In the novel, The Book Thief, Mark Zusak uses words to convey multiple meanings. This is especially seen when the words “saukerl” and “saumensch” are used in the book. However, readers can quickly grasp that those “vehement and prolific” are intended as terms of endearment. However, this is contrasted to the words “thank you” which Max believes are the “most pitiful words he could” say. Max believes that he is undeserving of kindness and so when he does say thank you it only goes to nurture his guilty conscience. Zusak shows that words that are said are not necessarily the words that are intended for example when Max first meets Hans during World War 2 and asks “Do you still play the accordion?” the hidden question behind that was “Will you