Literary Analysis Essay on The Book Thief By Markus Zusak

The book Thief is an exciting book that centers on the life of a teen by the name Liesel Meminger who was living in Germany during world War 11. Liesel went to live with her foster parents Hans and Rosa Hubermann after the death of her brother. The main character feels the distraught and the horror of the Nazi Regime as she tries to grow up. As Nazism escalates, Liesel foster parents hide a Jewish by the name Max risking the safety of the family. The parents taught Liesel how to read. Liesel began to steal books from the Nazi and create her stories and share to the world.

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A look at the character Max shows that as a soldier he is not only a fighter but also a lover. Max falls in a childlike innocent romance with, Liesel, the lead character in the book. However, the romance is short-lived by the occurrence of war. Max is also exhibited as "the struggler" though only twenty-two years of age when he enters the story. His age appears a bit surprising, but the later reader gets to know that at the age of Rudy and Liesel, he was "the first fighter of the Jewish ." He endured starvation and hiding for two years which required much fight and endurance. However, he becomes burdened with conflicting emotions; guilt being the most intense (Ardagh par. 2).

Symbolism also plays a major part throughout the book. For instance, Liesel's character becomes majorly based on the books which are symbolic to the resistance against the Nazi regime. This is because she steals the books instead of being interested in what they are and reading them. This symbolizes the rebellion by the main character of the regime which they did not like and had no interest in it. Adolph Hitler, The Swastika, and The Nazi Flag are also a symbol of fear that crippled the society. (Ardagh pg.12). Moreover, Huberman plays accordions which are often associated with sharp, agony-inducing screams. However, in the book, they represent a sign of comfort and hope because characters find comfort in the accordions as Hubermann plays it to them.

Minor characters are less talked of and help the principal characters in advancing the purpose of the book. These minor characters include Paula Meininger who plays the role of Liesel's mother and puts her up for adoption at a young age. Frau Diller is also a minor character who is exhibited as a shopkeeper who is pro-Nazi and would never sell to a person who is against Hitler by praise (Green par. 4).

The book also contains several themes within it. The themes include; love, war, identity and mortality among others. The characters in the book learn to love despite being faced with great hatred. Romantic childlike love also exists but is ended shortly by the tragedy. The setting of the novel is during the Nazi era in Germany, where simple acts as giving a smile were perceived to be a sign of massive kindness. Such actions could lead to a penalty. War forms the lives of characters and influences their choices. Identity is a struggle in the book as almost all characters make guiltiness a large part of their personalities. The non-Jewish characters in the novel reject getting recognized as Nazis (Green). They are forced to forge new identities through love, friendship, and struggle against injustice.

Annotated Bibliography

Ardagh, Philip. "Review: The Book Thief By Markus Zusak." the Guardian. N.p., 2010. Web. 29 Mar. 2017.

The review done by Ardagh brings out clearly the events in The Book Thief. He talks of Hans Hubermann who hides a Jew, Max Vandenburg since his father once saved his life in the First World War when they were soldiers of Germany. Hubermann and the wife Rosa adopted a teenager named Liesel. She, Liesel, is the leading character of the book. The developing interactions amongst Liesel and Hubermann together with that of Max and Liesel become dominant to the plot.

Ardagh, Philip. "Review: The Book Thief By Markus Zusak." the Guardian. N.p., 2010. Web. 29 Mar. 2017.

The review done by Ardagh brings out clearly the events in The Book Thief. He talks of Hans Hubermann who hides a Jew, Max Vandenburg since his father once saved his life in the First World War when they were soldiers of Germany. Hubermann and the wife Rosa adopted a teenager named Liesel. She, Liesel, is the leading character of the book. The developing interactions amongst Liesel and Hubermann together with that of Max and Liesel become dominant to the plot.

Works Cited

Ardagh, Philip. "Review: The Book Thief By Markus Zusak." the Guardian. N.p., 2010. Web. 29 Mar. 2017.

Ardagh, Philip. "Review: The Book Thief By Markus Zusak." the Guardian. N.p., 2010. Web. 29 Mar. 2017.