Similes In The Book Thief

Stand Up 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.

Through his similes, Zusak exemplifies the tendency of humans to stand up for what they believe in. Amazing and thrilling describes the exact opposite of life in Munich, Germany. The streets consisted of slumped over people trying to get past the struggles of war, and hundreds of Jewish people making their way to the atrocious concentration camp, Dachau. Hans empathathetic nature and his bravery was emphasized when he, “presented a piece of bread” to a Jewish man walking past (Zusak 394). The compassion shown creates a sense of being, “like magic” although it was considered insane during World War II in Nazi Germany (394). This “small, futile miracle” occurred because Hans fearlessly chose to not be a bystander (394). He showed through this feat