book thief essays

Themes and Analysis

The book thief, by markus zusak.

‘The Book Thief’ is a historical novel based on the events of the Holocaust and Second World War and the suffering and death experienced by people.

About the Book

Article written by Juliet Ugo

Former Lecturer. Author of multiple books. Degree from University Of Nigeria, Nsukka.

When analyzing The Book Thief , there are several themes one needs to look at. The majority are themes of the power of words, kindness, and cruelty of humans, reading and writing, the duality of the Nazi era, mortality, and love.

The Book Thief Themes

The power of words.

In The Book Thief , we see that words and, in extension, stories are among the most powerful ways people connect. So many examples show how the words connect people up throughout the story. Through learning the alphabet and how to use it to make words, Liesel and Hans Hubermann began developing their deep bond. Liesel’s descriptions of the weather to Max later in the novel also help establish a bond between them. 

In the book, the greatest gift Max gives Liesel is words in the form of the ‘The Word Shaker,’ the story he writes for her. In the story he wrote, he suggests that words are the most powerful force there is. He said that Adolf Hitler uses just words and not guns or money or some other instrument to take over the world.

The story shows how Liesel has used words to create a refuge for herself amid Nazism and later uses words to calm her neighbors during the air raids by reading from her book. Again, the power of words is seen in the book she left behind, giving her a connection to Death as we saw at the end of the story.

The Kindness and Cruelty of Humans

We see the various degrees of human cruelty and kindness in the novel, from the slight to the most extreme examples.

One of the small acts of kindness we see in the novel includes hiding and caring for Max by the Hubermanns even at great risk to themselves, Rudy giving the teddy bear to the dying pilot, Ilsa Hermann inviting Liesel into her library. Liesel is specially kind to Max, and the two share a strong bond. Because of the political context of the time, with hatred and violence against Jews being rampant, Max finds Liesel’s kindness to be extraordinary. On the contrary, we also see acts of cruelty, like the treatment of Rudy by Viktor Chemmel and Franz Deutscher. Again, the concentration camps linger unseen in the book’s background as the most extreme example of cruelty.

There was a scene that showed both kindness and cruelty at once. There, Hans Hubermann tries to help a weak Jew suffering hunger and deprivation, being marched through town on the way to Dachau. Hans reaches out to him and gives him a piece of bread, a small act of great kindness. Immediately though, one of the Nazi soldiers mercilessly whips Hans and the Jewish man, a great act of cruelty heightened by the fact that it comes in response to Hans’s kindness.

We can not analyze the themes in The Book Thief without talking of mortality as Death is the book’s narrator. The book shows us that mortality is very present in the lives of each character as Death introduces the book to the reader. All through the novel, the deaths of the main characters reaffirm the presence of mortality. Since The Book Thief story takes place during World War II, Death and genocide are almost omnipresent.

Death is presented in a less distant and threatening manner as he narrates and explains the reasons behind each character’s destruction. Again, Death expatiates how he feels that he must take each character’s life, so there is a sense of care instead of fear. At a point Death states, ‘even Death has a heart.’

Reading and Writing

We see language, writing, and reading presented as symbols of expression and freedom all through the novel. Reading and writing provide identity and personal liberation to those characters who have them and provide a framework for Liesel’s coming of age. At the start of the story, shortly after her brother’s funeral, Liesel finds a book in the snow, but she cannot read. Learning under her foster father Hans, she slowly learns to read and write. By the time the novel comes to an end, her character arc has been shaped by her progress in reading, writing and learning a language. 

Writing and reading skills also serve as social markers since wealthy citizens are literate, owning books and even their libraries. On the other hand, the poor and illiterate do not own books or libraries. Rosa Huberman’s harsh and, at times, scathing remarks towards her family and others are an example of the despairing lives of the poorer classes. In contrast, Liesel’s repeated rescues of books from Nazi bonfires show her reclaiming freedom and also refusal to accept being controlled by the all-pervasive state.

The Dualities of Nazi-era Germany

We notice that the characters often have two sides or faces starting from the time Rudy paints himself black in imitation of Jesse Owens.

Superficially, Rudy looks like an ideal Aryan, such that the Nazis try to recruit him into a special training center. However, deep inside him, he is similar to an African-American, which directly contradicts Nazi ideology. Max also does something similar when he travels from Stuttgart to Molching when he pretends to be a non-Jewish or gentile German, calmly reading MKPF, while on the inside, he is a terrified Jew who finds the book despicable. This clearly shows the theme of duality in the book.

The Hubermanns are part of the theme and started living double lives immediately after they started hiding Max.

