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.