Liesel is given a black book from Ilsa Hermann where she will write about everything that happened in her life this far. When she starts writing she learns that words are good and bad for people. She wants to make sure she made it right by writing a story of love and friendship.
Rudy Steiner is Liesel Meminger’s best friend. He has been by Liesel’s side at her best and even at her worst. He was the one that walked home with Liesel after she beat up Ludwig, got a book that was thrown into a river for her, stopped her from chasing Max and wanted a kiss. Rudy always wanted to help Liesel and would do anything to do so. Liesel was not judged by him for the actions she made. Rudy and Liesel had fun together as children. Children in this time period had to grow up very fast because of what was going on. Rudy went with Liesel
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Standing up for what is right is one theme that is shown numerous times as the book progresses. As you are reading the novel, you see several characters stand up for what they think is right. The Hubermann family decides to help a Jewish man hide from the soldiers by letting him live in their basement. If the family were to get caught they would be in major trouble for hiding a Jewish man. Hans Hubermann also gives an old man (that is too weak to walk) a slice of bread while the Jews walk to the concentration camp. Right after Hans gets whipped by a soldier and starts to regret what he has done. Even though he regrets what he has done, he did it because he cared for everyone even if they were Jewish. Children like Rudy Steiner and Liesel Meminger pass slices of bread out to some of the jews walking by. They get caught and chased into the woods by soldiers. When children were living in this time period, they would have to grow up really fast because of what was happening around them. This shows children that they can do things to help people that truly do need
Liesel grew as a person, began to wonder about the world, and realized the power of words. Liesel saw the meaning in the smallest things. In the beginning of the novel, Liesel became attracted to words when she stole her first book, The Grave Digger’s Handbook from her brother’s grave site. Even without having a clue what the words meant, the book became representative of the last time she saw her family and “as for the girl, there was a sudden desire to read it that she didn't even attempt to understand” (Zusak, 66).
“You never know when a moment and a few sincere words can have an impact on a life.” (Ziglar) In The Book Thief, Liesel uses the power of words to positively influence how people feel. This can be seen through Liesel’s interactions with Max throughout the novel. Similarly, the story of “The Word Shaker” shows the powerful influence of words both good and bad. Finally, Liesel’s interactions with Max, provide yet another example of how words can make a positive impact on another person. The positive effect of words can be seen through the actions of Liesel’s character in “The Word Shaker”. However, words can also be used in a negative way in like in“The Word Shaker” when Max is trembling at the words of Mein Kampf and when in “The Word Shaker
During the Holocaust, Hitler was creating his master race of Aryans and anyone who didn’t fit the characteristics of an Aryan was in danger. Correspondingly Rudy’s Favourite athlete was Jesse Owen (black-American) and one day he decided to dress up like Jesse Owens which caused him some trouble. He explained to his dad “’I was being Jesse Owens’... but his father wasn’t very happy and exclaimed,’you shouldn’t want to be like black people or Jewish people or anyone who is not like us’” (58-60). This quote shows that Rudy isn’t racist and is very proud of the fact that his father is. During the Holocaust rationing laws were put in place allowing all families to the same amount of food. Rudy was part of a big family and decided the he needed to provide his own food. Death explains, “Rudy’s [hungry]. The boy was permanently dying for something to eat” (149). Rudy started stealing because it was a way of rebellion towards Hitler. By stealing from farms and the rich Rudy rebelled against his rationing laws and his families’ economic restrictions. As Rudy gets older he releases the sacrifices he had to make because of Hitler. His father being taken away is theft in Rudy’s mind because now Hitler has taken away his right of having a father. Death explains, “Rudy’s anger was growing nicely... there was no complaining that it wasn’t fair” (481). Rudy feel bitter that his father
Together, they watched the humans disappear.” (80.94-96) This quote is the aftermath of the incident from Deaths point of view. This quote proves that Rudy was innocent because he risked his life to save hers. In that time, during the Holocaust you didn’t interfere negatively with anybody in power, because commonly it would end up badly, which was proven when Liesel's father Hans got drafted after sticking up for a Jew. Rudy didn’t understand the possible consequences that could happen from doing such things. This quote also proves that his devotion to Liesel blinds him from understanding what is really going on. Helping him maintain his innocence even longer.
Book Thief Discussions #9 Hans Jr. describes his father as a coward, though Hans Sr. sure isn't one. Opposing Hitler as proven in the book many times, is definitely a dangerous thing. Rosa Hubermann is worrying because she cannot find the Nazi flag that everyone has to put out for Hitler’s birthday, “The Hubermann's couldn’t find their flag. “They’ll come for us ,” Mama warned her husband. They’ll come and take us away.