To their neighbors and friends, they pretend to be law-abiding citizens to their friends and neighbors; they harbor their dangerous secret inside. Hans teaches Liesel about this double face after he slaps her for saying she hates Hitler in public. He told her that she can hate inside the house but once they are outside, she must behave in a certain way. In fact, duality is a theme of life in general for Liesel and Rudy as they both spend a lot of time engaged in typical teenage activities like playing soccer in the street. However, these moments are broken up with events like the parade of Jews through town or the bombings that threaten and ultimately destroy Himmel Street. 

In spite of the fact that war, Death, and loss caused a lot of damage to Liesel and the others, love is seen as an agent of change and freedom. This is because love is the only way of forming a family where real freedom exists. Liesel got the best of her traumas by learning to love and be loved by her foster family and her friends. At the start of the novel, Liesel is traumatized by the Death of her brother and her separation from her only family and the larger issues of war-torn Germany and the destruction wrought by the Nazi party. 

Liesel’s relationship with her foster father Hans helps create healing and growth reflected in the relational dynamic between the Hubermann family and Max. The Hubermanns’ association with Max defies the Nazi regime in a society governed by policies that presume to judge who is really human. Furthermore, the love that Max and Liesel develop through their friendship creates a strong contrast to the fascist hate in the story’s backdrop.

Analysis of Key Moments in Animal Farm

• When Liesel’s brother died. This event marked the start of the story, which led her to foster parents. It also started Liesel’s stealing of books when she picks up The Grave Digger’s Handbook at the site of her brother’s burial.
• Arrival on Himmel. This event sets the stage for the rest of the book as it marks Liesel coming to live with Hans and Rosa Hubermann after the loss of her family.
• Early school failure. Liesel didn’t succeed in school when she tried earlier and she became determined to learn how to read.
• Book burning day. The event of burning books on Hitler’s birthday helped Hans discover that Liesel is stealing books. 
• Arrival of Max Vandenburg on Himmel Street. This event changes the Hubermann’s lives when Max arrives on their doorstep in 1940. Hiding him put their lives in immense danger.
• Max writing The Standover Man for Liesel. This event helped to bring Max and Liesel together and they not only read words but also share them.
• Giving bread to the Jew. The event of Han giving bread to a weak Jew is significant because it leads to Max’s departure and Hans being sent away to fight in the war.
• Rudy idolizing a black man despite his perfect Aryan features. Rudy used the Jesse Owens event to exemplify the views of the main characters of the book.
• The Nazi recruiting Rudy. The Nazis noticed Rudy’s physical and mental capacities and therefore recruited him to go to school to become the perfect German. His parents refuse, and Alex Steiner is sent to war.
• Bombing of Himmel Story. This is a major event in the book where Liesel’s street is bombed and she lost most of her friends and family.
• Death of Liesel. This marked the final major event in the book when death came to her soul. 

Style, Tone, and Figurative Language

The style and language of The Book Thief is simple because it was primarily meant for young adults. He used a lot of foreshadowing to give the reader a sense of what is coming up in the story.

In the book, the narrator of the story, Death, uses foreshadowing in many different events to keep the reader focused on how the characters meet their ends. In Death’s side notes, foreshadowing is constantly scattered throughout the book in boldface text. A good example is when Death alludes to the death of Rudy, who is Liesel’s best friend. …He didn’t deserve to die the way he did.” 

The tone of The Book Thief is serious most of the time and mocking or hopeful the rest of the times. When you have death talking about humans in the time of war, the tone will be serious and somber. Death spends a lot of time mocking, or making fun of, humans. For instance, when Death talks about humans and destruction in the quote above, he is making fun of how people like to see things get destroyed.

In the book, we see so many figurative languages used in The Book Thief . These are vivid and stimulating word choices that author’s use to add color and meaning to their work. In the book we have many of the likes of simile, metaphor, contrast, hyperbole, personification, etc. Even the narrator, death, is personified. Here are examples of other figurative languages used in the book. 

She would wake up swimming in her bed, screaming, and drowning in the flood of sheets.

This quote from The Book Thief shows metaphor as the figurative language when death was describing the nightmare Liesel was having.

She did have it easy compared to Max Vandenberg. Certainly, her brother practically died in her arms. Her mother abandoned her. But anything was better than being a Jew.

Here, the figurative language is contrast as death is trying to tell the readers that any hardship is better than being a jew.

Within seconds, snow was carved into her skin.

The figurative language used is hyperbole. Sure, snow was all over her body but it was extreme exaggeration to say it carved into her skin.

Analysis of Symbols

The Book Thief uses symbols extensively because it is not just a story about a little girl. It is an important historical novel that delved into the suffering of people who lived in Germany during World War II. The story has a lot of lessons especially in mortality, kindness and love and the symbols embody all these.

Giving bread anywhere is a sign of care and comfort. Once you give bread to somebody, you have shown absolute compassion for that person. You have also comforted the person and probably solved his hunger issues. It is a symbol of empathy in the story and it was clearly demonstrated by Max when he offered bread to the weak Jew as they were marching to the gas chamber.

The accordion in the novel was inherited by Hans Hubermann from Max’s father during World War I and it became part of Han’s identity. He played regularly to those around him to give them comfort. He plays it during trying times to give comfort and care to those who hear it. Example is when Liesel realises that her mother is not coming back again and when she first came to their house.

Books were a source of comfort to Liesel and later Max. It is another major symbol in The Book Thief and it was the source of Liesel’s transformation from a weak girl to an empowered young woman. She developed a great relationship over books when she learned how to read and write and thus got the power she needed from the books. This power helped her to develop a strong character, mature emotionally and became kinder and more understanding to those around her.

What is the main theme of The Book Thief ?

The Book Thief has many themes and they include love and kindness as expressed by Liesel and her foster family; literacy and power, as seen when Liesel learns to read and explore the world of words, cruelty and suffering as experienced by the Jews in the hands of the Nazis.

What is an example of a theme?

In most literature work, we have themes that the author uses to pass his message across. Some of the common themes that run through them are love, mortality, war, peace, revenge, grace, betrayal, fatherhood, patriotism, life, isolation, cruelty, motherhood, forgiveness, treachery, wartime loss, rich versus poor, and appearance versus reality.

Is survival a theme in The Book Thief ?

There are many themes in The Book Thief like love, mortality, kindness, etc. One of the themes you will find in the book is the theme of survival. Most of the major characters in the book namely Liesel, Max, Rudy, the Hubermanns, passed through many awful ordeals but they still survived. 

How do you identify a theme?

A theme is the idea the writer wishes to convey about an event, subject, or person. It is from the theme that you learn about the author’s view of the world. To identify the theme, you have to be sure that you have first identified the plot of the story, the way the story characterization, and the primary conflict in the story.

What are the steps in analyzing a theme?

Generally, here are the ways in which you can begin to analyze the theme of any literature you read. First, you look for recurring images in the story or poem, then ask questions about the author’s message. Through your answers, you’ll be able to identify the different tools the author uses to express the theme

About Juliet Ugo

Juliet Ugo is an experienced content writer and a literature expert with a passion for the written word with over a decade of experience. She is particularly interested in analyzing books, and her insightful interpretations of various genres have made her a well-known authority in the field.

Join Our Free Community

Engage in Literary Forums

Create and Join Groups

Create your own profile

See fewer ads

Save and bookmark articles

Discover literature and connect with others just like yourself!

Start the Conversation. Join the Chat.

There was a problem reporting this post.

Block Member?

Please confirm you want to block this member.

You will no longer be able to:

• See blocked member's posts
• Mention this member in posts
• Invite this member to groups

Please allow a few minutes for this process to complete.

The Book Thief

80 pages • 2 hours read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Prologue-Chapter 8

Chapters 9-24

Chapters 25-32

Chapters 33-40

Chapters 41-48

Chapters 49-56

Chapters 57-64

Chapter 65-Epilogue

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Books come in all shapes and sizes in the novel. Pick two. Describe their physical characteristics and their meaning to the characters. 

Describe Death’s personality as it can be inferred from his narration. 

What is the significance of Hans’s accordion? How does it connect various characters in the story? 

Don't Miss Out!

Access Study Guide Now

Related Titles

By Markus Zusak

Bridge of Clay

Markus Zusak

Fighting Ruben Wolfe

I Am The Messenger

Featured Collections

9th-12th Grade Historical Fiction

View Collection

Books & Literature

BookTok Books

Children's & Teen Books Made into Movies

Coping with Death

Experience the Joy of Learning

• Just Great DataBase
• Study Guides
• The Book Thief

The Book Thief Essays

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...

1 391 words

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...

1 113 words

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...

2 145 words

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...

1 017 words

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...

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...

1 724 words

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...

1 183 words

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...

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...

1 383 words

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

“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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

1 034 words

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...

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...

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...

“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...

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...

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...

1 173 words

The Book Thief

By markus zusak, the book thief essay questions.

Consider Zusak's use of foreshadowing. By revealing how characters die early on, or the outcomes to certain events, does Zusak make the novel less suspenseful or more?

