Best known for his book the Book Thief, Australian born author Markus Zusak has been writing for young adults since the age of seventeen(Grade Saver). Born in Melbourne, Australia to German and Austrian immigrants, Markus Zusak lived a very humble and quite life. However being the youngest of four...
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Alphonse Elric from Full Metal Alchemist says, "humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost." In the novel, The Book Thief, Markus Zusak portrays the multiple transactions humanity experiences but in return...
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Imagery: “First the colors. Then the humans. That’s usually how I see things. Or at least, how I try.” (1) Describe: The first passage of “The Book Thief,” already leaves the reader questioning what on Earth these words could mean; however, the answer to this question...
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The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is set in Nazi Germany in World War II. Narrated by Death, the novel takes as its protagonist Liesel Meminger, a girl who grows up in a foster home where Jews aren’t seen as evil, in a departure from attitudes in the rest of Nazi Germany. Max, a Jew living in...
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In The Book Thief, Zusak expounds upon the concept of death as a passive force and not a vengeful creature. Zusak presents the character Death in a manner that is more effectively conceived than the traditional rendition of Death’s personae. This unconventional characterization is validated...
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There are endless notions and assumptions about the character of Death. Death’s popularity had inspired constant production of literary and mythological works. This essay will try to conduct a comparative analysis of two portrayals of the character of Death in two stories namely “A Dirty Job” by...
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Review of The Book Thief by Markus Zusak It seems sometimes like the market for young adult literature is written down to the readers, almost in a condescending manner. That is why a book like The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is so refreshing in this sea of cookie cutter romances and fantasies...
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Markus Zusak writes the exciting account of The Book Thief; the book is placed in Nazi Germany. Hans’ ability to avoid death has often left Hans’ depressed or feeling like “It should have been me” (Zusak 477). This state of mind leads him to make the decision to Shelter Max, who is the son of his...
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The Book Thief “Even death has a heart. ” (The Book Thief, pg 242) The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is a book of death, love, and survival. There is the death of a friend, love of a parent, and survival of those who can take it. World War II was a devastating period and many did not have the mental...
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Takara Taylor July 18, 2009 AP Literature Essay The Book Thief Haunted By Symbols Through all of the irony and vivid coloring, The Book Thief is more easily understood after acquiring knowledge of reading literature with greater care and meticulousness. Applying chapters of How to Read Literature...
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The texts “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak, “Elephant man” the film by David Lynch and “Othello” by William Shakespeare, can all be connected and contrasted by the central concept of alienation as presented by the composers of these texts through the use of various Literary, dramatic and cinematic...
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Why is discrimination such a large and ongoing problem in our society? All over the world people are discriminated against simply because of their colour, religion, the way they talk or even what they eat. In the novel The Book Thief by Markus Zusak discrimination is shown by the way Jews were...
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AllusionBook Reference 1936 OlympicsPg: 56 “Hitler’s Games” Non-AryanPg: 110 “We put an end to the disease that has been spread through Germany for the last twenty years, if not more! ” Jesse OwensPg: 56 “Jesse Owens had just completed the 4x100m relay and won his fourth gold medal. Talk that he...
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The Book Thief takes place in Germany before and during World War II. The story is told from the point of view of Death who finds the story of the Book Thief, Liesel Meminger, to be very interesting, as she brushes Death three times in her life. The novel begins when Liesel's mother takes Liesel...
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“First the colors. Then the humans. That’s usually how I see things. Or at least, how I try. ” So begins a carefully spun tale of sadness, loss, death, and how hope and love can rise them. Markus Zusack’s historical fiction novel, The Book Thief, inspires ordinary people to live their best and to...
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In this quote, on page 446 of the Book Thief, Zusak is stressing the idea that without the knowledge of words and not knowing the extreme power they contain, humans wouldn't be able to fufill their desires and express the potential they have hidden deep inside of them. Whether one uses these words...
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One of the main themes of the Book Thief is how the use of words, for good or for evil, can change everything. His choice to use Death as a narrator was a great idea, as Death watches, and can describe from many points of view what he sees, and his use of words is very powerful. Markus Zusak uses...
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Adriana Alvarez Ms. Spooner Survey Lit, Period 2 September 17, 2011 Diagnostic Book Thief Essay Assignment Sometimes in literature, a character’s actions oppose the ideals, values, morals, etc. of his or her society. A character in The Book Thief who opposes his or her society is Rudy Steiner. Of...
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Not Conforming to Beliefs In both The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak and The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare, some characters demonstrate hypocrisy in their words and actions. Though there are other traits that the characters show, such as cruelty and mercy, hypocrisy is one of the more...
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Explore how character is created by the author in the extract provided In this historical fiction novel “the book thief” by Markus Zusak, the character Max Vandenburg is created using characterisation. In this essay I will examine the characters actions, his descriptions and his speech in order to...
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As I was finishing The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, my mind was racing, and my heart was heavy from sympathy for the characters. In truth, if it weren’t for this assignment, I most likely would have never picked up this book. I’ve read so many novels on the Holocaust that I’ve become uninterested...
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Theme Theft is a central theme for the novel The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, because of the time in which it is set. War is a power struggle, and a battle for dominance over people and territory. Hitler was stronger than the German people, and convinced them through his powerful words to treat...
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“I most definitely can be cheerful. I can be amiable. Agreeable. Affable. And that’s only the A’s”(Zusak pg. 3). Death uncloaks himself and steps out of the shadows extending his hand to greet the reader as soon as a copy of The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is opened. With these words the narrator...
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The Thief of Books and Affections Welcome to the world of Death. The Book Thief, by Marcus Zusak, is a captivating book that is narrated by Death. He quickly introduces you to a girl named Liesel, living in the tragic times of World War Two. The reader is given a story of this girl’s adolescence...
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Describe at least ONE character or individual you enjoyed reading about in the text(s). Explain why the character(s) or individual(s) helped you understand an idea in the text(s). History and especially World War Two is a testament to the duality of human nature. Jeffery Kluger in an article for...
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