Symbolism in 'The Book Thief'

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Crossword Puzzles

Every Thursday, when Leisel collects and delivers mama’s washing and ironing, she looks for newspapers with crosswords to bring home for Max. Every week she looks forward to finding a newspaper with an empty crossword to give to him. They sit together in the basement while Liesel reads and Max does the crosswords. The narrator, death, explains, “Where Hans Hubermann and Erik Vandenburg were ultimately united by music, Max and Leisel were held together by the quiet gathering of words” (Zusak 248). The crossword puzzles are symbolic of Leisel’s connection with Max, and their shared fascination with words. It is also a symbol of Leisel’s kindness towards Max.

Bread

The act of giving bread symbolizes humanity and selflessness. First, Hans gives bread to a Jew during the march of Jews down Molching Street. Then later, after Hans and Alex are both sent to war, Leisel and Rudy give bread in another similar march. Leisel looks at Rudy giving bread and notices “How things had changed, from fruit stealer to bread giver. His blond hair, although darkening, was like a candle. She heard his stomach grow–and he was giving people bread” (Zusak 440). Hans, Leisel, and Rudy all show sacrifice by giving bread. Hans sacrifices his own safety to give bread to the Jew at the march, and ends up being beaten because of it. In that quote it can be seen that Rudy selflessly decides to give bread to others, even though he is hungry himself.

Dominoes

When the Gestapo men come to the Steiner household to inquire about recruiting Rudy to the army, Rudy and his siblings are playing with dominoes in the next room. Upon watching the dominoes topple down, Rudy’s brother Kurt remarks, “They look like dead bodies” (Zusak 410). It is clear that the dominoes are a symbol of war and death. However, at a closer glance, one can see that the toppling of the dominoes also symbolizes how one bad thing can spiral and cause more and more bad things to happen, creating a domino effect. This relates to another quote by death earlier in the novel, who says that “one opportunity leads directly to another, just like risk leads to more risk, life to more life, and detath to more death” (Zusak 83). The dominoes show how death almost always leads to more death.

The Standover Man

On Leisel’s twelfth birthday, she gives Max a hug for the first time. After this, Max decided to give her something in return, and makes her a book by painting over pages of Mein Kampf. The short book is filled with depictions of Max himself as a bird and description of how his whole life he felt like someone has been standing over him. At the end of the books he concludes, “It makes me understand that the best standover man I’ve ever known is not a man at all… (Zusak 235). The Standover Man is symbolic of Liesel and Max’s relationship, and how for the first time in his life, he has someone who stands over him in a good way. In addition, the act of painting over the Mein Kampf is symbolic of Max covering up Hitler’s hate with his own love. While the Mein Kampf encourages hatred towards Jews from the Germans, The Standover Man is a symbol of love between a Jew and a German.

Teddy Bear

After an enemy plane crashes near the Amper River, Leisel and Rudy witness the dying American pilot take his last breaths. As Rudy watches the man die, he walks up and gives him a teddy bear that he had been carrying in a toolbox. Death describes, “From the toolbox, the boy took out, of all things, a teddy bear. He reached in through the torn windshield and places it on the pilot’s chest. The smiling bear sat huddled among the crowded wreckage of the man and the blood” (Zusak 10). The teddy bear is a symbol of comfort. Rudy tries to give the dying man some sort of comfort, as little as it may be, as he is about to die. Seeing Rudy do this act makes death feel a sense of love towards Rudy.

Toy Soldier

After Max falls ill in the winter between 1942 and 1943, Leisel brings him gifts every day in hopes that he will wake up. One day, she finds a toy soldier buried in the dirt near Tommy Müller’s apartment. When she describes it, she explains that “It was scratched and trodden, which, to Lesiel, was the whole point. Even with injury, it could still stand up” (Zusak 323). The toy soldier symbolizes Max and his strength in the face adversity. Although he is sick and weak and suffering, he is still surviving. Leisel admires Max for his perseverance.

Painting

Hans Hubermann makes a living as a professional painter. He uses his surplus of paint to write the alphabet and other words on the basement wall to teach Leisel how to read. Death narrates, “There were few luxuries in the Hubermann household, but there was an oversupply of paint, and it became more than useful for Leisel’s learning” (Zusak 72). Papa’s painting in the basement is how Leisel learns to read, which becomes of major importance to her. Hans also uses his paint for other sources of good, such as covering up Jewish slurs that were written on a shop owner’s door and painting people’s windows black to protect themselves from bombs for as little as a cigarette or a cookie. Overall, painting is a symbol of Leisel’s education and Papa’s desire to help other people.