A proper response should cite specific examples of foreshadowing and make some explanation of why the technique is used. This could be Death's rationale: "It's the machinations that wheel us there that aggravate, perplex, interest, and astound me" (243). An essay arguing that the novel is more suspenseful because of foreshadowing should involve Death's selective and incomplete revelation of facts and should compare instances of foreshadowing with the actual descriptions of the events being foreshadowed.

Why do Max and Liesel become friends? What do they have in common?

Initially Max and Liesel are apprehensive around each other, but they discover that they have something important in common: both have recurring nightmares involving the last time they saw their families alive. Both are political refugees evading Nazi persecution: Max is a Jew, Liesel's parents were Communists. Their similar backgrounds make Max's initial gift of The Standover Man important, as Max ultimately helps Liesel realize the power of words to delight and to harm others.

Hans manages to survive two World Wars, seemingly by luck. Is Hans merely a fortunate man, or does he have other qualities that help him survive?

The argument that Hans is indeed lucky should be bolstered by references to other instances of luck or fate saving characters' lives: that the Nazis fail to find Max when inspecting the Hubermanns' basement, that Hans does not formally withdraw his application to join the Nazi Party and is thus spared from being sent to a concentration camp. One quality that helps Hans is his amiability. His friend Erik Vandenberg saves him in World War I, while his willingness to give up his seat to an antagonistic young soldier saves him again in World War II.

Evaluate the pros and cons of Hans giving bread to an elderly Jew condemned to a concentration camp. Were the consequences worth the benefits?

Hans' action results in him and the frail, moribund Jew being whipped. Max is forced to leave because Hans' basement is no longer safe for him, and Hans is ultimately conscripted into a physically dangerous position in the military. Yet Hans' public compassion towards the Jew gives the man the feeling of humanity in a nation that has dehumanized him. Hans also sets an example for other German citizens in the crowd, some of whom help him after he is attacked.

Why does Rudy seem to love Liesel immediately after they meet, and why does Liesel not recognize that she loves him until years after?

Rudy is introduced as "one of those audacious little bastards who actually fancied himself with the ladies," and he is an impetuous character. He has a strong sense of justice and compassion, and early on he decides to take care of Liesel, an anxious new girl. Liesel is initially annoyed by Rudy's requests for a kiss, but her feelings towards him begin to change after Rudy gallantly retrieves Liesel's book from the icy cold river. Liesel's fixation on Rudy's physical exam is a rare moment of eroticization in the novel, one which might coincide with Liesel reaching puberty. Two important scenes where Liesel becomes nervous and desirous of Rudy: when Liesel gives Rudy a navy blue suit from his father's store, and when Liesel tells Rudy about Max.

When Liesel reads aloud to the others in the bomb shelter for the first time, a voice inside her says, "This is your accordion." What does that mean?

Hans' puts his soul into his accordion playing, and the music he produces is joyful. Through reading, Liesel is also able to bring comfort to others. More importantly, Liesel learns towards the end of the novel the capacity for words to cause both pain and happiness. This scene is part of Liesel's realization that she, like Max, can soothe others through words of friendship.

The mayor's wife Ilsa Hermann strives to help and encourage Liesel throughout the novel, even after Liesel verbally abuses her. Why does Ilsa seem to take such a liking to Liesel?

Although Ilsa may not actually realize it at first, both she and Liesel have experienced great losses in their lives: i.e., Ilsa's son, and Liesel's brother. Ilsa is an educated woman with her own library, and she might see a part of herself in Liesel's precocity and love of reading. Ilsa has been tormented by her son's death for over two decades, and she urges Liesel at the end of the novel not to let sorrow consume her life.

Compare and contrast the two stories Max writes for Liesel, "The Standover Man" and "The Word Shaker." Why does Max only want Liesel to have the latter "when she's ready?"

Both stories reference Max's persecution and his friendship with Liesel. "The Standover Man" is a more heavily illustrated story that Max gives to Liesel as Liesel is still just starting to read. The story is an early affirmation of their friendship. By contrast, "The Word Shaker" contains more text, and the political message is more serious and explicit. Max thinks Liesel might be too old for the allegory, but nevertheless does not want to frighten her with his caustic depiction of Hitler hypnotizing her entire country.

What is the significance of Hitler's book Mein Kampf within the novel? How do different characters use it?

Liesel realizes that Mein Kampf and Hitler's propaganda are the source of her misery: the reason for her parents' deaths, the reason for the war, and the reason Max is sent to a concentration camp. Max has a more ironic view, dryly telling Liesel that it "saved his life," as Hans used the book to help Max reach Molching. Max later whitewashes the pages of the book and uses them to write stories for Liesel.

Why does Death tell Liesel that it is "haunted" by humans?

