Essay On The Book Thief

Death states that, “I’m always finding humans at their best and worst. I see their ugly and their beauty, and I wonder how the same thing can be both” (Zusak 491). This book shows us human doing things that weren’t even imaginable before this point. Many people give into ideas that were lies. But, we also watch a few people go out of their way and sacrifice everything for a man they barely even know. They do everything they can to keep him safe and alive. They work harder, the get another job, and they even steal. In Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief, death examines the ugliness and the beauty of humans.

“The power of words, written or spoken, have life. They can change the world.” (search quotes). The power of words should not be underestimated. Liesel proves this to be true in the novel and the film The Book Thief. She uses words to develop relationships with her foster father, Hans Hubermann; Max Vandenburg, the illicit Jew in her basement; and her neighbours. In the novel The Book Thief by Markus Zusak there is much more relationship development compared to the film The Book Thief directed by Brian Percival. This consequently causes the theme of the power of words to be less prominent in the film.

Painful as it may be, such experiences brings home the finality of death. Something deep within us demands a confrontation with death. A last look assures us that the person we loved is, indeed, gone forever.” (108) Cable finishes his essay by asking, Tim if his job ever depressed him. Tim in reply says, “No it doesn’t, and I do what I can for people and take satisfaction in enabling relatives to see their loved ones as they were in real life.” (108) After reading this essay I feel as though sometimes we don’t understand death so therefore we do not talk much about it. By reading about what goes on after your loved one dies and is sent to these places to be prepared and ready for burial, it helps to understand why morticians and funeral directors do what they do. Knowing that someone enjoys taking the responsibility in providing that comfort in a sorrowful time makes me appreciate these people in these occupations a bit

Through all of the irony and vivid coloring, The Book Thief is more easily understood after acquiring knowledge of reading literature with greater care and meticulousness. Applying chapters of How to Read Literature like a Professor can better enhance a reader’s awareness of hidden messages and symbols within certain works of literature. In Chapter Two, Foster explains how meals suggest a communion between all parties involved in it. Markus Zusak also uses meals and food to bring families together in The Book Thief. Foster also explains, in Chapter Eleven, how violence in literature usually stands for more than just violence.

People typically think of the Grim Reaper as evil and cruel, like he enjoys killing people. Death in The Book Thief, however, seems to dislike what he has to do. He says many times in the epilogue that he requires distractions to take his mind off his work, to help him deal with it. Death also feels remorse for what he has to do, and he wishes he could comfort the people who are left. In this quote on page 13, Death says, “Please, again. I ask you to believe me. I wanted to stop. To crouch down. I wanted to say: “I’m sorry, child.” But that

Death is the unavoidable end for everyone. The very real topic can bring people together, but can also pull people apart. This is evident in The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd, and The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. A theme statement that can be found in both books is that surviver's guilt can be dealt with through kindness and friendship. This statement is evident in how characters cope with the survivors guilt by assist the living, talking to others about the guilt, and how the lives of the dead are celebrated.

The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, takes place in 1940s Nazi Germany in the small town of Molching. The main character, Liesel Meminger, takes on a role as the foster child of Hans and Rosa Hubermann. She also meets a young boy named Rudy Steiner, who goes on to be her best friend and lover. In the book, Liesel faces many challenges big and small. From hiding a Jew in the basement to a thieving lifestyle, Liesel has to learn to overcome all of life's problems. Through all of this, she is supported by her foster father Hans Hubermann who is caring to people he barely knows, intelligence despite his lack of education, and generosity even when he has little for himself.

Death is a controversial and sensitive subject. When discussing death, several questions come to mind about what happens in our afterlife, such as: where do you go and what do you see? Emily Dickinson is a poet who explores her curiosity of death and the afterlife through her creative writing ability. She displays different views on death by writing two contrasting poems: one of a softer side and another of a more ridged and scary side. When looking at dissimilar observations of death it can be seen how private and special it is; it is also understood that death is inevitable so coping with it can be taken in different ways. Emily Dickinson’s poems “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” and “I Heard A Fly Buzz When I Died” show both

Although Death is set in his ways, as the book progresses, the people and the events that happen around him manage to change his view. This is shown when Death tries to distract himself with the colors of the sky but always finds himself looking at the human survivors. “It’s the leftover humans … the ones I can’t stand to look at, although on many occasions I still fail” (Zusak, 5). Something about them fascinates him. How, in spite of the fact that they have been “left behind, crumbling among the jigsaw puzzle of realization, despair, and surprise” (Zusak, 5), they still manage to live their lives and move forward. As a supersensual being so used to death,

1a. I think she was justified because Liesel was using the families money to make contact with the woman that left her behind.

In the past few weeks, we have been reading the book, the Book Thief by Markus Zusak. The book tells the story of Liesel Meminger, a girl from Germany in the time of the Holocaust. The book starts with her as a nine year old, and progresses through her life until she is an old lady. The story details the life of this woman through these times. And in the story, her priorities are reading and learning. She steals books like The Grave Digger’s Handbook and The Shoulder Shrug, but one book which has negative influence was the book made by the Nazi Leader, Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf (My Struggle). Hitler wrote the autobiographical book, which was spread around the Germans, who were brainwashed by the propaganda. The Mein Kampf influenced these citizens, but was the influence good? The book created nothing but negativity. There are three examples which are strong showings to prove the influence of the Führer caused nothing but hatred. Those three are Hans Junior, Max, and the entire population of the Jews. Those three personas were effected in a way which caused nothing but hurt to people.

In the story, Death shows love for the entire world even though he says, “ I’m haunted by humans". Death hates that people see him as a bad, inimical, and destructive person and he would love to change their opinions but just can’t because his life is a circle that never ends. So whenever he gets a chance to show care towards people he does his best to make it happen even if he gets judged or torn down. He tells us at the beginning of the novel that the most painful part of his job is seeing "the survivors," "the leftover humans," "the ones who are left behind, crumbling among the jigsaw puzzle of realization, despair, and surprise.” You could argue that Death is in the unlucky position of having human-like emotions, but never being allowed to be a part of humanity. This quote shows that when he sees the world is crumbling to bits and pieces he his hurt and he even says it the most painful part of his job. He obviously cares for the world and the people who live and die because he is in

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak shows through the midst of brutality, beauty can still be shown. The main characters Liesel Meminger, Rudy Steiner and Hans Huberman, prove this statement they are all faced with perilous situations, but still manage to show beauty throughout the situations. Liesel Meminger display beauty during the air raids, as she manages to read to people in the basement. Rudy Steiner displays beauty he jumps in the river to get Liesel’s book. Through Hans Huberman nobel character he displays beauty as he risks his life to hide a Jewish man in his basement.

In regard to Emily Dickinson’s poem, “Because I Could Not Stop for Death,” Critic Eunice Glenn says: “In the first two lines Death, personified as a carriage driver, stops for one who could not stop for him. The word ‘kindly’ is particularly meaningful, for it instantly characterizes Death. This comes with surprise, too, since death is more often considered grim and terrible” (Glenn). Critic Charles R. Anderson says, “Death, usually rude, sudden, and impersonal, has been transformed into a kindly and leisurely gentleman” (Anderson).

Death acts as one of the universe’s greatest mysteries. Some believe that once one is dead, that’s it, while others believe that one’s soul will either flourish in Heaven or suffer in Hell. While the world may never fully come to know what is postmortem, various American poets, such as Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson, have come to embrace this mystery. Throughout Whitman and Dickinson’s works, they both develop a range of eclectic ideas revolving around the circle of life to compose and define American poetry.