Liesel Meminger, the protagonist of The Book Thief, lost her loved ones and her mother was deemed unfit to parent. Thus, she was taken under the wing of a foster family, the Hubermanns. Liesel’s tragic past has a part to play in her circumspect nature. Owing to that, she found it hard to open herself to Hans and Rosa Hubermann but as time progresses, Liesel’s defensive self begins to dissipate slowly which paved a path for the foster parents to develop a loving relationship with Liesel. Initially, Liesel’s relationship with Hans lacked emotional strength. However, this fragile relationship gradually became one which was tightly-knitted as Hans was able to win Liesel’s trust. The narrator, Death, first describes the scene where it dawned on …show more content…
Liesel that she had not just lost her brother but was also going to be separated from her mother as well, depicting it with the declarative sentence, “There was a chaos of goodbye.” (5.83) The declarative sentence conveys a matter-of-fact tone, suggesting that the death of Liesel’s brother and her mother’s separation are factual and cannot be altered. This resulted in her understanding the pain of loss which evokes her attitude towards the Hubermanns, to always be on her guard. Also, the word “chaos” indicates utter disorder, mirroring Liesel’s thoughts when the news broke to her that her mother was going to be separated from her as well. Liesel’s mind was in a flux as she could not handle such a shock. With all these, Liesel kept her compassion to herself and became wary of her new surroundings. Hans won Liesel over by teaching her to roll cigarettes for him and discovered that Liesel has no clue on how to read and began teaching her the alphabet. This marked the start of their classes together and “Unofficially, it was called the midnight class, even though it commenced at around two in the morning.” (7.30) The fact that their classes together start “at around two in the morning” suggests that Hans has not much time yet he still makes an effort to teach Liesel, sacrificing his sleep for the better of her and the pleasure of each other’s company. This shows that Hans loves Liesel and treats her like his own daughter, wishing that his actions would improve their relationship. Liesel on the other hand, already trusts Hans and is willing to share her feelings with him. These activities play a vital role in helping to forge a tight bond between them.
After Liesel learnt how to write, she wrote a letter to her biological mother, informing her of her current situation here in Himmel Street. Liesel requested Hans to send the letter out on her behalf and he later confessed, “You know, Liesel? I nearly wrote you a reply and signed your mother’s name. […] But I couldn’t. I couldn’t bring myself.” (16.1) With the word “couldn’t” denoting a sense of inability and the repetition of it twice, Hans find it literally impossible to reply to Liesel as her mother, just as to mask the reality of her mother’s death. Hans did not want to keep her mother’s death a secret any longer as he firmly believes that although the truth hurts, it is always much more helpful. It conjures an image of someone unable to bear to complete a specific task, similar to that of Hans. The Book Thief mainly revolves around the theme, “The Power of Words”. Liesel and Hans deep bond was created from the moments they shared when Hans taught Liesel the alphabet and how to create words. And due to their close relationship was Liesel able to use words to create a refuge for herself in the midst of Nazism and use words to soothe the petrified neighbors during the air raid in the bomb
shelter. The power of language she has acquired over the year came into good use when she finished her book, “The Book Thief”, which she left at the site of the bombed Himmel Street.
Part One: The first book that Liesel “stole” was The Grave Digger's Handbook. This is ironic because it was the day that her brother died and it was the last time she saw her mother. Himmel Street is ironic because Himmel= Heaven and Himmel Street did
Throughout the novel Liesel reaches new highs and new lows, overcoming her fears and succumbing to her anger. Liesel's sudden outburst at Ilsa Hermann after Ilsa asking to stop the laundry services caused her to finally accept her brother's death and even helped Ilsa accept her son's death as well. Ilsa's guilt consumed her and caused her to become a house ridden woman overcome by her grief while Liesel overcame her guilt and grief by learning how to read and write not allowing them to overcome her. "“It’s about time,” she [Liesel] informed her, “that you do your own stinking washing anyway. It’s about time you faced the fact that your son is dead. He got killed! He got strangled and cut up more than twenty years ago! Or did he freeze to death? Either way, he’s dead! He’s dead and it’s pathetic that you sit here shivering in your own house to suffer for it. You think you’re the only one?” Immediately. Her brother was next to her. He whispered for her to stop, but he, too, was dead, and not worth listening to. He died in a train. They buried him in the snow. […] “This book,” she went on. She shoved the boy down the steps, making him fall. “I don’t want it.” The words were quieter now, but still just as hot. She threw The Whistler at the woman’s slippered feet, hearing the clack of it as it landed on the cement. “I don’t want your miserable book. ”[…] her brother holding his
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.
Hans is forced to leave Liesel to serve in the military due to the Nazi Party accepting his application. “Don’t go, Papa. Just don’t go. Let them come for you if you stay. But don’t go, please don’t go.”(Zusak 424) Liesel understand due to the circumstances Hans, and not because of his choosing. Even Max had to leave at one point in order to maintain the safety of the Hubermanns. This still is all do to circumstance, which has thrusted Hans, Max and Liesel Mother to leave her
Liesel yearns to discover the power of words through reading books. Throughout the story, she repeatedly steals books to grasp more information. It all starts with The Gravediggers Manuel; Liesel attains this book the day that her brother dies, while he is being buried by the gravediggers. Liesel pilfers this book from the gravediggers because the book will symbolize her remembrance of her brother, Werner. This also will start the beginning of her acrimony for the Fuhrer, because Liesel discovers that he is answerable for his death.