Death has witnessed humans commit both acts of great cruelty and acts of great compassion. Death is unable to judge humanity because it cannot understand how humans are capable of both. Death considers the fate of survivors to be more tragic than the fate of the dead, perhaps because of Death's obvious familiarity with dying and blase attitude towards it. It can be argued that Death itself represents just one extreme between life and death, and is thus unable to comprehend the human condition of the living.

The Book Thief Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Book Thief is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

What Death mean when he says “one wild card was yet to be played.” And what is the wild card???

Death means that If anyone finds out a Jew is at Liesel's house, her parents could get taken away.Wild Card in this context means: a person or thing whose influence is unpredictable or whose qualities are uncertain.

What idea does Hans have after he discovers Liesel’a new book? Why do you think he does this?

When Hans discovers that Liesel doesn't know how to read, he begins teaching her the alphabet, and together they make their way through the book Liesel stole from the gravedigger.

What is Leisel's age?

In the beginning of the story Liesel is nine-year-old. By the time the story concludes, she is an old woman.

Study Guide for The Book Thief

The Book Thief study guide contains a biography of Markus Zusak, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About The Book Thief
• The Book Thief Summary
• Character List

Essays for The Book Thief

The Book Thief essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

• Liesel's Emotional Journey Through the Book Thief
• Zusak's Death Breaks the Mould
• Guilt in The Book Thief
• The Toil of Good and Evil: Multi-Faceted Kindness in The Book Thief
• Stealing the Narrative: The Irony of Reading in The Book Thief

Lesson Plan for The Book Thief

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to The Book Thief
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• The Book Thief Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for The Book Thief

• Introduction
• Recognition

The Book Thief - Essay Examples And Topic Ideas For Free

The Book Thief is a novel by Markus Zusak that explores themes of death, the human capacity for good and evil, and the power of words and stories in Nazi Germany. Essays could analyze the novel’s symbolism, character development, historical context, or its exploration of moral and ethical dilemmas. A substantial compilation of free essay instances related to The Book Thief you can find in Papersowl database. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

The Book Thief: Liesel Meminger

In Markus Zusak's, The Book Thief, Liesel Meminger is a victim of tragedy and hardship of her loved ones. Raised in an environment of war, hatred, and death during World War II, Liesel is forced to find the courage to hope for a better world. Liesel finds this hope in the books that she reads and steals in her own acts of defiance against Hitler and the Nazis. Markus Zusak uses imagery, symbolism and foreshadowing in ""Book of Fire,"" to […]

The Book Thief: Even Death has a Heart

Even death has a heart", this quote was taken from a book called "The book thief" by Markus Zusak. The meaning of the quote is that death is not as we all imagine, evil, malicious, violent and dreadful, but actually death is only just a result and a consequence . Death is what's going to happen to all of us, after all the bad stuffs and events that has already happened in our lives, it is when our soul is […]

The Nature of Crime during World War II

What if crime during wartime is viewed the same as crime in normal times? In Nazi Germany, crime during wartime is seen through a different lens in comparison to crime not during wartime. In The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, Hitler is ruling the Germans with propaganda during World War II, around 1939-1945. During wartime, the nature of crime is atypical because of the circumstantial times that are brought upon them. Liesel and Rudy are only stealing when it is […]

We will write an essay sample crafted to your needs.

Guilt in the Book Thief

Guilt is something that everyone has felt before. It can make them feel unworthy ashamed, or embarrassed. It causes people to act differently towards others, in a positive or negative way. Max Vadenburg, Liesel Meminger, and Hans Hubermann are just some of the characters who experience guilt in The Book Thief. Some reasons for their guilt were caused by thievery, lying, and loss. Max Vandenburg is the ""Jewish fist fighter"" that ends up living in the Hubermanns basement. Max feels […]

The Book Thief Themes and Sacrifice

Gandhi once said, "A man who was completely innocent, offered himself as a sacrifice for the good of others, including his enemies, and became the ransom of the world. It was a perfect act." This quote explains how sacrificing yourself for the good of others and showing kindness towards your enemy is an incredible act of good, because people are bringing hope to the world in a time of crisis. In the novel The Book Thief, a young foster girl […]

The Book Thief: the Story of Liesel

The Book Thief, is the story of Liesel, a young girl from Germany, who (along with her brother) is given up to live with Hans and Rosa Hubermann in the tiny, rural town of Molching. On their journey to dwell with the Hubermanns, Liesel's brother, Werner, dies. After this tragic event she is mortified, and experiences consistent nightmares. However, Hans Hubermann alleviates some of her discomfort by teaching her how to read. Hans begins teaching her to ready by using […]

