The Book Thief by Markus Zusak Essay

Fezzik’s parents gave him an ultimatum that would force him to fight, which is truly dishonarable and wrong. As expressed, the past major events of the characters allows the lesson of the novel to be created.

This also shows the reader that by Hans recognising the old jewish man as human, the life of the Jewish man is significantly impacted as he now feels something of worth and can die now knowing he is a human. This act of giving bread also impacts the life of Hans, as Hans is made to join the army in the most dangerous class of work as he is now seen as a ‘Jew Lover’. Through this quote the audience can see that change is inevitable and impacts the course of ones life, as through one act of kindness, two mens lives are significantly impacted. Zusak explores the concept of changing perspectives through how he incorporates the idea that change is inevitable and impacts the course of ones life, into the roles of his characters in his book ‘The Book Thief’.

The main theme in this book is that of individual experience, which is written as if the reader was looking through the eyes of the narrator, not knowing the context, but understanding how life is for those who have been through the experience.

The Book Thief was written by Australia writer Markus Zusak in 2005. The novel focuses on Liesel, a 12 year old

Markus Zusak’s intricate novel, The Messenger tells a story of a teenager living in a low socio-economic area of Sydney. Throughout the text Zusak employs a variety of literary devices to assist in the readers connection with Ed’s journey of self-discovery as well as questioning their own. Ed Kennedy narrates the book as the protagonist, following his ‘epitome of ordinariness’ life. Ed is faced with a number of challenges, which contributes, in his journey of self-discovery. Each literary device used in the book compliments the challenge during the text.

In the story The Book Thief, the author Markus Zusak does and amazing job of using literary devices in his story. From metaphors, to similes, to personification and even onomonopeias. It puts images in your mind that in other looks you could not even imagine. It shows and tells what the person is doing and how they are doing it. These literary devices bring excitement and engagement to the writing. It makes you want to keep reading the book. His forms of figurative language come easy to zusak.

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.

Foreshadowing is a major technique Zusak uses in The Book Thief to portray the power of words. Within the first pages of the novel, the narrator gives the audience a glimpse into the novel’s content. This not only adds intrigue and encourages the audience to continue reading; it also foreshadows central themes – ‘some words’, ‘quite a lot of thievery’, and central characters, ‘an accordionist’, ‘a Jewish fist fighter’. The meaning and importance of these small phrases are not revealed until much later in the novel. ‘A Jewish fist fighter’ refers to Max Vandenburg, and foreshadows his appearance. His presence highlights the brutality of Nazi Germany, the immediacy of war, and the kindness and compassion of humans. Max is also an instrumental

Brutality and Beauty are both aspects of the human spirit and therefore are evident in society and have been through the ages. History can be examined to bring forth examples of both, often side by side, often in times of great destruction such as in times of war. In the novel, The Book Thief, Marcus Zusak explores and compares the juxtaposition between great brutality and beauty in the human spirit evident in the German town of Molching during WW2. The author demonstrates how the characters in the novel can overcome cruelty and ruthlessness with acts of extraordinary kindness and humaneness. This is shown through the novel with Max and Liesel’s friendship, when Hans gives one of the Jewish camp prisoners a piece of bread and when Rosa and Hans protect Max from the Nazis. Zusak illustrates that a human’s capacity for hope is difficult to destroy regardless of the circumstances.

Markus Zusak develops the theme the power of words in this novel by using words to create comfort and serenity throughout the time of the war. Words are used to help develop ideas, thoughts, and knowledge for young Liesel Meminger as she reads the books she steals from the mayor’s library. Liesel begins school not knowing anything at all including how to read and write. She learns from her adopted father, Hans Hubermann, who takes Liesel in since her parents are not capable of taking care of her. Each night, Hans reads to Liesel hoping she will develop and learn how to read and pronounce words. In the basement of the Hubermanns, Hans has walls which include the alphabet letters printed on them. Liesel and Hans develop a bond between them as he teaches her words. Words comfort Liesel as she goes through the hard times and makes her want to read more. The Hubermanns take in a Jew named Max along with Liesel. Liesel and Max become closer and grow a bond

He handled topics such as poverty, domestic violence, loneliness and fear of love. This is taking the young adult audience to a very serious place and making them consider very adult problems. We see Ed having to handle a 'rape case', an old lady that made him think how a 'human could be so lonely' and a young family that didn’t have much but were ‘beautiful […] in what they are’. Whilst doing this Zusak has also kept the underlying elements of surprise and mystery present throughout the novel.

A captivating and beautifully well written narrative; "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak follows the adolescence of a courageous young girl named Liesel Meminger, whose book thievery opens her to a world of words. This novel discusses themes of identity and belonging, and the characters struggle to finding these as the novel progresses; though set in a different time period, the struggle Liesel endures greatly imitates the struggle of adolescents today. The story's beginning made me feel somewhat perplexed as to who the narrator was and for quite some time, I desperately wanted him or her to reveal their identity; However Zusak seems to enjoy keeping his readers guessing, which I find the mystery of his writing to be quite admiring. The imagery, narration and perspectives on this detrimental time in our World’s history obliged me continue reading on Liesels journey.

If you believe in yourself and have dedication, pride, and never quit, you will be successful. Markus Zusak, the author of The Book Thief, creates a story of a young orphan named Liesel Meminger, who is living with her new foster family. She learns the wonders of reading from her foster father and grows to love books. During Liesel’s time with her new family, she shows determination through her efforts and kindness with her encounters with other people. Liesel in The Book Thief expresses her traits, such as hardworking, and bravery.

The Australian author, Markus Zusak, set out to relate the experiences of his parents growing up during the Second World War for his fifth novel, The Book Thief, first published in 2005. The author has said that much of the inspiration for the book came from the stories his parents would tell him when he was a child. Firstly, in the Second World War, there are a lot of words and propaganda are spread about the Jews and the war. One of the main characters in the novel, Liesel always shows a skeptical attitude about the Fuhrer and the war that represents most Germans’ standpoint about the media information that they get. Secondly, it is undoubted that there are many Jews who were persecuted by the Nazis.

After several rejections, Zusak published his first novel, Underdogs, in 1999. Published by Omnibus Books, a division of Scholastic Australia. This novel was his big break into the world of young adult fiction. Fighting Ruben Wolfe and When Dogs Cry followed shortly after. Then Zusak wrote I Am the Messenger published by Pan Macmillan Australia