Jessica Schwartz
English 10.28
October 3, 2013
Figurative Language
The Cloudy Book Thief
In the scene of The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, Liesel's classmate embarrassed her because she can not read as well as the other students and instead of replying with her words, she physically hurt him. Throughout the book, Liesel makes careless mistakes because she does not know how to use her words. The narrator, Death, refers to Liesel as the "book thief without the words," meaning that she is bright, but can not express herself with words. This is ironic because she steals and reads these books. She has the knowledge in her head, but can not access them until later (80). After the school day, Death says, "Trust me, though, the words were on their way, and when they arrived, Leisel would hold them in her hands like the clouds" (80). Markus Zusak's metaphor comparing Liesel's words to the clouds that she will later "hold" reveals the importance of words.
Liesel for music
Liesel
Liesel ProgressClouds are striking, luminiscent, and rich just like words. "Words" and "clouds" place different pictures in people's heads and are impossible to ever touch or possess. Both of these ideas make characters strive for more. Liesel has to mature in order to understand how she is able to use her words to speak up. But once the words come to her, so do confidence, power, and authority.
Jessica Schwartz
English 10.28
October 3, 2013
Figurative Language
The Cloudy Book Thief
In The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, Liesel's classmate embarrassed her because she can not read as well as the other students and instead of replying with her words, she physically hurt him. The narrator, Death, refers to Liesel as the "book thief without the words," meaning that she is bright,