Task: Literature Essay
The power of words is demonstrated in the novel “The Book Thief,” which is centred on Liesel and her life set in Nazi Germany. Through Liesel, the author, Markus Zusak, teaches us capabilities of words, and how words can be used to heal and provide comfort to others, as well as manipulate and control people.
Those who learnt to harness the power of words were gifted with extreme power. “The Book Thief” explores the use of words in German history through Hitler. By effectively using words, Hitler was able to convince 90% of Germany to follow him and his Nazi ideology by using propaganda to carry his contagious ideas. Hitler understood how infectious and corrupting words were and he knew he “Could rule the world with …show more content…
Max Vandeburg, a Jew, writes a book for Liesel as a gift, called The Word Shaker. The Word Shaker taught Liesel about the immense power of words and how they provide the power to fight back evil ideas. The book was about a girl that nurtured a small seed born of the word 'friendship' which eventually grew into a tree of peaceful words amidst a forest of evil ideas. The tree grew large enough and fell, destroying the trees born from hateful words. Liesel learns that the love and compassion in her words is powerful enough to overcome the hatred of Hitler's words. Liesel’s new awareness of the power that words held displays the idea that even something as insignificant as a single word can grow to become an extremely powerful tool that can be used for good and bad. An excerpt from The Word Shaker that displays Liesel's new understanding of the power words give is “The best word shakers were the ones who understand the true power of words. One such word shaker was a small, skinny girl. She was the best word shaker of her region, because she knew how powerless a person could be without words.” Liesel knew how helpless one without words was, as she was once illiterate and cowardly. Thus she is inspired by The Word Shaker to learn how to utilise words to help fight against Hitler’s evil …show more content…
Liesel, in a furious and emotional state, insults Ilsa for mourning over her dead son. A quote that shows the effects of Liesel’s words is “Liesel could see it on her face. Blood leaked from her nose and licked at her lips. Cuts had opened up and a series of wounds were rising to the surface of her skin. All from the words. From Liesel's words.” Realising how cruel her words could be, Liesel becomes aware of how words combined with bad intention can easily cause pain unto others. Liesel’s experience teaches us of the huge psychological effect words can make, and how it can be a damaging influence. Through her experience, Liesel becomes more aware of how influential words are and we see her create peace with words when she reads her book in the bomb shelter. Amidst the panic, Liesel read a novel aloud and “Soon the crying of the children became quiet, soothed by her voice, and all the commotion had ceased.” Liesel realises her love and passion for words could be felt by others and be a positive influence. This example shows how good words can soothe, bring peace and shine even brighter in contrast with tough
The power of words is demonstrated in the novel “The Book Thief,” which is centred on Liesel and her life set in Nazi Germany. Through Liesel, the author, Markus Zusak, teaches us capabilities of words, and how words can be used to heal and provide comfort to others, as well as manipulate and control people.
Those who learnt to harness the power of words were gifted with extreme power. “The Book Thief” explores the use of words in German history through Hitler. By effectively using words, Hitler was able to convince 90% of Germany to follow him and his Nazi ideology by using propaganda to carry his contagious ideas. Hitler understood how infectious and corrupting words were and he knew he “Could rule the world with …show more content…
Max Vandeburg, a Jew, writes a book for Liesel as a gift, called The Word Shaker. The Word Shaker taught Liesel about the immense power of words and how they provide the power to fight back evil ideas. The book was about a girl that nurtured a small seed born of the word 'friendship' which eventually grew into a tree of peaceful words amidst a forest of evil ideas. The tree grew large enough and fell, destroying the trees born from hateful words. Liesel learns that the love and compassion in her words is powerful enough to overcome the hatred of Hitler's words. Liesel’s new awareness of the power that words held displays the idea that even something as insignificant as a single word can grow to become an extremely powerful tool that can be used for good and bad. An excerpt from The Word Shaker that displays Liesel's new understanding of the power words give is “The best word shakers were the ones who understand the true power of words. One such word shaker was a small, skinny girl. She was the best word shaker of her region, because she knew how powerless a person could be without words.” Liesel knew how helpless one without words was, as she was once illiterate and cowardly. Thus she is inspired by The Word Shaker to learn how to utilise words to help fight against Hitler’s evil …show more content…
Liesel, in a furious and emotional state, insults Ilsa for mourning over her dead son. A quote that shows the effects of Liesel’s words is “Liesel could see it on her face. Blood leaked from her nose and licked at her lips. Cuts had opened up and a series of wounds were rising to the surface of her skin. All from the words. From Liesel's words.” Realising how cruel her words could be, Liesel becomes aware of how words combined with bad intention can easily cause pain unto others. Liesel’s experience teaches us of the huge psychological effect words can make, and how it can be a damaging influence. Through her experience, Liesel becomes more aware of how influential words are and we see her create peace with words when she reads her book in the bomb shelter. Amidst the panic, Liesel read a novel aloud and “Soon the crying of the children became quiet, soothed by her voice, and all the commotion had ceased.” Liesel realises her love and passion for words could be felt by others and be a positive influence. This example shows how good words can soothe, bring peace and shine even brighter in contrast with tough