Sunday, March 15, 2009
Discussion 3- Figurative Language and Literary Elements
Figurative language plays a key part in The Book Thief because it adds to the style of the story, especially when it is narrated by death. An example of this in The Book Thief is on page 99, "Before she could answer, the wooden spoon came down on Liesel Meminger's body like the gait of God. Red marks like footprints, and they burned." This is when Liesel gets hit by her foster mother with a wooden spoon. The figurative language, like similes, really help to understand what the character is going through. Like the example on page 99, if you have never been hit by a wooden spoon, then you probably wouldn't know that the red marks that it makes, are like footprints. These descriptions make the book so much easier to understand and you can really get a clear picture of what's going on. Death is the character that most frequently uses the figurative language, but sometimes, the other characters that are actually in the story do too. The most commonly used literary element in the book so far, seems to be similes, but they are really helpful and usually very descriptive. Zusak does a really good job when know to use this language and which character to have say it. The figurative language is an important part of the style, that is used in the book.
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I completely agree about how the similes help you understand the story a lot easier, but I also think that personification is a common figurative tool that Zusak frequently uses. Especially in the character of Death, and in many other smaller personifications, Zusak demonstrates his genius through his many skills in figurative language.
ReplyDeleteI also like how figurative language makes the book easier to understand. I can form a picture in my mind based off of the feeling found in the words throughout the novel.
ReplyDeleteI agree on how the most common elements used so far are similes. They are very helpful with deicphering the text and just make the story more intersting.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that the main literary element being used are similes, but it's okay because they do help for understanding this book. I think what you said was true, the similes make certain parts easier to decipher and there's a picture created in your mind of what's going on.
ReplyDeleteIt is an excellent point you brought up about how similies are the most common use of figurative language in this novel. One very surprising and delightful thing to also take note of, is that while the similie use is common, there's no overkill of usage of similies. [Anybody else feel like that happened a lot in ATPH? Not happening in this book!]
ReplyDeleteI think similies are strong elements that contribute to the understanding of the text. Comparing different characters or ideas in a creative way like Hailey found, really helps the reader connect in a different way.
ReplyDeleteI think that quote clearly describes the act of Rosa hitting Liesel and its something that gives me shivers. But quotes like those really help the reader understand the feeling the characters are going through.
ReplyDeleteLike you said, i think it is clear that the author uses similes a lot in his writing. I completely agree with you that they help us as the reader understand what is going on. They are very descriptive, and this is shown very well in your quote, because like you said, for those who haven't experienced what is done to Liesel, the simile really helps to create an image of understanding.
ReplyDelete"Red marks like footprints, and they burned", this description can make you see the red mark smacked across her face. Almost like the wooden spoon left a trail behind, the footprints, filled with pain. Describing them as red also helps us to see, you can just picture her sitting there with a huge big red splotch across her face, feeling all hot and tingly. The descriptions that Zusak makes really help us to set up the scene in our minds, as well as feel the burning along with Leisell.
ReplyDeleteThese descriptions challenge the reader to imagine the scene in exactly the way that Zusak wanted them to. I like this aspect of the book because it almost turns it into a movie, in the way that the reader just sort of watches the action. As I read, I felt like I was able to really see and feel what Zusak intended.
ReplyDeleteI think that your post is a good contrast to Nick's, because he was saying how it was able to lighten the story some, and now your example shows how the language can make a frightening event even more creepy. I think that this is a talent of Zusak's, and he does it well by being able to use this language so well. Death's personification is also a very interesting use of literary elements.
ReplyDeleteI like the literary elements of the book. The similies at times were too much for me, but I got used to them. Personification of death was also a cool literary element.
ReplyDeleteyou spelled gate wrong in you book thief quote its gate not "gait"
ReplyDeleteIt says "gait" in my copy, and by that it means how God walks, not the gate that leads into heaven. Markus Zusak knew what he was writing about... he meant "gait"... not "gate"
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