The Commendable Coterie discussion

Symbolism can be found within allegories, imagery, and metaphors. Zusak implemented symbolism in almost every chapter, so once again, we have plenty of evidence to work with. At first glance, the symbolism might fly over your head, but take a look back at every scene, object, or character for evaluation. Ask yourself, does this represent a greater concept or theme? If you're not able to answer that question, ask others in the thread what they think! Remember to back up your ideas with evidence, and keep bouncing your ideas off of each other.

A symbol I noticed right in the beginning of the book was the accordion. The first few weeks Liesel moved in with the Hubermanns, she experienced terrible nightmares every night about witnessing her brother's death. Hans was there to support her through these times and "he would return with his accordion and play for her. Liesel would sit up and hum, her cold toes clenched with excitement" (37). Therefore the accordion became a symbol of comfort, and if there were air raids or nightmares, Liesel would become distracted with Hans playing the instrument.

My favorite chapter so far in the book, The Eclipse, is rich in symbolism, probably it's one of the rare chapters consistently narrated through Death's own eyes. This chapter seems to stand on its own, almost a random addition but you can tell there are elements of foreshadowing and it was definitely included with the purpose to introduce Death's characteristics and affinity for colors. The chapter begins with him saying "Next is a signature black, to show the poles of my versatility, if you like." Zusak included this to contrast with Death's previous experience with the color white, but I also think he chose this chapter/death's color to be represented with black due to the sorrow and darkness it possesses. He speaks to the death of the pilot as an 'eclipse', which I noted in a previous thread seems to be a very symbolic choice of wording on Death's part. The use of heavy imagery in this chapter, with words like "metallic little bird", "the horizon was beginning to charcoal", "skeleton-colored skin", all add to the solemn and morbid tone of Death's viewpoint towards 'human error'-caused deaths, such as plane crashes.

Liesel wasn't the only character that believed in the accordion as a symbol. After Hans went to war, Liesel snuck into her parents' room discovered "Rosa Hubermann was sitting on the edge of the bed with her husband's accordion tied to her chest" (428-29). This shows that once her husband left, Rosa's only comfort was the fact that she still had Hans most prized procession with her, so she would often hold it in her arms while Hans was away.

This isn't really symbolism, but the fact that he referred to the deceased pilot's open mouth that appeared to be smiling as "A final dirty joke. Another human punchline" to be extremely noteworthy. Those two phrases encompass so many of Death's apparent feelings towards, well, death. Looking back on this early chapter after progressing farther into the book has helped me to realize that Death does a lot of pitying, but can be pitied as well....the language Death uses in this chapter makes me almost feel bad for him. I feel that these phrases add a lot to the overall message of the book and Death's character, thoughts??

This is kind of a short example (but at least I finally posted) Anyway symbolic language is used when Rosa said to Hans, "you smell like cigarettes and kerosene". Cigarettes and kerosene represents the friendship being mended between Liesel and Hans. Also it represents Liesel learning to read as Hans would light a kerosene lamp in the basement, where he taught her to read and where they bonded, which caused him to smell that particular way.

ALERT:Forgot to mention that the quote used is on pg 72, after all,you are what you cite- Kenny He

This is a broader look on symbolism, however I still thought it meant something to the overall purpose of the book. The seasons define the mood for sections of the novel. For example in beginning of the book, when Liesels brother dies and she is separated from her mother, it is freezing outside. "Within seconds, snow was carved into her skin. Frozen blood was cracked across her hands" (page 23). However once the weather warms up, so does the mood of the novel. For example, when the weather was nice she was able to enjoy a game of soccer with her friends, most notably Ruby, outside. This was a way for her to escape the troubles at home.

That's an interesting point Anna. Even if you don't look at the change of seasons, the book is predominantly set in winter and I see a huge connection to the weather and the overall mood of the story. Even coldness in general could be a symbolic element; it's always cold in the Mayor's house because Ilsa keeps all the windows open even in the dead of winter. Liesel pieces together that this may be due to the fact that Ilsa's son Johann died from freezing to death in the war, and she wants to feel close to him in that sense.

Another example of how coldness connects to the storyline is how Max practically freezes to death sleeping in the basement, which leads to him being invited to sleep next to the fire during the night. Because of this, Liesel is able to hear the stories of his life when she stays up with him at night.

Here is a small piece of imagary that caught my attention. "So many sets of dying eyes and scuffing feet" (page 509). This description touches upon the horrific scene witnessed by Liesel. In my opinion its sentences like these, that cause the reader to stop and really take in the harsh reality of the novel. Does anyone agree?

Perhaps Liesel's physical appearance is symbolic. The author claims that "everything about her was undernourished. Wirelike shins. Coat hanger arms. She did not produce it easily, but when it came, she had a starving smile" (31). It is clear that Liesel is an anxious and fragile child, as she was in absolute terror in the beginning of her time with the Hubermann's. Her weak and needy physique seems to correlate with/represent her behaviors and personality. Does anyone else agree, or am I thinking too deep? After all she does come from a harsh background of poverty which could explain her malnourished appearance.

No I don't think you're going to deep Brianna, that was a well thought out response!!

I think that the title of the novel "Book Thief" and the name that death refers Liesel as is extremely symbolic. Why does death refer to her as a thief? When Lisel begins to really take on her name in the chapter Book Of Fire, death uses symbolic words to describe her stealing the book from the bomb fire. He refers to the bomb fire as a "magnet" and calls the unburnt books "survivors". You can compare his symbolic word choice of books being survivors to the events of the time period, such as the persecution of jews like Max. (p.119)

I think you meant the Fuhrer's bonfire Mckaela! I agree that that scene is an extremely symbolic part of the story. It's interesting that you pointed out that comparison between the surviving books with the surviving people- both are victims of the Nazi party. This is just an opinion question, but do you think Zusak chose to write about Nazi Germany from the point of view of Death as this reason? Since there were so little survivors, and the stories that those who survived have to tell are often very telling of the evils of humankind, isn't Death the perfect narrator for an epidemic such as the Holocaust?

