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Plot Structure Of The Book Thief

Decent Essays

MAJOR WORKS REVIEW
GENERAL
1. Title- The Book Thief
2. Author- Markus Zusak
3. Date of Original Publication- 2005
4. Novel Type- Historical Fiction

STRUCTURE
1. Point of View- Death

2. Relationship to meaning: As death is a huge part of the novel, it would only make sense for death himself to narrate.

3. Plot Structure

a. Exposition- The main Protagonist, Liesel, is introduced to us. Her brother had died on the way to their foster parents, and the holocaust/ Nazi germany is revealed as the historic backdrop.

b. Inciting Incident- Liesel is adopted by the Hubermanns.

c. Events contributing to rising action- As Liesel adapts to her new life with the Hubermanns, she makes friends out of Rudy and eventually Max. As the holocaust and later …show more content…

Time period and contextual significance- World War II, a time of great strife and, especially in germany, destruction of knowledge, which allows Liesel to steal many books.
3. Time span- The bulk of the story takes place from 1939 to 1942.

CONFLICTS
1. Main conflict
a. type of conflict- character vs. society (external)
b. values embodied in conflict (expressed as opposition—something vs. something)-
Liesel vs. The Nazi Party
c. thematic significance of conflict- Liesel’s indirect conflict with the Nazi party prevents her from openly reading books, as well as having her father killed. If this conflict had not existed, she would not have met one of her best friends, Max, as he would not have been running from the Nazis.
2. Minor conflicts and thematic significance- Liesel vs. self/conscious- Several times throughout the novel, Liesel is seen haunted by the memory of her late little brother. Whenever she does something he might not approve of, he expresses disappointment in her. When she finally appeases him, it marks a turning point in Liesel’s maturity.

SYMBOLS AND MOTIFS (3-5)
Literal Symbol
Figurative Meaning
Relationship to Theme
“The Standover Man”
The makeshift book by Max is created by drawing over Mein Kampf, creating positivity out of …show more content…

THEMATIC STATEMENTS (2-3)

State in declarative sentence general truths this story reveals about life and/or human nature—be specific and no clichés.

Through the power of words, one may begin to understand the world around them, and even bend it to their will.
One should learn to love, even when everyone else is full of hatred.
Death is inevitable, and since all humans are mortal we should get used to it and learn to make the most out of life.
Even when you suffer, you have to learn to make the best of it and keep going.

CONTEXT
1. Historical- World War II
2. Biographical- The basis of the story was inspired by stories his parents told of their experiences in Munich and Venice
3. Literary/Philosophical Time Period- World Wars/Holocaust Era

5 KEY QUOTES

“She leaned down and looked at his lifeless face and Liesel kissed her best friend, Rudy Steiner, soft and true on his lips. He tasted dusty and sweet. He tasted like regret in the shadows of trees and in the glow of the anarchist's suit collection. She kissed him long and soft, and when she pulled herself away, she touched his mouth with her fingers...She did not say goodbye. She was incapable, and after a few more minutes at his side, she was able to tear herself from the ground. It amazes me what humans can do, even when streams are flowing down their faces and they stagger on...”

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