that mean something more to the characters than the implements purpose.
The symbolic items that take place in the novel all differ in multiple ways. Liesel’s books include a variety of symbolism such as how the The Gravedigger’s Handbook is out of remembrance for her brother. Additionally, when Liesel stole the book out of smouldering fire, it was her way of defying Hitler. The symbolism of Hans accordion plays a major role in the story. His instrument is a reminder of a friendship between him and Erik Vandenburg and the debt he owes to Erik; he died saving Hans life. Another symbolic item that exists in the novel, is the bread that Hans gave to the …show more content…

All of them provide some sort of comfort to the people around them, and give them a feeling of security if their lives are falling down like Jenga blocks. Liesel’s reading was able to soothe the shaking souls of the nervous neighbors in the bomb shelter, and the bread giving to the prisoner gave him a feeling of contentment because he knew that someone didn’t believe in the inhumane actions that were taken place. Moreover, when Han works the bellows and presses the keys, it gives Liesel a feeling of safety in her life. Likewise, when Hans leaves for WWII the unexpected from Rosa becomes reality. “It took longer than expected for her eyes to adjust, and when they did, there was no denying the fact that Rosa Hubermann was sitting on the edge of the bed with her husband’s accordion tied to her chest” (Zusak 428/429). The instrument gave Rosa comfort because it was something that reminded her of

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In the novel, The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, “The Grave Digger’s Handbook” is a motif that causes character development throughout the story causing Liesel to have the book as her only memory of her mother and brother, learning how to read and write, and it leads to stealing more books. When Liesel, her mother, and her brother, Werner were going on a train to Munich, Liesel has a dream about Adolf Hitler, The Furer, who was reciting one of his powerful speeches and when she woke up she found her brother dead. The train stops for track repairs, and Liesel's mother leaves the train carrying Werner in her arms. When Liesel’s brother was getting buried by two grave diggers, one of them, an apprentice, who drops his book and Liesel picks it up.

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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.

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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.

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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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He killed himself for wanting to live” (Zusak 503). While Michael deals with guilt by self destructing, Liesel, the main character, handles guilt using other methods. Liesel encounters guilt through the death of her loved ones in addition to the sadness of losing everything she had. She deals with this guilt by stealing books and reading with her Papa. By stealing books, she achieved the famous nickname, the Book Thief.

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