Book Thief Themes

For my fiction book, I have decided to read “The Book Thief”, by the Australian writer Markus Zusak. The story begins with an introduction narrated by Death personified. I've found that unlike the many times I've read about this being and their thought process', this one is almost kinder in a way. It is not a heartless being that has merely grown bored of it's eternal task, it feels sympathy for those he effects, both directly and indirectly. It seems to take an almost childish interest in the main protagonist, Liesel Meminger, one filled with innocence and curiosity.

‘The Book Thief’ by Mark Zusak The Book Thief is a story of a young german girl named Liesel Meminger in Nazi Germany during world war 2. At age nine her brother drops dead in front of her and when Death himself comes to collect his newest soul, he becomes fascinated with Liesel. From then on death narrates the story of a girl who moves into a foster home where she develops relationships between her new Papa and Mama, her best friend Rudy, her secret friend Max, but most importantly we witness her relationship with

There are many reasons why Liesel’s life shows beauty in the wake of brutality, but the most significant reason is that she has beautiful connections with people, so no matter how brutal things get,

In the book, the narrator is Death, who foreshadows Liesel about her past and the family and friends she has lost. Throughout the novel, Death is a symbol of abandonment to Liesel. One of the reasons Zusak uses Death as the narrator instead of a live character is because of death’s prominence in Liesel’s life. An example is when Death states, “Curiosity got the better of me, and I resigned myself to stay as long as my schedule allowed, and I watched”(Zusak 7). Death continues to follow Liesel around and watch over her. Death meets Liesel three times in the book to watch everyone leave

Liesel is characterized as a girl full of courage and her unwillingness to back down. An example of her courageous mentality is when Ludwig Schmeikl bullies her because of her inability to read. The narrator explains, “(Liesel) stood up and took the book from him... she threw it away and kicked him as hard as she could” (82). This scene shows that Liesel is not afraid of standing up for herself and does not back down from Ludwig. Instead she retaliates back against him, bringing him to the floor. While she may be

Death is a very well-known figure that is feared by many in all countries. He is suspected of being cruel, disturbing and all synonyms of horrifying. Death is inevitable and that is the most fearing aspect of his persona. In Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief, Death is made to seem or resemble humans. Effectively using the narration role, Death introduces a unique description and definition of colors in which he uses as a tool to effectively engage the readers to the events occurring throughout the book. He also demonstrates him personal and different experiences as well, mostly about soul gathering and the implications of WWII that have affected him. On the contrary to Death’s dead, appalling and scary nature that many interpret him to be

What is the first thing you think about when you hear the word death? In most cases, people fear death but as the narrator in Markus Zusak’s novel, The Book Thief, Death is a compassionate and honorable character.

Narration is important in almost any book,  which is why it is especially important in   Mark Zusak’s: The Book Thief.  He uses foreshadowing, perspective, and interaction with the  reader to make the book so much more interesting. Zusak's selection of Death as the narrator heavily changes and alters the way the book is read. Death allows the reader to have a completely new and different perspective of Death itself, he heavily foreshadows very important events in the book, and he interacts with the reader many times throughout the book. By presenting death as the narrator, Zusak provides a more outside and impartial view of humanity’s pain and suffering (Johnson).

The acts of human nature can become a very difficult concept to understand. Markus Zusak uses Death throughout the The Book Thief to express the complexity of human nature. Death illustrates how complicated beings humans are and how they hold the capacity to act in both evil and beautiful ways. Throughout the novel Death helps give readers insight to the ignorance displayed and the pain it may cause a person. In the most troublesome and discriminatory times of the Holocaust, Death will point out the beautiful acts of compassion carried out by characters involved in the novel. Sometimes beauty and pain is mixed within the sacrifice some make for those they love and are loyal to.

these people with their lives and the lives of their loved ones, the Jews were “persuaded”

book starts off in September of 1939. The story is about Rudi Kaplan, the Jews, the Germans, and

She stole from the Nazi book burnings on the street, the Mayors library and wherever she could. Liesel also received two special books written by a Jew hiding out in her basement. She related to the Jew, Max, in many ways. They discovered that they both frequently had horrible nightmares and that they share the same passion for words. She was able to befriend an unwanted Jew in Germany because she was able to see past the hatred everyone normally felt. Liesel saw Max as another human being, and was loyal enough to keep him a secret. When Liesel spotted Max marching to the concentration camp with the rest of the Jews, she risked her life by running up to him. Her boldness made them both suffer the ruthless consequence of being whipped by a soldier. She was also brave enough to beat up a boy in her class who made the mistake of teasing her. Liesel was filled with rage. "Her knuckles and fingernails were so frighteningly tough, despite their smallness" (Zusak 78). Liesel had the audacity to stand up for herself because she refused to be ridiculed.

Markus Zusak’s historical fiction novel, The Book Thief, tells the story of the Hubermanns living in Germany during World War II. The novel focuses on a young, adopted girl, Liesel, as she grows up and must survive in difficult times. Liesel keeps her morale high during the hard times she faces through her love and friendships with Max, a Jew that the Hubermanns secretly hide in their basement, and Hans, her stepdad.

Eventually Jews and other ‘undesirables’ were sent to death camps, while others went to forced labour camps and used as slaves to produce materials for weapons in war, and a range of goods, such as shoes, clothes and good. These death camps

Unlike the Nazi’s however, Liesel realizes the pain her words caused. "Blood leaked from her nose and licked at her lips. Her eyes had blackened. Cuts had opened up and a series of wounds were rising to the surface of her skin. All from words. From Liesel's words" (Zuask 253). A child, no more than 12 years old, was telling someone not to cry, that she was being “pathetic.” It was all because of one group of people taking the lives of millions that a young girl believes crying over your loved ones deaths was ridiculous. At one point, Death even compares itself to humanity saying, "You want to know what I truly look like? I'll help you out. Find yourself a mirror while I continue" (Zuask 307).