The Grave Digger’s Handbook

The Grave Digger’s Handbook is the first book that Leisel steals in the novel, after her brother is buried. When she sees it in the snow, she picks it up and takes it with her, keeping it with her when she moves in with her new foster parents. Even though when Lesiel stole it she could not read yet, she cherishes it. Zusak explains the books meaning to her in a highlighted section, saying, “The Book’s Meaning — 1.The last time she saw her brother. 2.The last time she saw her brother” (Zusak 38). Leisel treasures this book because it is her only physical thing she has to connect her to her late brother. The Grave Digger’s Handbook is also the first book that Leisel reads, and is what begins her midnight writing lessons in the basement with her papa.

Snowman

On Christmas Eve of 1942, the Hubermanns, Leisel, and Max build a snowman in the basement. However, soon after they built the snowman, Max’s health begins to deteriorate significantly. He develops a persistent fever and sleeps for weeks without waking up. Leisel explains, “He was the second snowman to be melting away before her eyes, but this one was different. It was a paradox. The colder he became, the more he melted” (Zusak 316). As we can see in this quote, the snowman symbolizes Max and the decline of his health. Zusak also includes the symbolism of the snowman to communicate how something good can start to fade so quickly before your own eyes.

Seven-sided Die

“The Jew was sticking out of your pocket from the outset. He’s smeared to your lapel, and the moment you roll, you know it’s a seven– the ones things that somehow finds a way to hurt you” (Zusak 258).

Candy

At the end of the summer of 1940, Lesiel and Rudy find one pfening on the ground.They bring it tp Frau Diller in respect of getting mixed candy, but only receive on a piece of candy for the both of them. However, later on when Arthur Berg gives them a bag of chestnuts, they sell them and use the money to go buy mixed candy again. Death describe Liesel and Rudy’s acquiring of the candy as “Triumph before the storm” (Zusak 167). The candy foreshadows that something bad is about to happen soon. Candy also symbolizes Rudy and Leisiel’s innocence, highlighting that despite their many experiences that most children don’t usually face, they are still children.

Empty Fuel Containers

After a bombing in the town of Cologne, Death comes back to notice something about the children. He notices that “Just past the rubble of Cologne, a group of kids collected empty fuel containers, dropped by their enemies. As usual, I collected humans” (Zusak 338). While the children pick up these containers, Death picks up human lives. The empty fuel containers being dropped so carelessly is representative of the amount of human dying so frequently during this time. At that point, death and air raids had become such a regular aspect of life, that the children are not even scared of the fuel containers that were once used for bombs. The collecting of the empty fuel containers can also symbolize the innocence of children, even during times of war.

Boxing with the Führer

“In the basement of 33 Himmel Street, Max Vandenburg could feel the fits of an entire nation. One by one they climbed into the ring and beat him down” (Zusak 254).

Colors

“I do, however, try to enjoy every color I see–the whole spectrum. A billion, or so flavors, none of them quite the same, and a sky to slowly suck on. It takes the edge off the stress. It helps me relax” (Zusak 4).

Cigarettes

“More than anything, it was the smell of friendship, and she could find it on herself too. Leisel loved that smell. She would sniff her arm and smile as the water cooled around her.” (Zusak 72). “There were not many people who could say that their education was paid for with cigarettes” (Zusak 90).

Mein Kampf

“For most of the journey, he made his way through the book, trying never to look up. The words lolled about in his mouth as he read them. Strangely, as he turned the pages and progressed through the chapters, it was only two words he ever tastes. Mein Kampf. My struggle–The title, over and over again, as the train prattles on, from one German town ot the next. Mein Kampf. Of all the things to save him” (Zusak 160).

The Whistler

“For at least twenty mintes, she handed out the story. The youngest kids were soothed by her voice” (Zusak 381). Max imagining Leisel handing out words of The Whistler in the bomb shelter encourages him to write The Word Shaker.

The Complete Duden Dictionary and Thesaurus

Isla Hermann, the mayor’s wife, gives Liesel The Complete Duden Dictionary and Thesaurus. She leaves Liesel a note saying, “I hope you find this dictionary and thesaurus useful as you read your stolen books” (Zusak 369). This dictionary is just one of the many ways Isla helps Leisel get access and gain a love for words. Isla’s relationship with Liesel is significant one because she acts as a sort of mother figure for her, and encourages her thirst for words. Leisel uses the dictionary to learn new words and when she writes her own book, The Book Thief. It is symbolic of the power of language.

Accordion

“She didn’t see him watching as he played, having no idea that Hans Hubermanns accordion was a story. In the times ahead, that story would arrive at 33 Himmel Street in the early hours of morning, wearing ruffled shoulders and a shivering jacket. It would carry a suitcase, a book, and two questions. A story. Story after story, Story within a story” (Zusak 70). “Sometimes I think my papa is an accordion. When he looks at me and smiles and breaths, I hear the notes” (Zusak).

The Word Shaker

“The tear was made of friendship-a single word-and it dried and became a seed, and when next the girl was in the forest, she planted that seed among the other trees” (Zusak 446).

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Symbolism in ‘The Book Thief’

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