Observation: Book Cover

Why is it dominoes? It is dominoes because like the dominoes on the cover lives are constantly affecting one another "dominoe Effect". Each choice affects some witch leads to someone doing another thing and so on. Another thing could be that it represents death once the dominoes start they knock each other down like in that time people (death) were constantly killed .

Observations: Rudy's Innocense

What i noticed is that Rudy is meant to be innocent so the author set a storry of his past to make him seem good. That story was The Jessie Owen's Incident it showed that unlike other Germans Rudy wasnt againts another race because he dressed himself Black and looked up to Owens, another thing would be his constant caring of Liesel.

Observation: Modernism

Being based during the era of the World War, modernism is very present for instance one characteristic of modernism is Alienation and in the Novel Liesel is subjected to Alienation Ex: (The Heavyweight Champion of the School-Yard) pg. 78 "Clouds were filling in now, big and clumsy, and more kids were calling out to her, watching her seethe." She was alienated for her lack of reading t hus presenting modernism.

Observations: God

What I observed in the Novel was the absence of God. I saw this as weird because people usually get more attached/closer to God due to terrible event or catastrophes in ones life, just like on the book thief. Could this be for for reason? One reason could be that there is a bigger arguement in the scheme of things. Could Zusak be trying to say that in those times things were so bad people had little faith in God? This would explain his absence.

Novel Synthesis: Narrator Connection

It is quite common for Zusak’s novels to consist of a narrator that conversates with the readers by addressing them with you. In the short excerpt of I Am Messenger, the reader is not acquainted with the narrator yet. The narrator is anonymous. However, in the 48th paragraph, the narrator introduces himself and talks to the reader. “My full name’s Ed Kennedy. I’m nineteen. I’m an underage cabdriver…nice to meet you.” The narrator, now known as Ed, talks to the reader and says, “Nice to meet you.” It is as if he is actually conversating with the reader, face to face. Zusak also uses this strategy in his other novel, The Book Thief on page 15. “If you feel like it, come with me. I will tell you a story. I’ll show you something.” The narrator in this novel being death speaks to his readers, his listeners. He addresses them as if he were talking with them face to face. Just like in I Am Messenger. The Narrator, in both of the pieces, describes the surrounding and what is going on quite vividly. They give clear snapshots of what is around and what is liable to happen. The narrators use “you” to make the reader realize that they are talking directly to them. Using such a simple word, “you” can catch the reader’s attention and make the reader want to read more.

Novel Synthesis: Humor as Post-Modern Characteristic

The Book Thief being a postmodernism novel is bursting with numerous amount of dark humor—a post modern characteristic. The excerpt of I Am Messenger is also packed with a number of humorous statements. Therefore, it can be concluded that considering the two novels Zusak has written, he is a post modern author. In the excerpt of I Am Messenger, Marv and Ed are at a bank, while it is being robbed. In the process, the narrator, Ed, mentions, “He’s most likely robbing the bank as a payback on the world for winning the ugliness prize at his local fete three years running.” Though quite harsh, this statement consists of humor and is quite playful. “It’s like being in school again and your sadistic math teacher’s barking orders at you from the front of the room, even though he couldn’t care less and he’s waiting for the bell so he can go home and drink beer and get fat in front of the telly.” This quote from the 50th paragraph in the short excerpt is quite humorous and also introduces slang and technology-a postmodern characteristic. Humor, though more of a dark humor, is used throughout The Book Thief as well. On page 280, showing the picture of the mound of dead bodies with a boy and girl standing on stop stating, “Isn’t this a lovely day”. This black humor is used is the more risqué of ways. A mound of dead bodies and someone having a good day, it can’t be. However, during WWII in Nazi Germany, innocent individuals died everyday and were piled upon one another while Hitler had a great day. Humor usually brings to the reader some sort of laughter and joking; however in this case, it brings upon emotions of the reader to think that someone could actually be having a good day when they are standing on top of a mound of individuals.

