The novel, The Book Thief, written by Markus Zusak, is about a young German girl named Liesel, who doesn’t see words walking alongside her throughout her entire life. She loves literature and builds her use of words throughout the story. Liesel uses her understanding of words to build connections with the people around her and grow into the person she is. The Book Thief shows how words are there with Liesel through her most traumatic experiences, help her build her connections with people, and how they symbolized her growing into a mature, independent woman. Since the story is set in a very traumatic time in history, Liesel has experienced trauma herself, and words help her out through it all. When Liesel is first introduced, she witnesses …show more content…
In return, Frau Hermann gets the comfort and human connection to a child, since she has recently lost her son. Later on, their relationship inspires Liesel to write a book herself. Words that help Liesel grow and become more independent. In the beginning, Liesel was a shy girl who always stood behind people. Her mother, brother, and childhood being taken from her are examples of how she has never been in control of her own life. However, throughout the story, her character develops into a more independent person using words. A prime example is when she takes “the book” she [wants]. The Whistler.” (287), from Frau Hermann's library because, “stealing it. [seems] a little more acceptable. Stealing it. was like earning it” (287). She finally takes control of her life, since she decides what, when, and why she steals. This is different from when she stole from the farmer, as she was given directions on what to steal, and only got a portion of her stolen goods. After she realizes more about the world around her, she changes even more. Instead of reading and stealing books the government wants her to read, she decides to independently write her
In Markus Zusak’s novel, the book thief, Liesel Meminger is surrounded by death and fear as that is the norm in the 1930’s. Liesel is a strong young girl who has been deeply affected by her brother’s death and her mother leaving her and finds comfort in ‘The Grave Digger’s Handbook’, the book she stole at the site of her brother’s burial. Throughout the novel Liesel finds comfort in other books and reads them to escape the terrible reality that is Nazi Germany. Together with books she overcomes obstacles she wouldn't have been able to do without them
In The Book Thief, author Markus Zusak tells the tragic story of Liesel Meminger and her experiences in 1939 Nazi Germany. Zuzak incorporates compelling literary devices such as toe curling foreshadowing, personification, and vivid imagery in the form of simile and metaphors to grasp the readers’ interest. Zusak’s use of various literary devices helps to deepen the text and morals of the story, and makes the dramatic historical novel nearly impossible to put down.
2. What is ironic about Liesel’s obsession with stealing books? Discuss other uses of irony in the novel.
Loss can be a heartbreaking experience or just an inconvenience. It is significant in both books because of what the characters loss or what the characters loose. Whether it is a family member or an object, all the losses have some significance to the war or symbolism. In the novel, the book thief Liesel loses her mother. “ There was a chaos of goodbye”(Zusak 25). “The sudden realization that this would all be for nothing - that her mother would never write back and she would never see her again.” (Zusak 99). These two quotes explain Liesel's loss of her mother. When Liesel joined her new family and she never got a letter back, she realized that her old life is behind her and she can never go back to her mother. Her mother is thought to have
1.The Grave Digger’s Handbook: Represents the last time Liesel saw her mother and her brother. It is the first book Liesel steals and reads, and it helps her start reading.
...er, and Liesel becomes a complete book thief. She rescues Jewish books from Nazi book- burnings and steals from the mayor’s library. Liesel is illiterate when she steals her first book, but Hans Hubermann uses her prized books to teach her to read. In the end, Liesel marries Max and moves to Australia. She has several children and grandchildren. Liesel eventually dies in Sydney.
Another bit of Liesel emotions that I was interested was the book thief words give Liesel life
Suffered the loss of her brother werner, while attending his funeral “there was something black and rectangular lodged in the snow. Only [liesel] saw it. She bent down and picked it up and held it firmly in her fingers. The book had silver writing on it” (zusak 24). It was a book named “the grave digger 's handbook”. This proves that without even understanding the book Liesel was already looking for ways to learn and find a passion to mourn her brothers death. Next, is the relationship Liesel has with her papa, Hans. He shows Liesel how to read and write. Liesel, who doesn 't know how, grabs books that Hans then quietly shows her to translate. He does this through their night time nightmare hours “Unofficially, it was called the midnight class, even though it commenced at around two in the morning” (70). furthermore in the storm cellar, utilizing Hans ' paints to show her how to compose. He is staggeringly understanding, as this is an extremely troublesome and moderate procedure, and he never demonstrates restlessness or dissatisfaction with Liesel 's moderate advancement, thus proving that liesel stuck with her idea and followed through with her passion. Lastly, Liesel 's passion for reading and writing progressed when Ilsa gave her the a journal to write her story in, “[she] thought if [Liesel was not] going to read anymore of [her] books, [she] might like to write one instead.”
...at the power of words entailed in the novel, The Book Thief, words really are very powerful. Three examples were given above as a few powers that the novel captured throughout the story. Words can manipulate and divide people, but at the same time connect people. Despite the fact that words have so many contradicting powers, one can use the words to their full extent when their intent is moral. In fact, words are meaningless if it doesn’t have an impact on an individual, society, or world. Words can do both good and bad, however, if one uses them in a proper way, it can result in a positive statement for our world. The novel gives the readers the lesson that we should comprehend the power of words and use words in a moral way. Just remember this: “I have hated the words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right.” (pg. 413)
Throughout time, children have read stories of brave knights, running into battle with their swords ready to defeat the invader. They have read tales of everyday girls turning into princesses by kissing a frog or wearing a glass slipper. Also, some of these stories contain accounts of historically poignant moments. For example, the novel The Book Thief written by Markus Zusak takes place during World War II. It gives a lasting impression on what this time was like for everyday people and the impacts the war had on them. The author does this through the many storytelling elements incorporated into the book. Also, Zusak displays how people respond to changes within their lives during these taxing times. For instance, the main character, Liesel
In most children’s lives, there is a fierce relationship between a father and his son or daughter. Although Liesel didn’t know what this was until she stepped off the train in Molching, her relationship with her foster father may have turned out to be the most important relationship in her life. Hans was important to Liesel not only in the way he parented her, but also in the way he gave her hope for the future. In The Book Thief, Zusak utilizes the mentor/pupil archetype and literary devices such as symbolism and motif’s to enhance the readers understanding of the relationship between Hans and Liesel, and how this relationship changed both the mentor and pupil for the better by the end of the book. Hans helps Liesel get through the difficulty
Words have the power to affect people in many ways from empowerment or to taking upon action. Words are able to make huge changes in the lives of many and can make good or bad changes. In history, people used words in both good and bad function from making a promise to a nation or even manipulating multitudes of people within a nation. Words definitely have the ability to take situations a far distance but despite the fact that evil can manipulate the majority of people, individuals too can realize the true actions and evil buried inside the perpetrator. People can be both ugly and beautiful at sometimes with weapons along their sides. A novel called The Book Thief illustrates the power of words in a multitude of ways, showing the potential
Liesel’s slow development of the power of words causes her to experience the negative effects of words and misery on many occasions throughout her lifetime.
The novel The Book Thief written by Markus Zusak, takes place during World War 2 in the town of Molching, Germany. The protagonist, Liesel Meminger, lives with a foster family, the Hubermann's, and has a deep love for literature. However, at the time, books are hard to come by so Liesel is forced to steal books from Nazi book burnings and the Mayor’s library. Liesel’s reading allows her to escape from the trying times of the war to the imaginary worlds of books. However, Liesel as Liesel matures, she discovers that books and words can not only be used for good, but for evil as well. The books that Liesel discovers throughout the novel directly contribute to Liesel’s growth as a human being and come to define her morals for life.
Words hold great power and when used correctly can influence what people believe and how they act.