The second symbol I found unmissable in The Book Thief was Hans Hubermanns accordion and the way it reinforces the idea of hope and distraction in this horrific period of time. ... The accordion brought life back to Liesel when she arrived at Himmel street, as well as symbolising the life, hope and survival of Max Vandenburg. ... Zusak develops this expression of hope through the time when Hans parts with his accordion as this really solidifies how important it was to the characters and the novel. ... To the reader the accordion symbolises the opposite of hope in this time, it is symbolic of t...

• Word Count: 1566
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

They contain sub-sequential visual art in rectangular patterns much like comic books. ... The major differences between comics and graphic novels is that they are longer, and comics can cover stories over the course of many issues while graphic novels are just one or two books (Difference Between Comic Books and Graphic Novels, knowledgenuts.com). ... Persepolis is about the author's life in Iran before and during their revolution. ... This symbolizes the way Marjane felt about society at the time, and how there were so many restrictions forced upon the people that life became as mundane ...

• Word Count: 1310
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

" This was the first time a novel was adapted into a major motion picture, and it certainly was not the last. Since then, hundreds of books have been adapted for the big screen with varying results. ... While films based on books vary in quality, there seems to be a consensus that the movies that stay true to the source material are often better than ones that stray away from it. ... In the story, seemingly unconnected events take place that happen to reunite these childhood friends who lost touch after some time of being apart. ... It ends with Jonesy able to move on with his life, full...

• Word Count: 1307
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

Known as one of the most "confessional" poets of her time, Anne Sexton was also one of the most criticized. ... Despite this, Anne went on to win many awards and go down as one of the best poets of all time. ... During this time Anne was also educated at Earland Junior College from 1947- 1948 (Twentieth Century American Literature 2). ... The chronic mental illness that controlled Anne's life was the anguished center of her family's life (Linda Sexton 1). ... Through out her career, Anne wrote not only poetry but also short stories and books for children as well. ...

• Word Count: 1368
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

Many people would agree with this, arguing that television, radio and now the Internet, can give you exactly what books do just much faster. ... He states that because we are able to gain the same information from film and television that literature, i.e. books, is now effluent, a waste of time. ... Ditto proved every part of the challenge wrong by using real life (or imaginary life) as the basis for his story. ... Ditto's book did not make life appear neat and tidy. ... We learnt about what life was like for Ditto and we heard his opinions. ...

• Word Count: 1857
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

In 1865 Matthew Arnold wrote, "The Function of Criticism at the Present Time". ... Arnold doesn't see this as necessary saying that, "Even when this [flurry of ideas] does not exist, books and reading may enable a man to construct a kind of semblance of it in his own mind, a world of knowledge and intelligence in which he may live and work" (2106). He points again to Goethe, who lived in Germany during a time of great critical and academic force. This created a society that was prepared to discuss culture and sophisticated ideas, and though they were not actually glowing with life and...

• Word Count: 1537
• Approx Pages: 6

Today the book is still in the top ten list of banned books in America. ... The matter-of-fact use of the slang of the time, and the graphic description of the treatment of slaves has raised concerns about how the book would influence students in public schools. ... The novel is a perfect adaptation of how life was lived in the South in the late 1800s. ... In reading the novel, a reader sees what life was like through Huck's eyes. ... In a school setting, this forces a student to form an opinion of the world and the racism that Huck was required to face as he lived his life. ...

• Word Count: 1611
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School