Symbolism In The Book Thief By Mark Zusak

Symbolism is a technique often used in literature to deepen the reader’s understanding of different concepts. Sometimes, it is to reflect the mood of the passage, and sometimes as an omen. The Book Thief by Mark Zusak employs this strategy to give the reader a glimpse of the novel’s future. In The Book Thief, the author uses the accordion as a foreboding symbol of survival. This is shown during the events in which Hans Hubermann acquires the accordion, when Max Vandenburg arrives at 33 Himmel Street, and after the bombing of Molching.
The first example of this symbol occurs during Hans’ first military service, when he is the sole survivor of his squadron. After these events, the author writes, “That was the first time that Hans Hubermann escaped