ipl-logo

Power Of Words In Markus Zuzak's The Book Thief

773 Words4 Pages

Just as Jehuda Berg wrote, "Words have energy and power with the ability to help, to heal, to hinder, to hurt, to harm, to humiliate, and to humble.". Markus Zuzak’s The Book Thief, articulates the strength of words shared, narrated through the character of Death. Liesel Meminger has to leave her family for a better life in Germany. She moves to Himmel Street in Molching, Germany with Rosa and Hans Huberman. Throughout the book Liesel learns the invaluable power of words, and the value of a friend all while surviving in the time of Nazi Germany and World War 2. Words have the power to bring people together or tear them apart. Words change lives. The American Air Force bombed Molching, Germany after Nazi Germany declared war in response to the Pearl Harbor attack. “Liesel didn’t dare look up, but she could feel their frightened eyes, hanging on to her as she hauled the words in and breathed them out…kids were soothed by her voice”. Liesel Meminger reads in the air raid shelters while the sirens are going off. Liesel soothes the children and adults, bringing them together and creating a serene moment. The power of the soft words brought distraction …show more content…

There would be no limping prisoner, no need for consolation or worldly tricks to make us feel better” (Zusak 521). The characterization of The Führer was his words and they could lead to much destruction. The Führer’s words led to the genocide of Jewish people. Words have the power to create or destroy. Hitler used words to destroy nations and control German minds. Zusak used characters Eric and Hans to show how words can create descension and even enemies to those that were neighbors and friends. Micheal, Ms. Holtzapfel's son, and Hans Jr both risked their lives and battled for the goals Hitler set. Hitler's Words caused wars. Hitler's goals and views pitted Hans Jr against his father. Hitler's words led to the death of Micheal Holtzapfel. Hitler's words had torn the world

Show More
Related

  • Germany's Economy Dbq

    880 Words  | 4 Pages

    This new low for Germany allowed Hitler to more aggressively push his hateful rhetoric to the people. As seen in doc 3, in which a Jewish worm eats away at “the German economy”, Hitler began pushing hateful propaganda to fuel anger among the German population. Hitler took advantage of Germany’s economic downfall to provoke hatred towards his enemies, specifically jews, through nationalism. He had identified Jews as being the ones who were causing this death of Germany, and thus made it the German people's national duty to defend their nation and crush the Jews. This desire of the German people to save their nation from poverty, and revive it to its once great state, fueled a wave of nationalism to sweep across

    Read More

  • Liesel Meminger Quotes

    1573 Words  | 7 Pages

    During the hardest times, you still have to help others. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak proves just that. Through the toughest times when you are suffering, helping others makes you feel a form of self peace and happiness. Liesel Meminger is the main character in this novel and she is a young German girl living through the Holocaust.

    Read More

  • The Book Thief By Liesel Meminger

    1807 Words  | 8 Pages

    The Word Shaker, the story he writes for Liesel. In it, he suggests that words are the most powerful force there is, indicated by the fact that Hitler uses words and not guns or money or to gain control over

    Read More

  • Examples Of Faith In Night By Elie Wiesel

    690 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hitler “kept his promises’’ to the Jewish prisoners, by feeding them less, making them work to hard, and lethal living conditions. But what some of them didn’t know is that when the Jewish people put their trust in him they couldn’t let God open up His word. Hitler had such a pathetic way on how he became a dictator to the country of Germany. He changed the way Germans thought about God, kinda making himself a form of God in the German's

    Read More

  • Why Is Words So Important In The Book Thief

    1144 Words  | 5 Pages

    It focuses mainly on a young german girl named Liesel Meminger, and those whose lives are intertwined with hers. Liesel’s mother had to leave her. As a result, Liesel had to go to a foster family-- Hans and Rosa Hubermann. Throughout

    Read More

  • Why Should The Book Thief Be Offered For Future Grade 9 Classes

    667 Words  | 3 Pages

    By sharing their perspectives and experiences with each other, Max and Liesel are able to form a powerful bond that transcends their differences. In this way, "The Book Thief" highlights the power of literature to bring people together and develop empathy and understanding. Even between the chaos and destruction of war, small acts of kindness and human connection can still make a profound impact. As Liesel herself says in the novel, "I have hated the words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right. " This sentiment captures the transformative power of words and the hope that they can bring, even in the darkest of

