Passage Two Question 1

Lawrence Bialek
English - II / CPW / Romano , McGee
October 23, 2015

Passage Analysis Essay
Passage Two Question 1
Passage Two is an excerpt from The Book Thief, by Mark Zusak, involving three
prominent character roles. These character roles include Death, Liesel Meminger, and
Liesels biological mother. The passage is from one chapter in the beginning of the
novel where Liesels brother, Werner, has just died. We are taken to the point in the
book where the passage talks about what was happening directly after the burial of
young Werner. In this passage, many characters, as well as our narrator, Death, take
actions that help further develop the character they were written to be. In the writing
these actions help show how different characters have learned different things and have
changed because of them.
One of the three main characters in this passage is Death. Throughout eternity
Death has heeded his own advice of not becoming too attached to certain people. He
did not heed [his own] advice when he attended the burial of Liesel Memingers
brother (Page 23). This instance shows that Death is both caring and intrigued. He
seems to care about Werner more than he thinks; but he mainly cares about Liesel and
how she perceives this whole situation. He goes to the funeral due to his curiosity.
Death is also shown to have a longing for recognition and companionship. This is
shown by an action he takes towards the end of this passage. Death waved to
someone, anyone yet [n]o one waved back (Page 25). Who could Death expect to be
noticed by Liesel? Death learns that maybe he is more human than he thinks. This
shows that Death is not some heartless being, rather he is a figure in despair.
Liesel Memingers character in The Book Thief is further explored in this
passage. Zusak writes of Leisel being emotional and in a state of denial. He writes that
after the ceremony, [s]till in disbelief, she started to dig (Page 24). She cries and does
not want to believe that her brother is dead. From this, we as readers see that even
though she is only a young girl, she has great perception of what is really going on; at
least in her life she does. Through all of this, Liesel remains sneaky. When she sees
opportunities arise, she takes them. This proves true when Liesel notices one of the
gravediggers had dropped his book. She quickly pounces on the opportunity to take it
without anyone noticing. Liesel learns that she has a wild side and this is important later
on in the novel. We as readers leave Liesel when she is on the train. She is skinny and
pale [and] has sores on [her] lips (Page 25). This is the exact same description we
have of her mother.
Passage Two provides few details about Liesels mother. We are told that she,
like Liesel is skinny and pale [and] has sores on [her] lips (Page 25). Zusak writes
about Liesels mother being mentally strong. Even after she loses her baby boy, she
perseveres in order to make sure she delivers Liesel to safety and a new life. This
example shows how caring she is. While saddened, she understands the fact that she
has to take care of all her children.
Passage Two has a conflict. These conflicts arise from human versus nature as
well as human versus self. To start with the latter, Liesel found a conflict within herself
as to whether or not to take the book. This situation set the groundwork for one of the
main ideas of the novel. Liesel found it hard to pass up on the opportunity she was
being given and decided to go for it. She swooped in and pocketed the book. Now, for
the former. Liesel is faced with the death of her brother, Werner. She is saddened but
cannot do anything about it because it is a power beyond the realm of her control. This
idea of death being near, as well as Liesels inability to control it, is a main problem
throughout the novel even though it is never descriptively discussed.
Passage Two does not establish any themes as all that is discussed throughout
the passage is Liesel stealing a book that fell and her coping with the loss of her
brother.
The author uses his diction to create a sad and gloomy mood. First, in the
passage, the word wasteland is used to describe snow giving it an almost gray and
dead feeling. When Death starts talking about [t]he cemetery [welcoming him] like a
friend, readers begin to see links between the situation of the chapter and the feelings
of death and despair. Throughout the rest of the passage, Death describes instances
where he longed for companionship, I waved. No one waved back. This created a sad
mood.

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Lawrence Bialek

English - II / CPW / Romano , McGee

October 23, 2015

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