Language and Social Behavior
Zoe Collins Ms. Sulzer English 8 14 May 2013 Thesis Statement : Given a book’s ability affect every person differently, the importance storytelling, and the incredible power of written ideas, it’s clear that language’s physical presence is more than metaphoric because it is impossible to separate it from its impact.
A very personal connection is frequently made between humans and written word, and often this connection will significantly affect that person and their beliefs. Though books are just printed words on paper, every book has the potential to notably change, or even save, one’s life. When a jewish man named Max is living in a dark storage room, nearly starving to death, he receives a gift from an unknown man. Max is delivered some food, a key, a map, and most importantly, a book. The book is Mein Kampf, the Fuhrer's novel that guides the beliefs of all Nazis. Max uses this book to convince the world that he isn’t Jewish, and this allows him to survive the train ride to Hans Hubermann’s house on Himmel Street. On the train, Max “read from the copy of Mein Kampf. His savior” (Zusak 157). Max just escaped an almost inevitable death as a starving jew by using the same piece of literature that sculpted the world of hatred around him. Despite this incredible irony, it’s clear how critical written language can be to a human’s life, and how a piece of material as simple as a book, can be a person’s “savior.” Mein Kampf, one small book, has affected so many people, in so many different ways. When reading Mein Kampf, or any book, it’s impossible to separate the the language’s physical presence from it’s impact because of the connection, however significant, one makes with that book. Liesel and Rudy are walking back from school, when she has a breakdown at the side of the road. She is unhappy after a tough day
at school when she failed to recite The Grave Digger's Handbook. Her whole life, Liesel hadn’t been able to find her words, but “the words were on
A very personal connection is frequently made between humans and written word, and often this connection will significantly affect that person and their beliefs. Though books are just printed words on paper, every book has the potential to notably change, or even save, one’s life. When a jewish man named Max is living in a dark storage room, nearly starving to death, he receives a gift from an unknown man. Max is delivered some food, a key, a map, and most importantly, a book. The book is Mein Kampf, the Fuhrer's novel that guides the beliefs of all Nazis. Max uses this book to convince the world that he isn’t Jewish, and this allows him to survive the train ride to Hans Hubermann’s house on Himmel Street. On the train, Max “read from the copy of Mein Kampf. His savior” (Zusak 157). Max just escaped an almost inevitable death as a starving jew by using the same piece of literature that sculpted the world of hatred around him. Despite this incredible irony, it’s clear how critical written language can be to a human’s life, and how a piece of material as simple as a book, can be a person’s “savior.” Mein Kampf, one small book, has affected so many people, in so many different ways. When reading Mein Kampf, or any book, it’s impossible to separate the the language’s physical presence from it’s impact because of the connection, however significant, one makes with that book. Liesel and Rudy are walking back from school, when she has a breakdown at the side of the road. She is unhappy after a tough day
at school when she failed to recite The Grave Digger's Handbook. Her whole life, Liesel hadn’t been able to find her words, but “the words were on