As part of our systematic study of The Book Thief, we are exploring the different components of it as a literary text with a view to developing our own working definition for the genre “Magical Realism”.
The first stages of this involve reading the text, and itemising facts and observations that we believe may aid us in this analysis. This is being done in relation to the overall schema that we devised at the beginning of the project.
Here is a capture of what we explored in relation to the setting of the text:
The task breaks the inquiry into two sections.
Section 1: Historical Setting
The first two elements of setting, Time and Place, we will pursue in terms of historical context. Your research must determine the degree to which the novel is faithful to recorded history – and to do this, facts about Germany during World War II need to be set alongside it.
Here are some further focussing tasks:
- Research Germany under Hitler’s reign. Look into the politics of the time, the class separation, treatment of the Jewish, the position of women and their roles, and uncover any other important information.
- Cover some of the similarities and differences between Germany in the 1939 – 1943 and the present day.
- Discuss the setting of Molching, Germany; write about the way in which the town is ‘separated’ and how the setting is influential in presenting the text’s ideas.
Section 2: Setting Within the Text
This is where you explore the setting in the text as a literary device. Your research should observe how Zusak employs setting to convey his ideas and to extend upon the purpose of the text.
- List and discuss the effect of the physical attributes of three locations where significant actions occur in the text – use quotations to support your discussion, and gather all the sensory information you’re given (touch, taste, smell, sight and sound)
- Identify at least three features, objects or organisations that are indicative of social norms that you consider significant in the text. These could be references to media, organisations, institutions, social conventions, texts
Additional Task:
