Literary Analysis with Annotated Bibliography

Ardagh, Philip. "Review: The Book Thief By Markus Zusak." the Guardian. N.p., 2010. Web. 29 Mar. 2017. The review done by Ardagh brings out clearly the events in The Book Thief. He talks of Hans Hubermann who hides a Jew, Max Vandenburg since his father once saved his life in the First World War when they were soldiers of Germany. Hubermann and the wife Rosa adopted a teenager named Liesel. She, Liesel, is the leading character of the book. The developing interactions amongst Liesel and Hubermann together with that of Max and Liesel become dominant to the plot.

A look at the character Max, show that he is not just a fighter in all the ways a soldier is supposed to be but also a lover. Max is exhibited as "the struggler" though only twenty-two years of age when he enters the story. His age appears a bit surprising, but later we get to know that at the age of Rudy and Liesel, he was "the fist fighter of the Jewish ." He endured starvation and hiding for two years which required much fight and endurance. Max gets depicted as strong and tough, a fighter he is supposed to be. However, he becomes burdened with conflicting emotions with the most intense being guilt (Ardagh).

Symbolism is also present in the book. Books used in the novel are symbolic. Liesel's character becomes majorly based on the books. These books mention symbolically of resistance against the Nazi regime when Liesel is engaged in stealing these books. It symbolizes rebellion by the main character. Adolph Hitler, The Swastika, and The Nazi Flag express the fear that crippled the society in the modern day (Ardagh). We might link accordions with sharp, agony-inducing screams but in the book, it starts off as a sign of comfort and hope.

Green, John. "'The Book Thief,' By Markus Zusak - The New York Times Book Review." Nytimes.com. N.p., 2011. Web. 29 Mar. 2017. In this review by Green, Death is a major character who is a spiritual being. Death's duty involves carrying away the souls of the dead. The major human being characters include Liesel, Max, Hubermann and Rosa the wife. The plot mainly surrounds them. Liesel acquires the command of words to impact people (Green). They are influenced by her character to act towards both good and evil. Liesel endures the reign of Hitler hence Death labels her as a "lasting survivor," as those she loves die due to the Holocaust and World War II.

Minor characters are less talked off and assist the principal characters in achieving the purpose of the book. They include Paula Meninger who plays the role of Liesel's mother and puts her up for adoption at a young age. Frau Diller is also a minor character who is exhibited as a shopkeeper that is pro-Nazi and would never sell to a person who is against Hitler by praise (Green). The book also contains several themes within it.

The themes include love, war, identity and mortality among others. The characters in the book learning to love despite being faced with great hatred. Romantic childlike love also exists but is ended shortly by the tragedy. The novel setting in the Nazi Germany, where simple acts as giving a smile are seen massive kindness. Such actions could lead to a penalty. War forms the lives of characters and influences their choices. The Book Thief is submerged in warfare as the setting is in Nazi Germany between 1939 and 1943. Identity is a struggle in the book as almost all characters make guiltiness a large part of their personalities. The non-Jewish characters in the novel reject getting recognized as Nazis (Green). They are forced to forge new identities through love, friendship, and struggle against injustice.

Works cited

Ardagh, Philip. "Review: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak." the Guardian. N.p., 2010. Web. 29

Mar. 2017.

Green, John. "'The Book Thief,' By Markus Zusak - The New York Times Book Review."

Nytimes.com. N.p., 2011. Web. 29 Mar. 2017.