Zaphod Beeblebrox: A Modern-day Trickster

1) Prescribed Text – The Book Thief a. Compose a summary/synopsis of the text (plot/themes/characters/key concerns). (100 words only)

Bugs Bunny upholds the same characteristics as a trickster. In his analysis of the trickster, Sutherland explains Bugs Bunny is bold, witty, and intelligent. As Billy West, the voice of Bugs Bunny, best described Bugs as “(Bugs Bunny) can quote Shakespeare and then tell you where there’s a barroom in Brooklyn.” (Sutherland, 2008). With his natural abilities he is able to outwit and devices cleaver plan in order to outsmart his opponents for his own personal gains. However, not only does he end up winning due to his abilities, he also turns about his enemies during the processes. While he does not seem to go looking for mischief, when the opportunities arises, he will be the cause of mischief in order to outsmart other character, such as Elmer Fudd or Daffy Duck. Bugs Bunny is also one of the very few characters that breaks down the barriers between genders and social class. His abilities to change from himself to a woman and another character needed in order

Meet The President, written by Zadie Smith, is a story about a teenage boy, Bill Peek, living between two realities, virtual and actual. The story, set sometime in the future reflects many prevailing world issues of the time it was actually published 2013. The story provokes the reader to think about the effects on humanity of economic inequality, globalization, advancements in technology and governmental abuse of power. The reader must consider the effects of these world issues on the future while also considering them in light of the times when the story was published.

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

2016: Many works of literature contain a character who intentionally deceives others. The character’s dishonesty may be intended either to help or to hurt. Such a character, for example, may choose to mislead others for personal safety, to spare someone’s feelings, or to carry out a crime. Choose a novel or play in which a character deceives others. Then, in a well-written essay, analyze the motives for that character’s deception and discuss how the deception contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole.

"Each trick crumples in the end as a result of the mental probability that the individuals who are superlatively sharp at beguiling others turn out to be similarly astute at misdirecting themselves. Disinformation eats the individuals who make it."

Words are everywhere, words make up books, and the power of words make The Book Thief which will never be able to be improved upon. Words help us communicate with others, but mainly they have positive and negative sides to them. In the novel, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, Death narrates the story while Liesel Meminger also tells her story of living in Nazi, Germany. We will discuss how there are many people such as Max Vandenburg and Liesel Meminger who choose to use to use their power of words in the positive way. We will also discuss how people also like to use their power of words in the negative way such as Adolf Hitler. The power of words are very effective especially in Markus Zusak’s writing, and we’ll discuss the main parts of the book which have been effected with the power of words.

Beyond this “blunt instrument” of the executive branch’s formal constitutional powers, the presidency is largely what the president makes of it (Romance, July 27). The president’s real power is one of persuasion, or the ability to convince

Deception can involve being tricked by others, or tricking one's self. In Card's novel, trickery and false promises are parts of both games and deadly conflicts. Discuss the ways that deception is figured in the novel.

The Book Thief Short Essay: The Use of Foreshadowing, Irony, and Symbolism in The Book Thief

been shown how his anxiety becomes a brilliant schemer and manipulator in Act 1 when

Markus Zusak, the author of The Book Thief, displays several ways to help readers analyze the story. He uses diction, imagery, details, language, and syntax which allows his audience to master the content in the story.

The art of deception is an essential skill, especially in moments such as political debates and commercial promotions. In today's society, artifice is a widely utilized skill to persuade the public. The commercial market connects producers to consumers through propaganda which appeals to consumers through elements such as pathos, ethos, and logos. Utilizing these elements, the audience is immediately drawn into the viewpoint of the deceiver. Politicians tried to appear as ordinary and modest as possible to seem more appealing to their audience. But, it can be a deception. As Chris Hedges said in his Empire of Illusion, a story is the best form of artifice because the “consistency and emotional appeal of the story are paramount.” Often politicians tell stories to create a persona making themselves look more trustworthy.

Although it is a cartoon, Wile E. Coyote is a famous trickster. Wile E. Coyote is notorious for consuming his entire day and night with attempting to overtake the infamous road runner. His trickery is in the usage of various contraptions and bait to try to snatch the road runner. Wile E. may be a trickster, but his tricks never work out, generally only slightly missing the road runner. They intermittently fail on him and practically always injuring himself, allowing his prey to get away (Windling, 1995). This continuous stalking seems to be one of the most intense pursuits ever manifested. The buzz of the road runner resonates throughout people’s minds as they see this suspiciously swift bird that flings debris as he accelerates along the terrain. What makes this coyote a trickster you may ask? There are many qualities that categorize him as tricksters commonly know to all. First, Wile E. is extremely mischievous, and manipulative. He is always searching for ways to trick the road runner into one of his traps. Only Wile E. will go on such a quest to catch this particular road

The Native American Trickster is usually described as a character that “is a wandering, bawdy, gluttonous, and obscene” (72). The Trickster is “usually male but able to alter his sex at will,” he “may copulate with his daughter or daughter–in-law or send his penis swimming across rivers in search of sexual adventure” (72). He is often characterized as being “selfish, amoral, foolish, destructive, and as his name indicates, given to duping others in his own interest” (72). However, the trickster “is also a culture hero, someone often with godlike power who long, long ago helped to establish the order of the world that we know today” (72). Though, his folly caused him to forget his purpose of ridding the earth of evil entities, he is still a staple in Native American tales. Every tribe has their own version of the trickster!