2. What is ironic about Liesel’s obsession with stealing books? Discuss other uses of irony in the novel.
10.The Book Thief: Liesel writes this book, and it saves her life when she goes down into the basement to revise it, and is protected from the bombs.Liesel writes the book to explain everything she went through. She loses it after the bombing, but death picks it up, and shows it to her when she dies.
Even though Liesel is just a kid and is going through some tough times, it still doesn’t give her the right to steal. Besides, Death claims that you could argue that others have it harder during this time and I agree. If you were a Jew during this time, that was bad news. They were persecuted, hunted, and killed by the Nazis. Liesel, on the other hand, although have lost her brother and may never see her mother again, is not living in constant fear for her life. The novel even states, “anything is better than being a Jew.” (Zusak
By “looking gravely at Liesel’s cheek”, he is extremely serious about the situation. However, he goes on to tell her that she “can say that in our house.” This essentially means Hans tolerates Liesel saying that, so long as Liesel never says it “on the street, at school, or at the BDM.” He does not want Liesel to get herself into trouble, so he decided to slap her to ultimately protect her, which is a thought-provoking moment. The two contrasts work together seamlessly to provide the idea that the destruction of Hans slapping Liesel is negated by the beauty in his willingness to protect her. Beauty intertwined with destruction is also present when the Himmel Street residents are in the bomb shelter, and Liesel begins to read to them. Death says, “The youngest kids were soothed by her voice, and everyone saw visions of the whistler running from the crime scene” (381). This quote shows the beauty of Liesel’s words alongside the ongoing air raid sirens. She was able to make the children
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.
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.”
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
On page 64, the text says ¨A patch of silence stood among them now. The man, the girl, the book. He picked it up and spoke soft as cotton.¨ This was the start of Liesel’s passion for books. She and her foster father would read and read investing and spending time with one another. Soon, their bond would be unbreakable, from reading together at night, to Hans teaching Liesel to pronounce words on sandpaper. These actions are evident to the words connecting her to her foster father. Sure, Hans has to play the role as a father since he accepts the responsibility but Hans and Liesel’s bond is stronger than a regular father bond. Hans makes sacrifices for Liesel, investing his time with her from reading to her, teaching her and even sacrifices his possessions in order to make Liesel happy. Liesel never really knew her father before and now, her new foster, Hans, is an adequate figure to be confirmed as Liesel’s father. And the words don’t stop there. Liesel was also able to form a relationship with the mayor’s wife, Ilsa Hermann. Both Liesel and Ilsa appreciate each other’s presence in which Liesel appreciates that Ilsa lets her enter her library and Liesel provides company for Ilsa due to the unfortunate absence of her sons. Lastly, another relationship mended by words is between Liesel and Max Vanderburg, a
In the Book Thief, both Liesel and Hans have very altruistic personalities. When the Jew’s march through Himmel Street to get to Dachau, everyone knows where they are going. They watch them march by, walking around them and staring. 75 percent of Hungary’s 600,000 Jews were killed by the Nazis, and only a few brave people tried to save just one Jew. (We Are All Bystanders page 4) These people risked their lives to shelter Jews, much like Rosa and Hans Hubermann. As the Jews march to Dachau, and the residents of Himmel Street stand and watch the Jews marching towards their death at the concentration camps, Death writes, “The book thief could do nothing but watch them back in a long, incurable moment before they were gone again. She could only hope they could read the depth of sorrow in her face, to recognize that it was true, and not fleeting.” ( ) Liesel feels helpless, like she can’t do anything. She longs to call out to them and help but knows that it would be worthless. A few minutes later, however, Papa takes action. Papa quickly grabs something from his paint cart and helps an old man who was struggling to walk and gives him some bread. Papa took action when no one else would. Papa pays the consequence, but in that moment, Papa displayed moral courage. Papa’s selfless personality let him reach out to help the man, even
It was on a train with Liesel’s mother and brother where they were travelling when death made his first appearance in the book thief’s life. He took the soul of her brother and only glanced at the girl truly, not taking real note of her as he did his job. She knew that her brother was dead at that point, but the shock wouldn’t truly take her until she snatched a book from where it had fallen near her brother’s hastily made grave. After he was buried, Liesel and her mother continued on their way, arriving at the town of Molching, where she met Hans and Rosa Hubermann. In the first few months that she had arrived, nightmares plagued her mind, haunting her with images of Werner, her brother, and his cold dead eyes. Hans is the one to comfort her, and because of this she grows to trust in him and truly view him as her father. She enjoys his company as well, for he can play the accordion and is always smiling and winking at her in a joyous way. He also begins to teach her how to read the book that she picked up on the day d...