A Comparison Of Slaughterhouse-Five And The Book Thief

Introduction:

The Book Thief and Slaughterhouse Five have many similarities but also differences throughout the books. Both books are about war and telling the story, but how the authors tell is very different. Death is present in each book and talked about throughout out, in The Book Thief, Death is the narrator and takes us through time as the war is going on. Slaughterhouse Five is very different, death is something Billy, the main characters does not show feelings towards, he is able to move on very quickly. Death is portrayed and shown very differently with the use of narrators, characters and themes throughout The Book Thief and Slaughterhouse Five.

Support 1: The Book Thief

Throughout The Book Thief, “Death” is who leads us through

Your soul will be in my arms. A color will be perched on my shoulder. I will carry you gently away.” (1.12)

Death is shown to be something very hard for the characters that they must learn to accept, it isn't overlooked throughout the book, in the end though it of course is inevitable. Personification is used with showing that “death” is the narrator and is always present and affecting everyone in different ways throughout the book.

Characters in The Book Thief, show that death is present everywhere for them, and adapt to situations.

"Blood leaked from her nose and licked at her lips. Her eyes had blackened. Cuts had opened up and a series of wounds were rising to the surface of her skin. All from words." (253)

Liesel is calling llsa Hermann pathetic and telling her to get over the death of her son, she then realizes later on the power of her words and how they effect everyone differently

Everyone takes death differently and in this book, the characters show that it isn't overlooked and it affects

Billy, the main character in Slaughterhouse Five uses repetition is to show the impact of war on people.

“So It Goes”

This phrase is repeated at least 100 times, every time someone dies, Billy says that and immediately moves on and doesn't mourn of that loss.

This is showing the resentment of all the people dying throughout the war and how it's becomes a “normal” when people are passing. Characters aren't being affected nor do they spend time mourning, because of the Tralfamadorian timeline Billy is able to move past it all and keep telling his story.

Support 3: Theme of Mortality in Slaughterhouse Five and The Book Thief

Mortality in The Book Thief and Slaughterhouse Five is a major theme throughout each of the books, but each are represented differently.

In The Book Thief, mortality is happening all around, in the beginning of the book, death, tells us all the characters we will grow to love will soon die shortly after. Death isn't over looked at mortality is something the readers will have to learn to realize as the book