The Book Thief: Hans and Rosa Hubermann

Liesel's mom is taking Liesel and her younger sibling Werner via prepare to live with non-permanent parents, Hans and Rosa Hubermann. The Hubermanns live on Himmel Street in the town of Molching, Germany. Tragically, Werner bites the dust on the train.Before Liesel touches base in Molching, she goes to her sibling's internment in a blanketed burial ground. She takes The Grave Digger's Handbook from the graveyard after it tumbles from a youthful undertaker's jacket. Be that as it may, Liesel […]

The Metamorphic Influence of Language in ‘The Book Thief’

In the novel the book thief the author wants to create an image in your mind about what is happening in the book. He gives a great deal of detail. Throughout the book the author wants the reader to see that words are not just an idea or story, but a power to control a person's mind or action. Liesel Meminger, shows that literature can mean much more than a bunch of words on paper, but the power to help […]

The Narrative Genius of “The Book Thief”

Within the domain of modern literature, Markus Zusak's "The Book Thief" distinguishes itself for its inventive narrative style and composition. Narrated by Death, this tome transcends conventional storytelling boundaries, proffering a distinctive outlook on the human condition amidst the backdrop of World War II. Through the utilization of interludes, illustrations, and excerpts from books ensconced within the narrative, Zusak weaves a tale that is both eerie and profound, significantly augmenting the novel's themes and ambiance. The selection of Death as […]

“The Book Thief”: a Tale of Words and Survival

Markus Zusak's literary work, "The Book Thief," delves profoundly into the depths of Nazi Germany, portrayed through the innocent eyes of Liesel Meminger, a young protagonist. This unique narrative, curiously articulated by Death, offers a distinctive vantage point on the spectrum of human behavior, oscillating between compassion and cruelty amidst the dire circumstances of war. The purpose of this discourse is to encapsulate the essence and pivotal themes of the novel while contemplating its profound resonance among its readership. Liesel's […]

Featured Categories

Additional example essays.

• The Theme of The American Dream in The Great Gatsby
• Representing of Imperialism in Heart of Darkness
• Who is the Worst Character in The Great Gatsby
• How are Women Portrayed in The Great Gatsby
• Books vs. Movies: Comparing and Contrasting "Lord of the Flies"
• The Catcher in the Rye Monologue
• Comparison Of Introverts VS Extroverts
• The Cask of Amontillado Literary Analysis
• Colonism in Things Fall Apart
• The short story "The Cask of Amontillado"
• Beowulf and Grendel Comparison
• The Extraordinary Science of Addictive Junk Food

1. Tell Us Your Requirements

2. Pick your perfect writer

3. Get Your Paper and Pay

Hi! I'm Amy, your personal assistant!

Don't know where to start? Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert.

short deadlines

100% Plagiarism-Free

Certified writers

• Share full article

Advertisement

The Morning

Donald trump on trial.

Highlights from the first big day of the former president’s New York criminal case.

By David Leonhardt and Ian Prasad Philbrick

A criminal trial is often a contest between competing stories. In the trial of Donald Trump that’s just begun, prosecutors used their opening statement yesterday to tell a story about a man they say lied — and broke the law — to get elected president.

The prosecutors said that Trump had paid $130,000 in hush money to a woman with whom he had an extramarital affair and that he had then filed false business records to pretend that the money was instead for legal fees. His actions were part of a pattern in which he repeatedly lied to shape his image, the prosecutors said, and it worked: He narrowly won the 2016 election.

The story that Trump’s lawyers offered in their own opening statements had two main features. First, they urged the jurors not to trust the witnesses who will testify against Trump, including Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer, who previously pleaded guilty to making false statements. Second, Trump’s lawyers argued that his attempts to affect the election were ordinary politics.

“There’s nothing wrong with trying to influence an election,” Todd Blanche, one of Trump’s lawyers, said in his opening statement. “It’s called democracy.”

(Related: Our colleagues Jonah Bromwich and Ben Protess explain the trial’s opposing visions of Trump .)

Beyond the courtroom

The immediate audience for these dueling arguments is the jury of 12 New Yorkers who will decide the verdict. But there is also a larger audience that will judge the case, of course: American voters.

Trump’s lawyers hope to persuade both the 12 jurors and this year’s voters that his behavior amounted to normal campaign tactics. The prosecutors, overseen by Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, want to portray Trump as a man who lied and cheated in ways that had little precedent.

“The case is not — the core of it’s not — money for sex,” Bragg said recently. “We would say it’s about conspiring to corrupt a presidential election and then lying in New York business records to cover it up.”

