‘The Book Thief’, written by Markus Zusak is a novel set in Nazi Germany that demonstrates the hardships, danger and threatening experiences faced by the German families and Jews during that time in comparison to the rewards obtained due to such experiences and how they compare in relation to each other. Liesel Meminger, the main character experiences death and loss for the first time when her father is ‘taken away’ as an alleged communist. These experiences become more common as Liesel, with ‘One eye open, one still in a dream’ witnesses her brother Werner’s death on a train to Molching. Liesel’s mother cannot financially support and provide for her and therefor makes the difficult decision to place Liesel into the care of Rosa and Hans Huberman. Liesel’s initial reluctance to accept her new home is stimulated by the reoccurring nightmares which she endures. ‘She would wake up swimming in her…
This passage takes place right after Liesel scolds the Mayor’s wife for firing her mother from the cleaning job.…
Although most assume Death looks like the Grim Reaper or a scary skeleton thing, in The Book Thief, Death is not. In fact, he even tells us what he looks like when he says, “I do not carry a sickle or a scythe. I only wear a hooded black robe when it’s cold. And I don’t have those skull-like facial features you seem to enjoy pinning on me from a distance… Find yourself a mirror while I continue” (Zusak 307). Essentially Death is saying that because all humans die, we all resemble death. Humans can and will die, and thus he is one of the things that is constant between all humans. Due to this reason I drew a man looking into a mirror to show Death. I just…
In The Book Thief, guilt can be found as a recurring theme, especially in the cases of Hans Hubermann and Max. In a deeper analysis, the reason as to how and why can be answered.…
“The consequence of this is that I'm always finding humans at their best and worst. I see their ugly and their beauty, and I wonder how the same thing can be both. (Death)”…
1) Prescribed Text – The Book Thief a. Compose a summary/synopsis of the text (plot/themes/characters/key concerns). (100 words only)…
War is a foul and nauseating occurrence throughout history. Nevertheless, it is something that has happened more than once. There are numerous amount of people who have experienced the events of a war. Each person can have a different perspective and experiences. However, those people can be categorized as victims, perpetrators, or bystanders.…
No one believed she was smart enough to read, and instead of being placed in her age appropriate classes, she was out with the kids at her reading level. For her it was humiliating, but it only gave her the fuel she needed to keep moving forward. Desperate for help, she confronted her uneducated step father Hans for help. Hans himself cannot read that well, but she knows any help is better than none. Hans, referred to as Papa by Liesel, began to teach Liesel basic reading skills every night. They had a tradition, “unofficially…called the midnight class, even though it commenced around two in the morning”. Now Liesel knew how to read. She had an unlimited amount of knowledge available to her through literature. But, she herself could not take down Hitler. That does not mean that she could not fight back though. When the Nazi’s bombed her street, most people stood in the bomb shelter terrified. Yet, Liesel instead took out a book and began to read. Everyone soon began to congregate around her and listen. The fear of what was going on around them subsided, and at the moment they had won. Though Hitler was still attack them, he no longer had control over them, they were not scared. It was at this moment that Liesel realized the true power of literature, and the book she held between her fingers transformed into the sword she would use to fight her way out of Nazi Germany.…
"No matter how many times she was told she was loved there was no recognition that the proof was in the abandonment" (Zusak 32). The novel The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is the story of Liesel Meminger, a young girl who struggles through WWII and faces the pain and suffering of abandonment. When one is faced with such an abandonment and is forced to cope on their own, they may feel lost and alone. These emotions force people to find comfort. As in Liesel 's case, some people find comfort in books and words. Liesel 's perspective on abandonment can be seen through how she coped with her childhood trauma, Max 's illness and the Himmel Street bombing.…
5. During the prologue Death refers “the book thief” as a little girl. This raises many questions. Why is this small girl stealing book? Can she not afford them herself? It also refers to in the book that the small innocent girl has not only stole a book once but has stolen a total of 3 books. How is she getting away with so much thief? How is someone in their youth have the sneakiness and intelligent to successfully steal 3 books? Does she every get caught? Death does not give us any further more information on “the book thief” like a name of physical characteristics during the prologue, so the reader is made to assume characteristics of the child.…
In the novel The Book Thief written by Markus Zusak, words have a huge impact on individuals. Everything that’s going on in the world changes the way that the characters are and how they react to specific events. In this essay the reader will understand about how the characters are most affected by words, these three characters are Liesel, a young girl who moved to Munich as a foster child, Max a Jewish man who hides himself from the world for the majority of his life, and Hitler the master behind all the brutal events in Germany. Throughout this essay the reader will have a better understanding of the impact that words may have on individuals.…
In the first chapters of Markus Zusak's The Book Thief, the protagonist Liesel Meminger experiences conflicts which drive her actions, actions which represent clutching to the memories of what once was. Liesel experiences shock and suffering at the traumatic death of her brother, Werner. "... With [w]ith one eye open, one still in a dream..." (p. 29) describes Liesel's reaction, a state of shock, at the moment she realizes her brother is dead and the image of "... His blue eyes stared at the floor. Seeing nothing" (p. 29) is a haunting imprint (p. 29). Liesel's reaction to this event is also played out in her unconscious state since "Every [e]very night, Liesel would nightmare" (p. 57). The use of nightmare as a verb indicates the strength of action, Liesel's suffering.…
lessons. Death states how he wishes that he could tell the book thief about beauty and…
no doubt we all believe that exercise is a magical key to lead a long and healthy life. Exercise has several benefits on our mind and body. By doing exercise regularly, the can stay away from a lot of body ailments which are a must with the advancing age. For seniors following an exercise routine is the ideal way to enhance their energy level and is stay fit.…
This passage reminds me of the scene where Napoleon steals the milk and apples from the animals without asking in Animal Farm. Similarly, in The Book Thief, Rudy and Liesel are also stealing vegetables from many farms. However, the reason that Napoleon steals the milk and apples is because of his greed, while Rudy and Liesel are stealing to "extend their thieving repertoire" (Zusak 161). Also, from my interpretation of this passage, I feel that the law enforcements are not strong enough to stop thievery at that time in Germany because, if the law enforcements were powerful, then Rudy and Liesel wouldn't take the risk to extend their thieving…