Novel Synthesis: Snapshots

Snapshots are also used often in Markus Zusak’s novels. From the first chapter to the last paragraph, The Book Thief is packed with vivid images, and also in the short excerpt of I Am Messenger, Zusak uses vivid snapshots that allow the reader to see what is going on, to feel what’s going on, and really, to know what is going on in the situation. In the 35th paragraph of I Am Messenger, Zusak exclaims, “…Poor Misha. She’s shivering nearly as bad as the gunman as she waits for some zitty twenty-nine-year-old fella with a tie and seat patches under his arms to fill the bag with money.” Another vivid image used is in the excerpt in the 61st paragraph. “…his ginger whiskers and acne scars. His eyes are small and he has big ears. “The first quote permits the reader to see Misha and to somewhat understand what is going on, the second allowing the reader to see the robber and again to see what is going on. In The Book Thief, on page 257, Zusak writes, “Strings of mud clench his face. His tie is a pendulum, long dead in its clock. His lemon, lamp lit hair is disheveled and he wears a sad, absurd smile.” This quote, like the two in the excerpt, allow the reader to vividly notice what is going on and intensely see the human’s face and dressing.

Novel Synthesis: Fragments

Sporadically and strategically placed in The Book Thief are fragments. Usually, these fragments are significant and are used to prove a point. In the excerpt of Markus Zusak’s other novel, I Am Messenger, two of the main characters, Marv and Ed, speak to one another and to prove his point that Marv’s car is an embarrassment, Ed says, “Exactly.” In The Book Thief, on page 84, Zusak uses a fragment. “…it would all have come to nothing had the German not loved one particular activity. To burn.” This fragment, “to burn”, like the many used in the short excerpt of I Am Messenger, is used to prove and strategically point out an observation or an idea. In this case, it being that burning was a familiar practice in WWII Germany that destroyed numerous people. Fragments seem to be common links throughout Zusak’s novels. Also in the excerpt, in the eleventh paragraph, a fragment is used. “I can sense he’s getting uptight. Offended.” The verb used as a fragment supports the fact that Marv is indeed offended. All fragments used are significant and are, for the most part, quite necessary to prove a point, a position, or even the argument in a piece.

Cole Wilkes "Pages From the Basement"

Max, is a Jew *gasp*. In his small booklet he writes in the basement, he portrays himself as a bird. Why? The idea of Max being trapped in the basement is similar to the case of a bird being trapped in it's cage. But who's keeping him locked in that cage? Hitler. He is the so called 'keeper' who is unwilling to let Max go free. And until his death, he is forever caged by Hitler and the rest of the Third Reich over-bearing the Jewish faith. Zusak uses this idea of an innocent bird being locked away to convey pathos within the reader and therefore make Max a more likeable character.

Modernism

(pg.410-411) Dominoes and Darkness
"Are they taking him?" This is a quote taken from the scene were two Gestapo(Nazi workermen) arrived at Rudy's house to take him away. But his father rebeled againts them and this is a characteristic of modernism. This is also ironic in that rudys father ment well and wanted him safe but if he had gone he would ave been saved.

Modernism

Pg. 307 (Death's Diary:1942)
"Forget the scythe, Goddamn it, I need a broom or a mop. And I need a vacation." This is clearly modernism due to the fact that one of the characteristics of modernism is untrustfull narrator. Apart from no one trusting death he is very conversatonal and simply talkative like and old companion. "I need a vacation." also shows just how uch death was at work also meaning that many people were dieing.

Structural Patterns: Simile

On pg.186 a simile is used,"Max stood up, like a struck match" this short sentence tells alot about the common Jew during Nazi Germany. The Jew in this case is Max. The simile tells how fast he got up after hearing noises, this shows that Max has become paranoid, sensible to almost any slight difference in his surroundings. Max had reason to fear because in reality germany was out in a massive witch hunt, capturing Jews. So the Authors arguement is that the fear was so great in many jews that it caused them to have fear fed behaviors.

Response To: Structural Patterns(Mitchell)

I failed to see it that way and now that I think about it, this is when Rudy drastically changed. After being "Baptised" he gets out of the water and surprisingly (pg.303) made a drastic change of mind to never "ask for her lips again...". This was sort of cleansing, like you said.

The ISM's: Modernism

In the novel The Book Thief, pg. 298 modernism make its appearance. One of the many characteristics of modernism is Revolt/Rebellion and Rudy Steiner all to well supports it. ""When was our Fuhrer born?"..."You can tell me.....don't be afraid." And Rudy how did he reply?..."Easter Monday"".This text clearly shows the rebellion Rudy demonstrated during his encounter with a higher official in Hitler Youths.

