The Book Theif - Power of words
The Book Thief Essay
Question: Analyse how symbolism was used to reinforce an idea in a written text.
A symbol is an object that represents, stands for, or suggests an idea, belief, action or material identity. Symbols take the form of words, sounds, gestures or visual images and are used to convey ideas and beliefs. In The Book Thief by Markus Zusak he has used powerful symbolism to show how words and literature are used to symbolise destruction, and that they can be as powerful as a weapon. This is a very important and prominent idea that Zusak conveys to the readers because it is a universal occurrence, particularly during World War Two and Hitlers rise to power through his convincing use of words. Zusak has used the innocence of the protagonist, nine year old Liesel Miemenger to show how she is discovering the destruction words can cause; to destroy cultures, people and whole societies.
Words can be used to symbolise destruction of a culture which is exhibited at the book burning. In The Book Thief, Hitler and the Nazi’s goal is to eradicate Jews and if they destroy their culture they can erase Jews. For the Nazi’s, all Jewish books, stories and poems represent the Jews themselves and by burning the books it symbolises the destruction of the Jewish culture. Zusak has intentionally used descriptive and forceful language, as well as short simple sentences to convey this idea to the reader, “The orange flames waved at the crowd as paper and print dissolved inside them. Burning words were torn from their sentences.” Zusak has used an extended metaphor in this quote: the flames of the book burning represent Hitler and the Nazi party while the paper and print being engulfed by the flame is the the Jews and their culture. Once the burning has ended Liesel walks past the ashes, noticing that three books have survived the burning, and she quickly sneaks one under her jacket, “When the heap was reduced near the bottom a small section of living material escaped
Question: Analyse how symbolism was used to reinforce an idea in a written text.
A symbol is an object that represents, stands for, or suggests an idea, belief, action or material identity. Symbols take the form of words, sounds, gestures or visual images and are used to convey ideas and beliefs. In The Book Thief by Markus Zusak he has used powerful symbolism to show how words and literature are used to symbolise destruction, and that they can be as powerful as a weapon. This is a very important and prominent idea that Zusak conveys to the readers because it is a universal occurrence, particularly during World War Two and Hitlers rise to power through his convincing use of words. Zusak has used the innocence of the protagonist, nine year old Liesel Miemenger to show how she is discovering the destruction words can cause; to destroy cultures, people and whole societies.
Words can be used to symbolise destruction of a culture which is exhibited at the book burning. In The Book Thief, Hitler and the Nazi’s goal is to eradicate Jews and if they destroy their culture they can erase Jews. For the Nazi’s, all Jewish books, stories and poems represent the Jews themselves and by burning the books it symbolises the destruction of the Jewish culture. Zusak has intentionally used descriptive and forceful language, as well as short simple sentences to convey this idea to the reader, “The orange flames waved at the crowd as paper and print dissolved inside them. Burning words were torn from their sentences.” Zusak has used an extended metaphor in this quote: the flames of the book burning represent Hitler and the Nazi party while the paper and print being engulfed by the flame is the the Jews and their culture. Once the burning has ended Liesel walks past the ashes, noticing that three books have survived the burning, and she quickly sneaks one under her jacket, “When the heap was reduced near the bottom a small section of living material escaped