The Book Thief Analysis

In ‘The Book Thief’, Markus Zusak uses the theme “dark times do not last forever”, to show human resilience and the will to find happiness. In this book, there are many low points of the characters’ lives, whether it be a dead relative or friend, or the hardships of war. However, Liesel Meminger, the main character, still finds a way to happiness throughout the book. She finds joy in the smallest of things, such as her words and the sound of her papa’s accordion despite the pain from the loss of her mother and brother. Other characters also find joy throughout the book and stay resilient such as the Hubermanns family and Max building a snowman in their basement, Rudy and other neighborhood kids playing soccer in the streets, and

The film and novel both use words to cause emotions of viewers and readers. An example of the powerful use of words in the film is towards the end when Liesel finds Rudy dying on the road covered with gravel; Rudy is about to say “I love you” (Percival), but doesn’t finish his sentence before death takes him. It’s hard as a viewer to watch such a heart-breaking scene. Liesel knows what Rudy is going to say and his words from then and all he’s said to her in the past influenced her to kiss him.Readers no longer had to imagine any of the events or characters in the novel because it was in front of them on a screen. Unlike the movie, in the novel, Hans Jr tells his father to join the Nazi’s. Hans Jr tells Hans, “You’re either for the fuhrer or against him-and I can see that you’re against him”(105). When Hans Jr and Hans get into an argument about the Nazi

“You never know when a moment and a few sincere words can have an impact on a life.” (Ziglar) In The Book Thief, Liesel uses the power of words to positively influence how people feel. This can be seen through Liesel’s interactions with Max throughout the novel. Similarly, the story of “The Word Shaker” shows the powerful influence of words both good and bad. Finally, Liesel’s interactions with Max, provide yet another example of how words can make a positive impact on another person. The positive effect of words can be seen through the actions of Liesel’s character in “The Word Shaker”. However, words can also be used in a negative way in like in“The Word Shaker” when Max is trembling at the words of Mein Kampf and when in “The Word Shaker

“Words can light fires in the minds of men” (Patrick Rothfuss). Author, Markus Zusak, in his novel The Book Thief, narrates as Death to show the story of Liesel Meminger, a girl living in World War Two Nazi Germany. Zusak uses literary devices to depict a theme of how words can change the world in order to show their effect on people.

Liesel Meminger, who was a very sympathetic young girl which her words were used from her warm heart towards people. Frau Holtzapfel had lost both of her sons, so for her to be happy, Liesel would read to her a lot, which also made Frau Holtzapfel feel comforted. Also when Max was taken in by the Hubermann’s, he was a Jew, which meant he wasn’t allowed to see the outside world. Liesel would go outside and tell Max the

3). In addition, literacy empowers Liesel when she reads to others to comfort them, and to feel in control of herself. During a bomb raid, Liesel reads to her frightened neighbours to help calm them down: “everyone was silent but Liesel…for at least twenty minutes, she handed out the story. The youngest kids were soothed by her voice, and everyone else saw visions of the whistler running from the crime scene” (Zusak 381). Liesel also begins to read to Frau Holtzapfel which helps console her during her time of grieving over her lost son. Frau Holtzapfel even offers to “‘stop spitting on [Rosa’s] door’” in exchange for Liesel to read to her. Being literarily educated, which is restricted during World War II, results in great power for many people. For Liesel, the power of words, writing, and reading help comfort her during her emotional trauma. Literacy “ultimately save[s] [Liesel]” (Smith para. 3) in the sense that books give her a strong purpose to her life. As Grace Lee has said, “not only does Liesel steal books, but she also steals her life back from death itself” (Lee 21). During a time where she is distraught and

Words have gargantuan amounts of power, and they could render an abysmal or euphoric event based on how they are used. The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, and Mein Kampf, by Adolf Hitler, are both famous novels that relate to the Holocaust. The Book Thief takes place in the Holocaust and tells of the struggle that the Hubermann family and Liesel endure. Meanwhile, Mein Kampf is a book that Hitler wrote to explain his views and convince people to think the same as him. One could compare and contrast persuasion, tone, and the impact that words have, to discover how the power of words is represented in the two books.

Words were what started the roller coaster of emotion Liesel had been thrown on when she was nine years old. Without them I don't know where she would be, but I doubt she'd have ever lived and played soccer on Himmel Street. And, although words have been the cause of her pain and suffering, they have been her source of comfort, too. Whether they were written by Mattheus Ottleberg, Adolf Hitler, Max Vandenburg, or herself, words carry immeasurable value and impact. When written by Hitler, words have been the source of ruthless violence and chaos, and helped start a war that was the basis of our story. In The Word Shaker, Max shares his knowledge of the power of words, and how, depending on their user's intentions, they can have a heavily negative or positive impact. This quote shows Liesel's comprehension of the power of words, and when she says "I hope I have made them right," it is clear that she intends to use words so they will have a positive

