Power Of Words In The Book Thief By Markus Zusak

487 Words1 Page

Words are more influential than thoughts. They are crafted and woven around the lives of every individual. Words have a powerful impact on how one interprets things, feels, and how one person can lead another person to feel. Written by Markus Zusak, "The Book Thief" is about a foster girl, Liesel Meminger, who lives in Nazi Germany and "scratches out a meagre existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she cannot resist: books" (Goodreads). As she matures and becomes a more critical thinker, she comes to understand that language can be both a dangerous weapon of control, as with the Nazi propaganda, and a gift that enables her to broaden her worldview. She evolves from a powerless to a powerful character that deeply empathizes with the voiceless through the books she steals, reads, and writes. Expressing the central theme of the novel, Zusak reveals the power of words “its beauty and ugliness“ through its impact on the characters, especially on Liesel. …show more content…

The novel is set during the World War II where Adolf Hitler uses charismatic speeches to hypnotize people. Before the war, Hitler and the Nazi party pass laws to effectively legalize the crimes they are committing and the crimes they intend to commit. They manipulate words to involve the German people to carry out the Holocaust. Molching, where most of the actions in the book take place, is introduced as a place where Hitler develops the idea to rule the world, and as "the birthplace of Nazism" (Zusak 199). Hitler uses his words to strike fear into the hearts of many. He does not require any sort of gun or military weapon to be feared; with his words, he is able to cause the death of

Show More
Related

  • 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

  • The Power of Secrets in The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

    715 Words  | 2 Pages

    “‘Book burning’ refers to the ritual destruction by fire of books or other written materials. Usually carried out in a public context, the burning of books represents an element of censorship and usually proceeds from a cultural, religious, or political opposition to the materials in question.” (United States Holocaust Memorial Museum)

    Read More

  • Examples Of Injustice In The Book Thief

    1146 Words  | 3 Pages

    The novel The Book Thief is a book about a young girl by the name of Liesel Meminger. Observing the life of this young girl is not easy as this is the time of Hitler’s reign in Germany. In a short period of time, this girl faces many difficulties. More than any child should ever have to encounter. She has to deal with being abandoned by her mother, the death of her younger brother, and relocation to another part of Germany. Immediately when Liesel arrives to Molching, her life is forever changed. She is forced to live with two strangers, now her new mama and papa. Liesel faces much abuse both at school and at home. At school she is made fun of for her illiteracy and at home, mama speaks very rudely to her calling her a swine and other insults.

    Read More

  • Book Thief Dehumanization

    940 Words  | 2 Pages

    Words, so simple, yet are the most powerful ways of communication. The weight of words is one of most impactful themes in Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief, and is felt throughout the entire novel. The Book Thief is a story that takes place during World War II, and follows the Hubermann family and friendships as the Narrator: Death follows them through their journey of Germany in 1939. Hans Hubermann is one of the greatest supporters of words right next to the Book Thief herself, Liesel Meminger. Words are emphasized through stolen books, spoken conversations, and thoughts of the characters. Hans Hubermann backs Liesel’s desire to read through many long nights, protects Max Vandenburg while in hiding, and consistently stands up against the dehumanization

    Read More

  • The Book Thief Words Analysis

    516 Words  | 2 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • The Power of Words in the Book Thief

    1217 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief, many characters develop an understanding of the power of words throughout out the novel which results in characters being negatively impacted.

    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. In Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief, many characters develop an understanding of the power of words which results in many characters being negatively impacted by the theme. Characters that are negatively affected by the strength the theme of the power of words carry include Liesel, Hans and Rudy.

    Read More

  • Symbolism In The Book Thief

    1947 Words  | 4 Pages

    One of the most unforgettable genocides to occur was the Holocaust where 6 million Jews along with gypsies, homosexuals, and communists were killed by Hitler’s Nazi regime. It was very common for authors to have their literature’s central idea be about the Holocaust. The Book Thief, written by Markus Zusak, is about a German girl, Liesel, who lives in Nazi Germany and faces the inescapable pains of growing up in a time of war. Her emotional journey is one that begins with a journey. Zusak incorporates the events that occurred during the Holocaust in the book in order to show the reality that Liesel and everyone she loved had to face.

    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

  • First-Person Narration In Markus Zusak's The Book Thief

    729 Words  | 2 Pages

    In every novel each narrator has a unique way of them expressing the story in different ways. The author of Flowers For Algernon is Daniel Keyes and the narrator is the protagonist of the book, named Charlie Gordon. Charlie is a 32-year-old mentally disabled man who went through a surgical procedure to increase his intelligence. Toward the end of the book, Charlie’s intelligence started to vanish and he spends all his time with Alice, until he returns to his original state which then he resides in the Warren state home. The author of The Book Thief is Markus Zusak and the narrator is death. The Book Thief is a novel about the story of Liesel Meminger, a nine-year-old German girl who lives with her foster parents, Hans and Rosa Hubermann in the town of Molching. Hans agrees to hide a Jew named Max Vandenburg in his basement. Liesel writes the story of her life in the Hubermanns basement, where she survives an air raid that kills everyone else on her block. The narrator of a novel is significant because of he, she, or it takes on the responsibility of shaping the story for the reader.

    Read More

  • Pride And Prejudice And The Book Thief Comparison

    875 Words  | 2 Pages

    Liesel, a young girl who faces the challenges of coming into a foster family in 1939 Nazi Germany. To make things worse her foster parents are not for the Nazi Party. Day after day Liesel swallows down secrets like hiding a Jew in her basement and stealing from the rich. The author of The Book Thief writes about how when Liesel arrives in Germany and when she starts to steal, “Liesel’s world is both opened up and closed down” (Back Cover).

    Read More

  • Themes And Symbolism In Markus Zusak's The Book Thief

    1317 Words  | 3 Pages

    Ana Rodriguez Final Essay: The Book Thief December 11, 2014 Dr. D. As the title of Markus Zusak’s work of fiction entitled The Book Thief implies, books and their significance are a recurring theme in this adolescent coming-of-age tale set in Germany during the beginning of World War II. Many of the most poignant moments wrought in the life of the protagonist, Liesel, are symbolized by books. As such, the significance of books and their effect on Liesel fluctuate according to the various situations in which she finds herself. Books ultimately have a transporting quality in which they can transport the reader to other places.

    Read More

  • Hans Hubermann: The Book Thief

    186 Words  | 1 Pages

    Liesel Meminger is the main character in this story. She is recognized as “the book thief” because of what she pursued in order to attain a legitimate education. She lost her immediate family when she was just twelve years old which must have had a detrimental impact on her childhood. She was taken up by the Hubermann’s in which she was raised in a somewhat caring and compassionate environment in which Hans played a big role in her development. Throughout the plot, she plays an important

    Read More

  • Liesel's Struggle In The Book Thief By Markus Zusak

    1710 Words  | 4 Pages

    At one point in time, it is inevitable for one to experience character building struggles. How these struggles affect individuals depends not only on themselves, but on those who suffer these burdens alongside them; whether they are literally going through the same situation or they are someone that is confided in. In Markus Zusak’s novel The Book Thief, Liesel Meminger’s struggles against imposed laws and societal expectations effectively reveals the rebellious aspect of human nature. Rather than allowing these struggles to conquer her, Liesel keeps a tight grip on her closest of connections and allows them to fuel her to rebel against and reject what is forced upon her and stand out. She is empowered by her close familial, friendly and brotherly

    Read More

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

Open Document