    Read More

  • The Book Thief Research Paper

    711 Words  | 3 Pages

    "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak is a novel set during World War II, which is narrated by Death and centered around a girl named Liesel Meminger. Throughout the novel, Zusak explores various themes, however we will only focus on one, which is the power of words and storytelling. The story takes place in Nazi Germany, where Liesel discovers the power of words as she learns to read and steals books to escape the harsh reality around her. Mark Zusak rather effectively develops the theme of the power of words and storytelling by showcasing their ability to give individuals a sense of freedom in the face of adversity. Zusak depicts the negative nature of words through the Nazi propaganda that is constant in Liesel's world.

    Read More

  • Figurative Language In The Book Thief

    920 Words  | 4 Pages

    Hitler placed the blame onto the Jews, in which people were happy to do. The fear began to turn into hope, a hope that one day, Germany would be great again. Even when Hans had lectured Liesel, he did it with the hope that Liesel would not be punished and taken away. Another example of something which has powerful words is a book. Mein Kampf, a book written by Hitler to convey his thoughts and feelings to the people, did exactly that.

    Read More

  • Book Thief Loss

    703 Words  | 3 Pages

    You truly don’t know what you have until it’s gone. Everyday things are taken for granted. In “The Book Thief” It shows incredible examples of how loss transforms you for the better. “The Book Thief” Written by Markus Zusak is a novel based on Nazi-Germany during post World War 2. It Features the scary truth along with harsh humor, The story is told through the eyes of brave, Jewish girl named Liesel.

    Read More

  • Hope For Humanity In The Book Thief

    1046 Words  | 5 Pages

    Raised in an environment of death, war, and fear, Liesel Meminger and people she is close to are forced to find the strength to hope for a better world for themselves. Narrated by death, the story follows a young girl named Liesel Meminger, living in Germany during World War II. Forced to adapt to her new home; Liesel is exposed to the horrors that come with the war, but also the beauty that comes with it. In The Book Thief by Markus Zusak multiple characters show in their own ways hope for humanity. Liesel Meminger shows hope for humanity through the kindness she shows for others in the book.

    Read More

  • Human Nature Of Evil In Night By Elie Wiesel

    1855 Words  | 8 Pages

    Today, Adolf Hitler is known by many as the epitome of evil, but his followers saw him as equal to God himself. Hitler commandeered control of the suffering nation of Germany and then quietly convinced them that the Jews were to blame for their country’s distress. He spoke so passionately and so eloquently, nearly every German adored him. Even children were taught to pray, “‘Führer, my Führer, by God given to me, Defend and protect me as long as may be. Thou’st Germany rescued from her deepest need; I render thee thanks who dost daily me feed.

    Read More

  • The Book Thief Power Of Words Essay

    483 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Censorship In The Book Thief

    812 Words  | 4 Pages

    Without them, there wouldn’t be any of this. Without words, the Führer was nothing... What good were the words?” Liesel realized how words made Hitler powerful. She hated Hitler and his power.

    Read More

  • The Book Thief Character Analysis Essay

    840 Words  | 4 Pages

    Growing as a Character Every event in our lives happens for a reason, whether it is to learn from our mistakes or to gain experience from them. In Markus Zusak's novel “The Book Thief,” Liesel Meminger uses her experiences with living in the 1940s to learn life lessons and experience first hand the many terrible things Hitler is doing to people around her. She learns how to deal with the many obstacles that are thrown at her. Liesel grows as a character by following her step-father’s footsteps in being a kind and generous person, going through childhood with her best friend Rudy, and being aware of what is going on around her by learning from Max.

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Words In The Book Thief

    978 Words  | 4 Pages

    To Heal and to Hurt: The Importance of Words in The Book Thief by Markus Zusak “Words do two major things. They provide food for the mind and create light for understanding and awareness.” This quote by Jim Rohn highlights the two major things words do, indicating they have a power, an important role in everyday lives. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is an outstanding representation of many topics including the most crucial one, the importance of words. It is the late 1930s to early 1940s in Germany during the World War II, and the main character, Death, cannot help himself but to be intrigued by Liesel Meminger’s story, a girl that lives in Munich, Germany on Himmel Street.

    Read More

More about Power Of Words In Markus Zuzak's The Book Thief

Open Document