Liesel exhibits her newfound reasoning on Adolf Hitler to Hans Hubermann. Liesel’s new reasoning is finally deciphered from the fact that she realizes her mom is a communist. Hitler had Liesel’s mom taken away as he loathes communism. In this situation, the negative power of words comes into play. Liesel’s mom is labeled, negatively, as a “communist”, and she is taken away from Liesel. Liesel spells out her great dislike for her leader, and she starts to acquire power. Hans Hubermann persuades Liesel to keep quiet, but Liesel starts to manifest positive power. Due to this ordeal, Liesel acquires a new book, The Shoulder Shrug. With this new book, Liesel furthers her reading and writing skills. These skills are important as they will lead Liesel to empowering the people in the bomb shelters by her soothing

When there were bomb raids approaching the town, the people gathered in a small basement and Liesel began to read to everyone there. It is amazing how her words would calm everyone present and made them forget that they could possibly die at any given moment. When everything in her life is at a downfall, reading and writing takes Liesel out of this cruel world. That is the main reason why she is attracted to words and books. Words kept her alive in a dull world but also literally kept her living. She was reading in that basement when the bombs hit her street so it saved her. She also developed relationships with people with words and storytelling. In a time like this, a normal conversation will not help. But in order to distract one from reality the best way to do that is to share stories. Max Vandenburg is not in great condition when he arrives, but creates a special bond with Liesel through words. The two have frequent nightmares about their past and losing the ones that they care about the most. Though all this has happened, they both enjoy to story tell and that’s how their bond grows. "Trust me, though, the words were on their way, and when they arrived, Liesel would hold them in her hands like the clouds, and she would wring them out, like the rain (85)". Liesel’s words effected her situation and the perspective of it so much. As words bought friendship to Liesel, it also bought

Everyone of us has impacted someone with our words, whether you’ve realized it or not. Whether it was used for bad or good, to convince them to make a choice or to prove a point, you’ve impacted them with just the use of your words. In Zusak’s novel, the Book Thief, the main message is that the power of words can have a major impact on people.

The Emotions That Words Cause Words can break past the glass barriers that actions cannot seem to surpass. Readers of The Book Thief by Markus Zusak can understand this by taking a closer look at words in the book. In fact, it is narrated by Death himself, and he has experienced the extent of what words can do to people. Death tries to put a comical spin on things that have happened during World War II to distract him from the horrid events. The book is full of ways, words have affected people during one of the most devastating times in history.

The book thief, written by Markus Zusak, consists of many diverse characters with their own traits and distinct personalities that affect the power words have and craft the famous novel into a book of many possibilities. The character of Liesel Meminger, while only just a child, possess a strong ability to harness the difficult situations around her, and her words becoming “the only light available” for those who were in the presence of shadows. The power of words embedded in the book construct; a sanctuary, a connection between souls and a guidance when you’re “trying to remember” (pg317) those you “should just forget” (pg65). Words become powerful when the meaning behind them is utilized, such as when the words in the book thief were

The recuperative power of language is revealed when Liesel begins an intrepid career in book thievery, finding solace in books and words amidst the cataclysmic historical period of Nazi Germany. Liesel’s unconscious desire to overcome her traumatic experiences is discovered within the confines of the basement. This is symbolic as, in Freudian psychoanalysis, the basement represents unconscious drives, repressed fears, traumas and fantasies. In Liesel’s journey to process her trauma and acknowledge new traumas, she psychoanalytically seeks out the comfort of the womb due to the absence of a motherly figure in the form of the basement. Zusak alters the archetypal image of the basement, picturing it as a metaphorical ‘womb’ for Liesel, a place of salvation and safety. “Liesel revisited those dark rooms of her past.” (p. 117) When Liesel discovers it is unlikely she will ever see her biological mother, she retreads underneath the table in an attempt to alleviate her pain. However, when Liesel feels psychologically strong enough to face the trauma of her abandonment, she is able to leave her place of safety and security and share her story with Max. This demonstrates the complexities of trauma and how an individual utilises differing coping mechanisms to confront their psychological suffering. Liesel, whilst opening herself to the pain of others, learns to express and

Zusak uses short stories to show the power of words in having Max write ¨The Word Shaker¨. When Max gave Liesel the book, he told her that he ¨thought of your books and words and this strange story came into my head¨ (Zusak 444). This quote conveys that Max is reminded of the influence of words and the power that are in them through liesel. This power needs to be admonished to liesel because at this point in the book she does not know just how incredible words can be in the minds of others. The Story is about how Hitler’s words were turned into great trees creating a forrest of influence for the people. The girl in the story uses those words and plants her own words the “tree grew every day, faster than anything else till it was the tallest tree in the forest”(Zusak 447). The story gives a new meaning to what th words can accomplished when they are planted and grown. They stand tall for all to see, excelling over anyone elses words which gives the planter the power.