Together they formed the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. Although many Jews were lost their lives, the amount of Nazis that were killed made a point that Jews are not weak; instead they are just as human as every other person on the planet. The determination of the Jews brings out a theme of resilience in the novel. They are starved, beaten down, and mentally distressed but when they realize what is happening to their friends and family outside of the walls, they realize that they must stand up for their morals. As a group with a purpose, they have the courage and the ability to make a statement that changed the course of history
Over the summer I read The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. The novel contains many memorable quotes, with powerful meanings that can be applied to the reader’s life. The novel is the story of Liesel Meminger’s journey through the eyes of the narrator, Death. Liesel has many hardships in her life, but also a lot of good fortune. The novel shows both Liesel and Death’s reactions to each situation she encounters.
Liesel's story touches on many things like growing up, Nazi Germany, Jews, rebellion, resistance, war, poverty, grief, friendship, family, and books. It’s about survival and death. The way death is so unexpected even when it’s most expected. It’s about love, her love for books and her
Her enthusiastic attitude can only be calmed down by the sound of Papa’s accordion. Nothing can come in between her and her words, not the darkness of the room, and of course not even the Nazi Germans. Furthermore, in the book A Girl Made of Darkness, it is shown that Liesel is intrigued by the smallest thing in life as she questions her parents about her Christmas present (Zusak, 89). Understand her family situation, Liesel is not expecting for any present for Christmas, however her dad has been able to trade cigarettes for some books . To most of us, when we receive presents we will just accept the present, no questions asked. On the contrary,many questions have been proliferating in Liesel’s mind when Papa gives her the gifts. Not to mention another obvious evidence is when Max first arrived at the Hubermann’s house. As can be seen, Zusak has portrayed Liesel as the book thief because her inquisitive characteristic indicate those who questions the Nazi German
Liesel loves to read and it doesn't take her long to withhold her title as Book Thief. She starts with The Grave Digger’s Handbook which is the book she picks up after her brother’s death. Hans teachers her to read and painted her a “chalkboard” in the basement so that she can write down the new words she has learned. There ends up being a town “parade” which is really a book burning event where Hitler and the Nazis are commemorated, during this time Germany was looking towards invading new countries. Liesel is handed a book and pressured to throw it into the fire, to which she eventually does so. However, once the fire has been put out and everyone has gone home, she notices a book that is only slightly charred, not destroyed by the fire and picks it up. A car drives by and a woman, who is Ilsa Herman, the mayor’s wife, sees her take the book, but Liesel hides it under her coat and runs away quickly back home.
This is when she starts sneaking into their house to “borrow” books and read them; also her hate for the Fürher really bubbled here because she couldn’t read books freely. Along with reading came writing, when her family took in a young Jewish man named Max he began to ask Liesel to describe the outside world and what it looked like telling her “if your eyes could speak what would they say”. He also gives her a blank book for her to write in, saying “Words are life Liesel, all those pages are for you to fill”, this is where her love of writing came from. This had a huge impact on Liesel as she used her gift with words to help others and eventually she became a
She reads a book she finds on the floor and has pensive thoughts about the people that died in her life and how she will no longer hope for Max and Alex Steiner because the world does not deserve them and she even thinks that words are no good. She even says, without words, the Führer is nothing. She ends up ripping up the book but immediately writing a letter to apologise to Ilsa. Ilsa, having read the letter sees that Liesel is good at writing so she gives her lined paper. Liesel uses the lined paper and starts to write a book called the book thief. Liesel continues to write the story of her life and finishes it in October.
At the library, she was offered a book by the mayor’s wife multiple times but Liesel declined. After being removed from the job because the mayor couldn’t offered job, Liesel must leave. Though she declined the book many times, she returns to the house to steal food but instead retrieves the book. She steals it for her close friend Rudy. The book itself represents the connection between the two especially Rudy valiantly saves the book after it was almost thrown into a river.
Rudy and Liesel are empty without each other's company, they are like brother and sister, They know everything about each other. They know each other's tough and soft spots. They get into trouble together, but in the end find a way out of it... They met as strangers and appear, so but few knew about the strong, moving, and dynamic relationship of Liesel and Rudy. They fight but in the end they just learn that there are things that they will have to deal with. Rudy and Liesel are like lovers in the sense that they care deeply for one another, and would do anything for one another.
Throughout The Book Thief, Hans Hubermann, constantly shows courage and humanity when putting a Jew's life before his own. Hans, being the kind of man to care for others, regardless of religion, notices his friend’s Jewish shop being terrorized by some Nazis and decides to help him(Zusak 181). Hans Hubermann’s greatest obstacle throughout the book was that he didn’t believe in persecuting people of the Jewish faith, when the greater majority of German people did. He, unlike everyone else, was a rescuer, not a bystander. Instead of watching what was happening to the man, Hans decided to take action and help him. In doing this he has put a target on himself and risked his own life and family just because he didn’t agree with Hitler’s convictions.