Power Of Words, And Hope In The Book Thief By Markus Zusak

630 Words2 Pages

The Book Thief Group Essay
The fascination themes of desperation, unity, power of words, and hope are shown in various ways in The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Firstly, the fascinating theme of desperation is shown in the text in several interesting ways.
First of all, it is shown when Max is forced to leave his family behind on his journey to find Hans Hubermann. Secondly, the theme of desperation is shown through Liesel when Max is sick. She is desperate for him to wake up; we can see this through the way she views him lying on the bed in her room: “He was the second snowman to be melting away before her eyes, only this was different. It was a paradox. The colder he became, the more he melted” (315). Lastly the theme if desperation is shown when Rudy dies and Liesel is desperate for him to wake up, even kissing him. In conclusion, the theme of desperation is very evident in The Book Thief. …show more content…

First of all, in Hitler Youth everyone was expected to be united and synchronized while marching. As the Hitler Youth instructor said, “‘One click.’ they were told. ‘That’s all the Fübrer wants to hear. Everyone united. Everyone together as one’” (Zusak, 268). Secondly, when the Jews were marched through Munich, they had to stay in line, and also be united and synchronized. Lastly, unity was used most with the Nazi’s and soldiers, as they were expected to be united from the very beginning. Unity was a theme in the text that was used in many fabulous

Show More
Related

  • Self-Discovery In Markus Zusak's The Book Thief

    113 Words  | 1 Pages

    Markus Zusak’s novel The Book Thief depicts the life of a certain young German girl named Liesel Meminger during World War II. Her story was told through the eyes of Death, who narrates both the blessings and devastation that occurred during that era. Liesel experiences living with her new foster parents and come across a boy named Rudy Steider who will later on become her best friend. As the story unfolds, Liesel gradually discovers the horrifying truth behind the Nazi regime as her foster parents take refuge of a Jewish man. Despite being in the midst of destruction and recently coping from her traumatic background, she undertakes on a journey of self-discovery and

    Read More

  • Feelings Towards Others Cause Irrational Actions in Markus Zusak's The Book Thief

    970 Words  | 2 Pages

    Strong feelings towards another can lead to imprudent actions. Throughout The Book Thief Liesel, Rudy, and Hans make impetuous decisions due to their strong emotions towards another. From reading this novel one can conclude that there is a very fine line between irrationality and bravery. Most of the decisions and subsequent actions made in the story could be regarded as brave but in truth many of these decisions were impetuous and ill thought out. In fact many of the characters subsequently came to this conclusion as well. The characters could have achieved more by executing logically planed actions instead of acting on the spur of the moment and jeopardizing their lives or the lives of others. It is amazing that even polar opposites emotions like love and hate result in the same irrational consequences as exemplified by Rudy, Hans and Liesel.

    Read More

  • Hyperbole In The Book Thief By Markus Zusak

    647 Words  | 2 Pages

    Markus Zusak uses Hyperbole, in order to enhance imagery for the readers. He uses Hyperbole when he is explaining the fear that runs through the Hubermann home, when they discover the Nazis will be examining their basement. Their hearts were beating so intensely from fear, when they realized their time to efficiently hide Max was over. Zusak over exaggerates their fear by creating an impossible occurrence, which helps readers clearly visualize and understand the intensity of fear that surrounds their home. In conclusion, the author uses hyperbole in order to enhance the fear felt amongst the Hubermann household.

    Read More

  • Use Of Literary Devices In The Book Thief

    609 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Break Of Day Themes

    953 Words  | 2 Pages

    the theme of bravery in the novel, by showing how bravery is different in every

    Read More

  • Thief Of Always

    739 Words  | 2 Pages

    Clive Barker’s, The Thief of Always, is a story that takes the reader to lands far away and brings you back safely. The main character Harvey Swick couldn’t complete his duties, missing the help of the illustrations. The minor, major, and main characters all had their own unique and interesting pictures. Barker uses his unique illustrations to express emotions, foreshadow events, and build suspense for the following chapters. Throughout the story Barker places many original pictures, full of sentimental emotions that describe most of the following context.

    Read More

  • The Power of Words in Markus Zusak´s The Book Thief

    1062 Words  | 3 Pages

    Words hold great power and when used correctly can influence what people believe and how they act.

