Should The Book Thief Be Considered A Trickster Hero

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The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and the classics The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle are novels that encompass the theme of Heroic Tricksters. Although The Book Thief is set during World War II, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes in the nineteenth century and The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood during the renaissance, all three novels explore this popular persona, the “trickster hero”, who defies the letter of the law and accepted conventions, yet still manages to be the protagonist. At the heart of many of the world’s oppressed cultures stands the figure of the “trickster hero”. In folklore and song, he appears in the form of a seemingly innocent and harmless character …show more content…

In contrast with the stern Rosa Hubermann, Hans Hubermann is a gentle man. As portrayed by the narrator: “Liesel observed the strangeness of her foster father’s eyes. They were made of kindness and silver…Liesel, upon seeing those eyes, understood that Hans Hubermann was worth a lot.” Liesel has “no trouble calling him Papa” as he brings comfort to her and helps her learn to read, starting with a book she took from the cemetery where her brother was buried. So begins a love affair between Liesel and her books and she is soon stealing books from Nazi-burnings as well as the mayors’ library. Keeping a promise he made to the man who saved his life, Hans Hubermann allows the Jew, Max Vandenberg, to hide in his basement. Liesel and Max become good friends, and Max narrates stories about their friendship, which are illustrated in the novel. However, these are dangerous times and Liesel soon learns about the risks that come with her new …show more content…

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle is a collection of stories sourced from the legend, Robin Hood, all woven together in a free-flowing tale. It begins with the incident that forces Robin Hood, the main character, to become an outlaw at the age of 18. However, he breaks the law only for the sake of justice, rebelling against state oppression. He outsmarts his rivals and inspires tremendous loyalty among his followers and when “people began to find that no harm was meant to them, but that money or food came in time of want to many a poor family, they came to praise Robin and his merry men […] for they felt him to be one of

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