Alex Xu

English II
The Book Thief Passage Analysis
Oct. 22, 2015
Passage One:
In the passage, Hanss gentle approach with Liesel reveals his personality; he is
a kind and understanding person who understands how to handle children. When Liesel
is first introduced to her new foster home, she is ordered to take a bath. However, she
refuses and is full of anxiety. Instead of Rosas method of berating Liesel for not taking a
bath, Hans sits with her and talks about rolling cigarettes. He does this to try to take
Liesels mind off of taking a bath, in order to calm her. At the end, Liesel still does not
have a bath, but she is more content with her new home and family, thanks to Hanss
gentle nature. The passage goes on to explain how Hans is always unnoticable and
part of the background to emphasize that he is a modest person, and is of no
particular value to other people. In contrast, Hanss eyes are next compared to soft,
melting silver as Liesel recognizes Hanss worth as a both a friend and loving parent.
The language used in the passage helps to direct the mood as the scene
progresses. In the beginning, words with generally negative connotation are used to
describe the environment Liesel is in. The cold and unkind tiles, dry paint, callous
washroom, and deluge from Rosa all contribute to this mood of of anxiety, uneasiness,
and crisis. This mood changes as the passage progresses, and words such as
kindness and soft silver are used to give a warmer feel to the situation and
surroundings. The language also establishes the conflict between Liesel and her new
environment, as she struggles with breathing and reaches out for some level of
support in the beginning. Even though this is later resolved when Liesel becomes more
comfortable in her new home, it foreshadows and implies a larger conflict between
Liesel and the greater institutions of society present at that time the story is set in.
The passage establishes the emerging theme of kindness in the face of cruelty.
In the backdrop of Nazi Germany, Liesels experiences are that of sorrow, anger, and
confusion, as she lost both her brother and her mother in exchange for a new foster

home that she was not familiar with. However, Hans emerges from this and embraces
Liesel with kindness and sympathy, which gives Liesel some comfort and a new sense
of belonging. This exemplifies the theme, as it juxtaposes human kindness with the
cruelty of society.