    Read More

  • Death Is Human Too: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

    878 Words  | 2 Pages

    Death is a very well-known figure that is feared by many in all countries. He is suspected of being cruel, disturbing and all synonyms of horrifying. Death is inevitable and that is the most fearing aspect of his persona. In Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief, Death is made to seem or resemble humans. Effectively using the narration role, Death introduces a unique description and definition of colors in which he uses as a tool to effectively engage the readers to the events occurring throughout the book. He also demonstrates him personal and different experiences as well, mostly about soul gathering and the implications of WWII that have affected him. On the contrary to Death’s dead, appalling and scary nature that many interpret him to be during the book, Death shows many emotions and features to his personality that reasoning would declare otherwise. One of those feature would be the colors.

    Read More

  • Summary of The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

    807 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Like most misery, it started with apparent happiness” (84). In the beginning, we are introduced to the narrator by the name of Death. He informs the readers that he has many stories, but only remembers the ones that interest him. The tale of Liesel Meminger is one such tale, as he was always fascinated by her will to live through the most horrible instances. It should be duly noted however, that this story does not have a happy ending. Death makes this clear before we even have a chance to get our hopes up. He tells us that everyone dies; the amount of time that they last is truly the only difference. After this sordid fact is in place, he mentions just Liesel first attracted his attention.

    Read More

  • The Beast In the Cave

    2003 Words  | 5 Pages

    The complexity of the plot starts when the reader is introduced to a man lost in a cave and his source of light goes out and continues when the man realizes that “starving would prove [his] ultimate fate” (1). Readers get a sense of hopelessness the man is feeling, and this is where the tensions begins to build. Alt...

    Read More

  • The Book Thief Theme Essay

    715 Words  | 2 Pages

    In The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, beauty and brutality is seen in many of the characters. Rudy, Liesel, and Rosa display examples of beauty and brutality often without realizing what exactly they are doing, because it is a part of their human nature. Zusak not only uses his characters, but also the setting of the novel in Nazi Germany to allude to his theme of the beauty and brutality of human nature. The time in which the novel is set, during World War II, displays great examples of beauty and brutality, such as the mistreatment of the Jews. As a result of this time period, the characters have to go through troubling times, which reveals their beautiful and brutal nature in certain circumstances. Zusak uses his characters and their experiences to demonstrate the theme of the beauty and brutality of human nature in the novel.

    Read More

  • Kindness Prevails All: The Book Thief By Markus Zusak

    630 Words  | 2 Pages

         Similar to the saying of ‘think before you speak,’ words play an important role in many human interactions. Depending on the magnitude, of one’s reaction to a conversation, the complications can and cannot be easy fixes. The strength of words is present in that of Markus Zusak’s novel The Book Thief. In it, Markus Zusak tells the story of a young girl, Liesel Meminger, who lives in Nazi Germany. To have her cope with her surroundings, Zusak has her read. While reading, she leans that kind words can make a huge difference in a loathsome occurrence. Of the books she reads, two of them represent this idea the strongest: The Standover Man, and The Word Shaker. Zusak uses The Standover Man and The Word Shaker to convey

    Read More

  • Themes In The Book Thief

    1884 Words  | 4 Pages

    “I saw the book thief three times” (Zusak 5). This quote shows the theme death is inevitable which overtakes Liesel’s life, the main character in Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief, because the narrator of the story is Death. He basically says that Liesel will be around the death of three different people and this is how Death finds her story. Liesel's story begins in a tragic way. On the way to her new home, Liesel shockingly loses her brother. She is now forced to cope with death. Given Liesel's series of unfortunate events, she has to learn how to cope with now learning that death is inevitable. The Book Thief is a 550 page novel that later became a major motion picture which takes place in Molching, Germany during World War II when the Nazi’s

    Read More

  • Analyzing Themes In The Book Thief By Markus Zusak

    813 Words  | 2 Pages

    As part of our English class this semester, we were to read The Book Thief and highlight quotes that went along with themes from the book. There were many themes in The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. However, three ideas stuck with me throughout the book. The three themes written about in this essay are love, mortality, and suffering. These ideas are very inspirational and prominent in The Book Thief.

    Read More

  • Elements Of Literature In Markus Zusak's The Book Thief

    597 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the book, The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, the elements of literature are used to make the book complex and intriguing. The elements of literature include: plot, point of view, characterization, conflict, irony, tone, theme, mood, imagery, and symbolism. Irony is the contrast between what is expected or what appears to be and what actually is; examples of irony are: verbal irony, situational irony, and dramatic irony. Markus Zusak used irony throughout the book to make the reader really think about what is happening; as a result the reader becomes more interested in the plot and wants to read more.

    Read More

More about Power Of Words, And Hope In The Book Thief By Markus Zusak

Open Document