Response to Mitchell

Mitchell, I love the connection you made on page 303. The symbol of renewal for Rudy is not a major deal, like a new found resolution to world hunger or something, but Rudy has been after a kiss from Liesel for a while, and saving one of the things that means a lot to her definitely is a way for Rudy to bargain. When you connected the water Rudy stood in to a baptism-like renewal, it made me see the situation in a different light. Rudy may be young boy, but at the bottom of page 303, the narrator tells us Rudy "...loved her so incredibly hard...he would never ask for her lips again and would go to his grave without them." This statement really brings out the importance and reasoning behind Rudy's persistant nature for a simple kiss.

Structural Patterns

The author uses symbolism between pages 26,185, and 193-194. On page 26, the author translates the name of the Hubermann's street for the reader. The street name is "Himmel" which translates to "Heaven." This concept may be found as ironic for the first third of the novel because Himmel Street seems to be everything but Heaven due to the less fortunate living circumstances and Rosa's attitude; however, page 185 changes the irony. The narrator states on page 185, "Max Vandenburg, the Jew, closed his eyes and drooped a little furter into safety" Max has just entered the Hubermann's household, his safe haven. When the narrator is describing the last time Max saw his mother on pages 193-194, he states, "From a drawer, she [Max's mother] took an old piece of paper and stuffed it in his jacket pocket. '....This could be your last hope.'" Page 194 informs the reader the paper had Hans Hubermann's name and address on it, thus the author is now demolishing the irony between Himmel Street and it's meaning. The author is enforcing that Himmel Street, though rough on the outside, and perhaps not quite to people's liking, is a safe, loving place compared to the other places in Nazi Germany.

Plot Plod page 161

The narrator changes his view of characterization of Max Vandenburg and Liesel Meminger on page 161. Death says, "You could argue Liesel Meminger had it easy. She did have it easy compared to Max Vandenburg. Certainitly, her brother had practically died in her arms. Her mother abandoned her. But anything was better than being a Jew." Prior to this statement, the author portrayed Liesel as the character deserving the most sympathy. On page 23, the narrator describes Liesel's behavior after her brother's burial, "Her knees entered the ground...Still in disbelief, she started to dig. He couldn't be dead..." Because of the sympathetic diction, the reader develops a pity for Liesel. The narrator's change in characterization on page 161 changes from pity for Liesel, to even more pity and sympathy for Max.

Response to Mitchell

Mitchell, I really like your connection to modernism on page 161. Family is a very traditional concept and definitely suggest a break in tradition for one to have no other immediate family. I found another connection on the same page, however I did not think about the connection to modernism until now.

ISM's Modernism

on page 161, Death begins the chapter by stating that liesels life is easy except that her brother died in her arms and she lost her mother. liesel does not have any immediate family, and this contributes to the idea of modernism. modernism is defined as having "a concious break with traditional forms such as family", and liesel expresses this concept through her loss of all family members.

ISM's Modernism

On page 197, Rosa Hubberman comes into a room screaming. she is obviously the dominant figure in her household, while normally the father would be. this directly ties in with modernism as it is defined as having "a concious break with traditional forms". in this situation, the traditional form would be that the male should be dominant, and Rosa demonstrates a concious break from this.

ISM's: modernism

page 284. liesel and Rudy are going to steal something in this chapter. this directly parallels the definition of modernism. modernism is defined as promoting a sense of "revolt/rebellion". Liesel and Rudy are both rebelling in this situation and contribute to the idea of modernism.

Connection: structural patterns

On page 303, viktor throws liesel's book into the river. Rudy immediately dives in after the book to retrieve it after the narrator stresses that the river is icy cold. Death has just said that rudy has had months of failure and that this was his one "win" or moment of glory. in this situation, the river is a symbol for renewal. Rudy is being "baptized" by the water that is present.

Connection: Foster(Is That A Symbol)

on pg.170, chapter "The Struggler, Concluded" there is scene in where Max, the jew,first arrives from his dangerous journey on the front porch of leisels family, and in his hands he holds a key, this is where foster comes into play. The key is very symbolic, it sybolizes freedom/enslavement, but in Max's case its freedom from hunger, capture, and the hate of the world. The Arguement "Everyone Deserves Freedom" is clearly supported, when Max began his journey to the house. He travelled miles, on the edge of being captured and the constant tension of not knowing when your going to get cought. In a way he fought for his freedom, and his weapon a key of freedom.