Comparing Flowers For Algernon And The Book Thief

Markus Zusak’s coming-of-age, historical fiction novel, The Book Thief, tells the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster child brought to live with a family in Molching, Germany during World War II. Throughout the novel, Liesel meets many characters who show tremendous courage in the face of the circumstances they are forced to endure like Hans, Rudy, and Max. However, the courage that they exhibit is not always the kind where they run out into battle with guns blazing but something else.

“It’s just a small story really, about, among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist fighter, and quite a lot of thievery…” (Zusak, pg. 5)

The Book Thief, written by Markus Zusak, is about Liesel Meminger, a young girl from Germany who faces the inevitable pains of growing up in a time of war, Holocaust and Nazism. The story is told in the first-person point. It is a view of Death as he narrates. “The Book Thief” has a great deal of tragedy in it but it also is a celebration of life. In fact, it’s full of opposites. No point in seeking explanations. Like where Death says; ‘you think you’re the only one God never answers?’ Liesel is significantly changing in the story because of friendship, deaths, and words. I would like to tell you about the talents of Liesel and Hans, the stepfather of Liesel.

Human relationships break or develop depending on the circumstances. The values that creates a stable relationship may vary on historical setting or the characteristics of each person. The novel, “The Book Thief” written by Markus Zusak shows justice, love and humanity through the friendship Liesel and Max developed during the time of the Holocaust.

In “Flowers for Algernon” and “The Scarlet Ibis” pride has a big impact on Doodle’s brother and Rose. Rose and brother manipulated and mistreated Charlie and Doodle There are many examples of Charlie and Doodle being mistreated by Rose and Doodle brother in both of the stories.

Throughout Europe, during World War II, fear abided in many people causing closed mouths and the idea of individuality and absurdity. Opinions were kept silent and the dictatorship in Germany persevered and became prosperous. Though many people were hushed by the fear of what could happen, few did stand out for their beliefs. Although many people did not voice their opinions, people like Raoul Wallenberg and Irena Sendler bravely hid and saved many Jewish people. Similar to Hans in The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, he too helped harbor a Jewish man named Max in their basement. Mark Zusak, in The Book Thief, uses similes, situational irony, and symbolism to demonstrate the human trait of standing up for what they believe in.

“Words - so innocent and powerless as they are, as standing in a dictionary, how potent for good and evil they become in the hands of one who knows how to combine them.”(“Words Quotes - BrainyQuote”). In the novel The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, words are expressed to change the minds of Hitler’s followers to believe his every word. Words are also used against German citizens if they do not conform to the societal expectations. On the other hand, Liesel has a lust for words and she wishes to use them to positively impact others. Unlike Liesel, Hitler is focused on using his words to corrupt. There are many instances in the novel that words are used to mend and also harm. For example, Liesel reads to her neighbours during the air raids to

The theme of this book is learning to love and care for the people around. How I came to this conclusion is by how Liesel acts towards Max, her foster parents, Rudy, and her neighbors. Liesel cares for people even if they weren't like her and she doesn't understand why there is hatred in this world. She wanted the world to be a happy place for everyone including Jews to be friends with one another. On page 426 in ‘The Book Thief’, when Rudy’s father went to war Liesel could relate to Rudy because “her mother. Her brother. Max Vandenburg. Hans Hubermann. All of them gone. And she’d never even had a real father.” Also, when Mama was depressed about Papa going to war, Mama would sleep with Papa’s accordion Liesel acknowledged “that there was great beauty in what she was currently witnessing, and she chose not to disturb it” (Zusak, 429). Finally, when Liesel’s papa gave a Jew bread during the parade and what Liesel did during the parade, she gave Jews bread by placing them in the street.

Even so, the wringed out child thinks of this relief because the extreme conditions he lives in. The desperation is caused by the loss of his basic needs in the holocaust, thus, causing wishes for relief from Elie’s father. The desperation and want in The Book Thief is caused by a different source. In a more civil environment, Liesel’s want was rather run by hate. After seeing Max carried into a concentration camp, Liesel is filled with rage and anger. She then proceeds to step into

To Heal and to Hurt: The Importance of Words in The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The power of words in “The Book Thief” and the endless strength they carry is a prime topic throughout the book. “The Book Thief”, a novel narrated by Death about Liesel, a young German girl who is given up for adoption to live with the Hubermann’s shortly before World War II. Liesel discovers the power that words, written or spoken, have to transform people, relationships, and lives. In the novel, Mark Zusak uses the relationship between characters to signify the power of words. Within “The Book Thief” the author suggests that words hold much power and have a major role in crafting the relationships between the characters.

“Flowers for Algernon” is a short story about an adult with a mental disability. In the story we get to see viewpoints through his eyes (first person). The main character (Charlie Gordon) is an adult 37 years of age with blonde hair has a mental disability that holds him back.

It is human nature that as one goes through personal struggles, those around them also begin to be shaped and impacted by these personal changes. In The Book Thief By Markus Zusak, one of the main characters, Max Vandenburg, journeys through the Holocaust war as a Jewish man. He comes in contact with a family of three, Rosa, Hans, and their foster daughter, Liesel. Max seeks refuge in their home and although he is confined to their basement, he is on a personal journey that stretches farther than the Earth. Max Vandenburg begins as a strong man but the trials in his life strengthen him relationally, emotionally, and in his self-confidence.

“No matter how many times she was told she was loved, there was no recognition that the proof was in the abandonment.” (32) The Book Thief by Markus Zusak discusses mainly the power of words, and war in Nazi Germany and how a girl grows up in pain, love, and misery through that period of her life.

A small delicate creature that flutters from flower to flower, dancing in the wind, is nature’s very own ballerina, the butterfly. Their fragile wings represent many things ranging from free spirits to the human soul. In Greek mythology, Psyche, the goddess of the human soul, is compared to such creature, and so portrayed to have butterfly wings or a butterfly itself. However, times change and new heroes emerge, for instance in The Book Thief, by Marcus Zusak, the character Liesel Meminger, a German girl that survives many horrors of World War II, can also be the embodiment of the human soul. Psyche and Liesel, though created centuries apart, they have very similar story’s, characteristics, and souls like butterflies.