A guilty verdict would not prevent Trump from serving as president again. Nothing in the Constitution bars people from office because of a conviction. But if Bragg’s team can persuade jurors of the argument, it may have a big impact on the 2024 campaign.

In recent polls, a meaningful share of Trump’s current supporters say they would be less likely to vote for him if he were convicted of a crime. And because of how slowly the other three criminal cases against Trump are moving, this case may be the only one to complete a trial before the November election.

In the rest of today’s newsletter, we’ll give you the highlights from yesterday’s opening arguments and testimony and preview today’s proceedings.

Trial highlights

David Pecker, the former publisher of The National Enquirer, was the trial’s first witness . Pecker used the tabloid to suppress damaging rumors about Trump, and prosecutors say that Pecker helped negotiate the hush-money payment at the center of this case. He’s expected to continue testifying today.

Trump made no outbursts inside the courtroom but shook his head when prosecutors said things he disagreed with. He also appeared to briefly fall asleep, as he did during jury selection last week.

Trump’s relationship with Stormy Daniels, a former porn star, is crucial to the trial. Trump’s lawyer said yesterday that the two never had sex; Daniels may be called to testify.

Trump may testify, though a ruling yesterday made it less likely: The judge said prosecutors could ask him about other cases he had lost, including a recent defamation case from the writer E. Jean Carroll , who has accused him of rape.

The judge, Juan Merchan, will hold a hearing this morning on Trump’s gag order, which bars him from criticizing witnesses, jurors and others. Prosecutors have asked the judge to fine Trump for violating it .

The court will publish transcripts of each day’s proceedings. You can find them here .

On “The Daily Show,” Jon Stewart critiqued the news media’s coverage of the trial.

To understand more about the case, we recommend reading this Times Magazine profile of Bragg, Trump’s nemesis who was once a standout student and rumpled dresser.

THE LATEST NEWS

Campus protests.

Universities are struggling to contain pro-Palestinian demonstrations; protesters are building encampments, and Harvard closed its yard to the public. See images from campuses .

The police arrested protesting students at N.Y.U. and Yale for violating university warnings and rules. Protesters have demanded Yale divest from weapons manufacturers involved with Israel.

Columbia held remote classes , days after officers arrested more than 100 pro-Palestinian student demonstrators and some Jewish students raised safety concerns.

In a statement on Passover, President Biden denounced “harassment and calls for violence against Jews.” An aide said he was referring to Columbia .

At encampments, some Jewish protesters prepared Seder dinners .

Israel-Hamas War

Six months into the war, Israel has weakened Hamas but failed to achieve its primary goals : freeing hostages and destroying the organization.

“Another milestone showing how we aren’t whole”: With more than 130 hostages remaining in Gaza, many Israelis marked Passover — but did not celebrate .

People in Gaza struggle to find enough food to eat each day. Read the stories of two families trying to keep their children alive.

More International News

Ukraine’s military has used Silicon Valley military technologies in its war against Russia. The results have been mixed .

The British Parliament passed a contentious law that allows the government to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda .

Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister, called Muslims “infiltrators” who would take the nation’s wealth if his opponents were elected.

Two earthquakes shook Taiwan less than a month after the island’s strongest temblor in decades.

The world’s military spending last year reached $2.4 trillion, a 35-year high . The United States spent more than one-third of the total.

On Earth Day, Biden announced grants for solar power and opened applications for the American Climate Corps .

The prime minister of Papua New Guinea criticized Biden for suggesting that cannibals on the island had eaten Biden’s uncle , whose military plane crashed off the coast during World War II.

Supreme Court

The Supreme Court seems likely to uphold local ordinances that let an Oregon city ban homeless people from sleeping or camping in public spaces.

Separately, the justices agreed to hear a case challenging the Biden administration’s regulation of “ghost guns,” homemade firearms assembled from kits.

Artificial Intelligence

A Californian start-up devised a way to use A.I. to create gene editors . The advance could help researchers combat diseases.

A.I.-generated child sexual abuse material could overwhelm the authorities , a Stanford report cautioned.

Other Big Stories

Baton Rouge’s police chief hoped police overhauls would help reduce gun violence. Measuring the success is complicated .

Credit bureaus like Experian and TransUnion want “buy now, pay later” loans to appear on consumers’ credit reports .

Karen, a 5-year-old ostrich known for her playful antics, died at a Kansas zoo after she swallowed a staff member’s keys.

An octopus took my camera, and the images changed the way I see the world , Craig Foster writes.

The Manhattan criminal case against Trump is a legal embarrassment and a historic mistake , Jed Handelsman Shugerman argues.

