Symbolism in The Book Thief
Symbolism in The Book Thief
|Symbol |Text Evidence with Page Numbers |Explanation of Symbolism |
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| |“Some days Papa told her to get back in bed and wait a minute, and he would return with his accordion | |
| |and play for her…No one had ever given her music before” (37). | |
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| |“In the kitchen on those mornings, Papa made the accordion live” (38). | |
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|Accordion |“The sound of the accordion was, in fact, also the announcement of safety. Daylight” (38). | |
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| |“He carried the accordion with him during the entirety of the war” (178). | |
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| |“It was the accordion that most likely spared him from total ostracism” (183). | |
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| | |Giving bread is a symbol for kindness and compassion. Characters give bread as an act of |
| | |selflessness. For example, Max’s friend brings him bread to help him stay alive while he is |
| | |hiding him. IN fact, he apologizes to Max that that is all he has; it seems as if his friend is|
| | |putting Max’s needs above his own. This mentality is repeated later in the novel when Hans |
|Bread | |offers the Jewish prisoner the bread as the Jews are marched through town to Dachau. Hans and |
|(140, 164,250, 394)| |his family also have very little to eat, so giving break is a sacrifice. Even more so, it is a |
| | |sacrifice of safety because Hans knows that he is going to be severely punished for it (he is |
| | |whipped). Later, Liesel and Rudy also give bread to the Jewish prisoners being marched through |
| | |the town. Rudy’s family already doesn’t have enough to eat, so giving away bread is a |
| | |significant sacrifice on his part. The narrator, Death, actually tells the readers that Rudy is|
| | |going to transform into a boy who steals bread to a boy who gives bread—showing his change / |
| | |growth / maturity. |
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|Books / Reading / | | |
|Words | | |
|(88-89 / 90 / | | |
|125-126 / 255 | | |
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|Basement | | |
|(64 / 72 / 223 / | | |
|251 / 254 / | | |
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Themes in The Book Thief
|Theme |Text Evidence with Page Numbers |Explanation of Theme |
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|Abandonment | | |
|(5 (2) / 32 / 37 / 38 / | | |
|159 / 179 / 330) | | |
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| | |As an entire novel, The Book Thief is framed by various other books throughout the story including |
| | |books Liesel stole, Max created, and Liesel wrote. More specifically, Liesel learning to read is |
|Power of Words | |an essential element to the plot. She learns that words hold a remarkable power to compel people |
|(249/ 262 / 319 / 445 / | |to commit acts of cruelty (i.e. Mien Kampf). Eventually, Liesel learning to read brings her closer |
|499/521 / 524 / 228 ) | |to understanding that Hitler’s propaganda is the root of his power and the reason why those that |
| | |she loved are dead. It is important to note the emphasis on the destruction of books—of words—of |
| | |literature—the book burning as well. This highlighrs how powerful words can be and how Hitler did |
| | |not want people reading such tainted “filth.” Words are power. Liesel is also given a blank book |
| | |and encouraged to write; she ends up writing her life story, ending with the line, “I have hated |
| | |the words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right.” This line conveys Liesel’s |
| | |realization of the manipulative power of words and indicates her attempt to master the art of |
| | |writing for compassionate use—to make words “right.” |
Motifs in The Book Thief
Motif: a recurring object, concept, or structure in a work of literature. A motif can be seen as an image, sound, action or other figures that have a symbolic significance and contributes toward the development of theme. Motif and theme are linked in a literary work but there is a difference between them. In a literary piece, a motif is a recurrent image, idea or a symbol that develops or explains a theme while a theme is a central idea or message.
|Motif |Text Evidence with Page #s |Explanation |
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|Death: How does the act of dying (not | | |
|necessarily JUST the narrator, | | |
|“Death,” surround the characters all | | |
|throughout the novel? ( 454 / 490-491 | | |
|/ 503/ 531-532 / 539 ) | | |
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|Colors: Throughout the novel, the | | |
|writer focuses on interweaving color | | |
|into many different scenes, | | |
|repeatedly. Why? What is the purpose | | |
|of this focus? | | |
|(4-5/ 14 / 19/ 45/ 87 / 491) | | |
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