Diction In The Book Thief

In The Book Thief, by Marcus Zusak, the narrator, Death, tells the life story of a young girl named Liesel Meminger during World War II. He explains the events and challenges Liesel experiences due to Hitler’s words and influence. In this passage, the author uses diction, imagery, and details to help the reader imagine and have a deeper understanding of the events taking place and the character’s thoughts and feelings. This excerpt is from a chapter called, The End of the World (Part II), and the author choses specific words that serve a purpose in the novel. After Liesel was rescued from the crush concrete, Death described Liesel and humans as “desperate”, which is defined as “having an urgent need or desire”. This describes Liesel because
When Liesel saw Rudy “her hands were trembling” and she was “losing control and misjudging” things. Liesel was so shocked after seeing Rudy’s corpse that she started losing control of herself. She couldn’t accept his death, so she lost it and continuously tired to wake him up. Liesel described “Papa” as “a man with silver eyes, not dead ones.” Papa had silver eyes when he was alive so she expected him to have those eyes when she found him, but they disappeared and became dead after he lost his soul. His eyes “were all empty” and they “continued to rust.” After looking at Papa, Liesel said, “Goodbye, Papa, you saved me. You taught me to read.” This major detail expresses Liesel’s feelings towards her father, and it shows how important and influential “words” are to her. In conclusion, Marcus Zusak incorporates diction, imagery, and details to create vivid images and provide a deeper understanding of the events and characters for the readers. This helps connect the reader to the message the author is trying to express through the text. The specifically chosen words, descriptive language, and details come together to enhance the reading experience and keeps the readers engaged in the