Mckaela wrote: "I think that the title of the novel "Book Thief" and the name that death refers Liesel as is extremely symbolic. Why does death refer to her as a thief? When Lisel begins to really take on her name..."

To build off of what Mckaela said, I think that starting out in the novel, "The Book Thief" seemed a bit harsh, as Liesel was just a curious girl interested in a book in the snow. However as the novel progresses, I feel this more displays symbolism in respect to the Nazis. The Nazis are stealing books and burning them as a part of their methods of eugenics, and while Liesel is stealing them from the Nazis, she is still a victim of thievery. Also on page 119, Death says, "It sucked her toward it and she began to make her way around." This is referring to the the mountain of ash from the book burning. The personification of the ash can also relate to what Mckaela said about the "magnet", that not just the fire is a luring entity, but so is the ash left over. In turn, Liesel found three books, as well as "half a red flag, two posters advertising a Jewish poet, and a wooden sign with something written on it in Hebrew." I might be looking too deep into the personification of the fire and ash, but I definitely believe there is some correlation there.

Yes jules i think so!! I think that placing the setting in Nazi Germany not only helps to support the significance of the symbolism, but it helps people to understand how intense Liesel's life has been. When comparing "surviving books" to Holocaust survivors, it's hold a more heavy importance to the books in many readers eyes.

Patrick wrote: "This is kind of a short example (but at least I finally posted) Anyway symbolic language is used when Rosa said to Hans, "you smell like cigarettes and kerosene". Cigarettes and kerosene represents..."

To add to that, the example with the cigarettes is on page 33, when Hans is teaching Liesel to roll a cigarette, the first initial bond created. This seems to me why she has favored Hans a little more, however her relationship with Rosa has grown into something more positive, even though Rosa can be snippy. But indeed, you are what you cite.

I think it is highly symbolic when Death observes the colors around him when taking a human lives During the scene when Liesel's brother is being buried, Death sees a "blinding white", this can represent purity because a child was being buried. Death uses colors to make his job of taking souls less stressful and almost serve as a distraction for Death. He has a liking towards "dark chocolate" colored skies, they suit him because of the darkness in the concept of death. These are only a few of the tons of examples of symbolism using color in the novel.

When discussing symbolism in "The Book Thief," it is impossible to not mention the stories created by Max. "The Word Shaker" and "The Standover Man" are short stories created by Max that contain, in my opinion, some of the most meaningful messages in the book, so I'd like do ask you guys some questions about them. How do you interpret what these stories represent? Do you think it's significant that "The Standover Man" was created with ripped out pages of "Mein Kampf"; if so, why is it significant? Feel free to comment on how the stories represent a character's emotions, and also try to provide a historical parallel for the stories.

Erica wrote: "A symbol I noticed right in the beginning of the book was the accordion. The first few weeks Liesel moved in with the Hubermanns, she experienced terrible nightmares every night about witnessing he..."

Expanding upon comfort, i believe that Liesel also found solace in Rudy Steiner. He was predominately Liesel's best friend and partner in crime so to speak. "He didn't care that others made noises about the new girl's stupidity. He was there for her at the beginning, and he would be there later on..." (pg. 51). Rudy had no trouble professing his love to her, always longing for a kiss. When he dies you can clearly see how it takes a toll of Liesel as she was "on her hands and knees, next to his decimated body" (pg. 242).

the quote above should say "on her hands and knees, next to his decimated body." ***

Yes! Please discuss Max's book. I think that is one of the more powerful symbols in the book. (Possibly could be its own thread)

Max's book "Word Shaker" represents the rise of Nazism in Germany as well Liesel and Max's friendship. It is obvious in the beginning Max is referring to Hitler when he states that a small strange man would "make himself a small, strange mustache" and "he would one day rule the world" (445). This man believed that he could gain a large following with just the power of words, and symbols. This represents the swastika and Hitler preaching Jewish hatred. The book states the man in fact he abused this power, using it for evil. Later in the book, Liesel who is symbolized as a "word shaker" because "she knew how powerless a person could be without words" meets Max who is described as the "man despised by her homeland" (Germany) and their friendship blossoms into a tree that even the Führer can't even knock down.

To pose a question of my own, does anyone feel that Death itself is a symbol? I was thinking something cheesy like rebirth, and the perspective of life, however I feel there's something there I am not catching.

Luke wrote: "To pose a question of my own, does anyone feel that Death itself is a symbol? I was thinking something cheesy like rebirth, and the perspective of life, however I feel there's something there I am ..."

I feel as if death is symbolic to reality. Throughout the novel death is presented somewhat as human, showing its emotions and distractions through color from their rather depressing work. However death is inventible, not just in Nazi Germany, but everywhere. From the start, death connects to the reader by stating "Here is a small fact. You are going to die" (pg. 3). As uninviting as it seems, it is the truth, which makes me appreciate Zusak and they way the book was written.

In response to Emma, Death as a symbolism for reality is a really good way to put it. He sees both the compassion of humans from Hans and his family but he also sees how chaotic and harmful humans can be from the setting of the novel, Nazi Germany. He sees the reality of humans nature. Death says “I am constantly overestimating and underestimating the human race — that rarely do I ever simply estimate it", the reality of human nature is confusing for Death and in turn can make him question if they are in fact worthy of their existence.