The Effect of Simple Sentences in Book Thief
Simple Sentences Effect in Book Thief
In the novel, The Book Thief, Mark Zusak has Death, the narrator, retells a story that extends over years as well as many connecting events that affect each other. As a result, he uses simple sentences to disclose events that happened without elaborating on them. The simple sentences create an effect that balances the detailed explanation of each character’s internal conflict, along with showing the quick pace of the story. The author uses simple sentences to show the quick progression of events in the novel.
As the narrator recalls the main character’s childhood, he uses simple sentences to show the progressive state of World War II. For example, Death states, “1. World War Two begins” (Zusak 73). This reveals a historical event that takes place at the time. He then reveals that “The world talked it over.” and “Newspaper headlines reveled in it.” (Zusak 73). The author used consecutive, abrupt sentences to display events without elaborating on the specifics of it. Furthermore, this technique of succinct, continuous sentences allows the author to concentrate on how each character is internally and externally affected by this event. Additionally, the short sentences contribute to the quick pace of the major events and add emphasis on how they uncontrollably happen. WWII, a devastating war, with its blood soaked streets that had Death begrudgingly tread behind to collect an endless amount of starving souls. The author’s progressive sentences cause the audience to sympathize with the characters’ inability to stop, or even postpone, the terrible events that affect their lives. This use of simple sentences is again repeated with Death narrates, “Again, time passed. The war expanded.” (Zusak 196). The strong feelings of sympathy for the characters are again reinforced with the progressive short sentences. Along with progressiveness, the continuous sentences also provide a peaceful to suspenseful mood shift.
In the novel,
In the novel, The Book Thief, Mark Zusak has Death, the narrator, retells a story that extends over years as well as many connecting events that affect each other. As a result, he uses simple sentences to disclose events that happened without elaborating on them. The simple sentences create an effect that balances the detailed explanation of each character’s internal conflict, along with showing the quick pace of the story. The author uses simple sentences to show the quick progression of events in the novel.
As the narrator recalls the main character’s childhood, he uses simple sentences to show the progressive state of World War II. For example, Death states, “1. World War Two begins” (Zusak 73). This reveals a historical event that takes place at the time. He then reveals that “The world talked it over.” and “Newspaper headlines reveled in it.” (Zusak 73). The author used consecutive, abrupt sentences to display events without elaborating on the specifics of it. Furthermore, this technique of succinct, continuous sentences allows the author to concentrate on how each character is internally and externally affected by this event. Additionally, the short sentences contribute to the quick pace of the major events and add emphasis on how they uncontrollably happen. WWII, a devastating war, with its blood soaked streets that had Death begrudgingly tread behind to collect an endless amount of starving souls. The author’s progressive sentences cause the audience to sympathize with the characters’ inability to stop, or even postpone, the terrible events that affect their lives. This use of simple sentences is again repeated with Death narrates, “Again, time passed. The war expanded.” (Zusak 196). The strong feelings of sympathy for the characters are again reinforced with the progressive short sentences. Along with progressiveness, the continuous sentences also provide a peaceful to suspenseful mood shift.
In the novel,