Foreshadowing In The Book Thief

Frank Herbert understood that thinking about one’s mortality “is to know the beginning of terror,” but knowing that one is mortal “is to know the end of terror.” Markus Zusak, author of The Book Thief, weaves the tale of “a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist fighter, and quite a lot of thievery” (Zusak 5). This fictional account of World War Two illustrates the importance of words, bravery, and love. Moreover, it divulges the truth behind life: death. In The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, foreshadowing, personification, and imagery reveal the transience of life.
Throughout the book, Zusak uses foreshadowing to show mortality. Death, the narrator, constantly suggests – or blatantly states – that someone will die. Some of Death’s first words in the novel remind readers that they “are going to die” (Zusak 3). Zusak even titles one of the chapters “The End of the World” (Zusak 495). In both of these instances, Death directly states the truth of morality. In the second example, he suggests deaths of characters. Given these points, the audience recognises a theme of impermanence.

Further into the novel, Death describes his experience in WWII. He interrupts the story with a short note titled “A Small Piece of Truth.” Death writes:
I do not carry a sickle or scythe. I only wear a hooded black robe when it’s cold. And I don’t have those skull-like facial features you seem to enjoy pinning on me from a distance. You know what I truly look like? I’ll help you out. Find yourself a mirror while I continue. (Zusak