Music's effect on the Story

[grace]

Liesel clings to her papa's music for comfort and relief from the world around her.  As does Rosa, when Hans is fighting for the Nazi's she clutches her husbands accordion every night hoping he'll come back alive.  If Papa's music was placed in a more cheerful time with less tragedies would it be as important to the characters, Liesel and Rosa, and would it hold the same amount of importance to the story.     

[Carolyn]

Even if the setting of the story was more lighthearted and involved less tdradigies the music would still be just as important. Papa's music would still find a way into Rosa and Liesel's hearts because it is a part of him. The music is one thing that represents Papa throughout the entire novel, so I personally think that it would still find a way to be just as important to Rosa and Liesel. Liesel may still cling to her Papa's music when she needs comfort because there will always be things in the world that are sad and a little scary. Although Rosa yells at Hans throughout the novel there must be a little comfort to hear the sound of the accordion. When Rosa hears the accordion it most likely means that her two loved ones are together and hoppy with each other and are enjoying each other's company.

[stefanie]

The accordion would still have the same meaning to both Liesel and Rosa because the accordion was a part of Papa himself, and Papa would still be a very important part of Liesel and Rosa's lives, even in a more lighthearted setting. The accordion would have no special meaning had it not been for Papa to make the accordion breathe and letting the music live. To quote the book, "In the kitchen on those mornings, Papa made the accordion live. I guess it makes sense, when you really think about it. How do you tell if something's alive? You check for breathing" (Zusak 38). Even had the story been about a lighter subject, the accordion would still be of great importance, as long as Papa was there.

[annamichie]

If this story was different and not about the war but instead just about Liesel, with hardly anything bad going on( which would be kinda boring ) I think that the music would have less of an effect. If they went around having normal, happy, privileged lives they would still appreciate the music, but I think it would take some tragedy for them to realize just how much they treasure it.

[Annie Potter]

I agree with Anna Michie. I believe that if the books setting was not during WWll or any war for that matter, then Papas music would not have the same impact on Rosa and Liesel. The accordion not only drastically effected their lives during that difficult time, but it also proved them with hope and good luck. In the story, it links books and the accordion together because while Liesel was reading to the crowd during the raid she then told herself "This, it said, is your accordion" (Zusak 381). Also, Papa believes that the accordion gave all of them good luck. "Again, Himmel Street was a trail of people, and again, Papa left his accordion. Rosa reminded him to take it, but he refused. 'I didn't take it last time,' he explained, 'and we lived'" (Zusak 380). If the story was placed in a different setting, Liesel, Rosa and Papa wouldn't "cling" to the accordion for hope and their own good luck charm.

[melanie]

I agree that if the book was not set during World War II, then music wouldn't play as big of a part. Music and the accordion seemed to symbolize Papa, in that his soul and presence could always be there with Liesel. Liesel was always closer to Papa throughout the book, and Papa played a big role in the book to push Liesel to steal books, and when Papa left for war, the accordion was all Liesel had of Papa. The accordion, if it the story were set in a more lighthearted setting, would not serve it's importance as it does now. Papa received the accordion during a previous war, and it served, as Annie mentioned, a good luck charm, because it saved Papa from dying during that war. If it wasn't for the previous war, the accordion would not have any significant impact on the story. Without the hardships, the accordion and music wouldn't play a significant role throughout the story.

[roselyn]

I think music would be just as important if the book were to be set in a more cheerful and happy time. The music is an important part of Papa. It is an important part of what defines him. Liesel is constantly comparing Papa to the the accordion and so without it and the music Papa wouldn't be complete.

[elizabuchanan]

I agree with Melanie, if the story was not set in world war 2, music would not have as great of an effect on the characters. But Max identifies Hans with his accordion, something that was able to leave him to safety. The accordion is a gentle reminder to Rosa and Leisel of papa's sweet character, of his playfulness and his kindness.