The Supreme Court should rule quickly on Trump’s immunity claim, Liz Cheney writes.

Tesla’s struggles under Elon Musk are a new version of an old story: Pioneers often fail as managers , Peter Coy writes.

Here is a column by Jamelle Bouie on Republicans and small businesses.

MORNING READS

Local cooking: Buon Ricordo plates helped make regional Italian food popular in restaurants. Now they’re collectors’ items.

Feelings: Researchers are trying to get inside the minds of animals .

Prescriptions: Are you taking multiple medications? You might need to scale back .

Much ado about nothing? Every year, millions visit a house known as Shakespeare’s Birthplace. The problem is, no one actually knows where he was born .

Lives Lived: Lori and George Schappell were conjoined twins fused at their foreheads. Despite their incredible physical closeness, they managed to lead separate lives — and they said they had neither wanted to be surgically separated nor wished to have been born separately. They died at 62 .

Open conversations: On WFAN radio, the sports broadcaster Craig Carton invites former gambling addicts like himself to tell their stories .

N.B.A.: The New York Knicks took a 2-0 lead over the Philadelphia 76ers after a six-point turnaround with just seconds left.

Denver Nuggets: The defending champions pushed their series lead to 2-0 over the Los Angeles Lakers thanks to Jamal Murray’s buzzer beater .

ARTS AND IDEAS

A year and half after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Britain has begun to memorialize her with statues. While past works depicted monarchs like Queen Victoria as imposing and stern, many of Queen Elizabeth’s statues will show her as approachable. A sculpture in the town of Oakham depicts her with three corgis at her feet. Real-life corgis came out for a look .

More on culture

After the release of “The Tortured Poets Department,” Taylor Swift-mania has given way to another feeling: Taylor Swift fatigue .

The creative team behind the 1999 horror movie “The Blair Witch Project” called for more retroactive compensation and to be consulted on a coming reboot.

“Grenfell” at St. Ann’s Warehouse in New York City is a “tense and enthralling” play about a fire in London that killed 72 people.

A humble jacket has become a status symbol. Read why is everyone wearing a chore coat .

THE MORNING RECOMMENDS …

Roast this classic roasted chicken Provençal .

Play a video game about African myths.

Check whether you’re eligible for a tax refund .

Clean your microwave .

Shave with an electric razor .

Here is today’s Spelling Bee . Yesterday’s pangrams were corking, crooking and rocking .

And here are today’s Mini Crossword , Wordle , Sudoku , Connections and Strands .

Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. — David and Ian

Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox . Reach our team at [email protected] .

David Leonhardt runs The Morning , The Times’s flagship daily newsletter. Since joining The Times in 1999, he has been an economics columnist, opinion columnist, head of the Washington bureau and founding editor of the Upshot section, among other roles. More about David Leonhardt

Ian Prasad Philbrick is a writer for The Morning newsletter. More about Ian Prasad Philbrick

Home — Essay Samples — Literature — The Book Thief — The Book Thief: a Literary Analysis of Death

The Book Thief: a Literary Analysis of Death

• Categories: The Book Thief

About this sample

Words: 619 |

Published: Mar 20, 2024

Words: 619 | Page: 1 | 4 min read

Table of contents

Death as the narrator, death and the power of storytelling.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Dr. Karlyna PhD

Verified writer

• Expert in: Literature

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

5 pages / 2231 words

4.5 pages / 1980 words

3.5 pages / 1676 words

2 pages / 887 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on The Book Thief

Markus Zusak's novel, The Book Thief, is a powerful and poignant story that captures the struggles of a young girl growing up in Nazi Germany. From the very first page, readers are drawn into the world of Liesel Meminger, a girl [...]

Markus Zusak's novel The Book Thief is a powerful and captivating story set in Nazi Germany, following the life of a young girl named Liesel Meminger. One of the most striking aspects of the novel is the vivid and evocative [...]

The Book Thief is a powerful and touching story set in Nazi Germany. The novel follows the life of Liesel Meminger, a young girl who finds solace in books during a time of great turmoil. Throughout the novel, Liesel's best [...]

In Markus Zusak's novel The Book Thief, the author uses various literary techniques to create a thought-provoking and emotionally impactful story. The novel is set in Nazi Germany, and it follows the life of a young girl named [...]

The dominating theme of Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief is an ironic one. Here is a novel where a main character is nothing less than the symbol of mortality itself, Death, yet the story continually celebrates the life spirit [...]

The Book Thief, written by Markus Zusak, is a captivating and powerful novel set during World War II. The story is narrated by Death, who tells the tale of a young girl named Liesel Meminger. The novel explores themes of love, [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free