"The Messenger" by Markus Zusak is a novel about an ordinary young man, named Ed Kennedy, who was sent playing cards by an unknown person with messages for Ed on them. These messages were like missions for Ed to complete. After reading the text Zusak shows us how any ordinary person can push themselves beyond what they are capable of and can do extraordinary things. Zusak uses structure, symbolism, language, point of view and the use of italics to reinforce the fact that Ed is just an ordinary man who with a little guidance can push himself to extreme lengths. By the end of the novel I see that Ed can achieve so much then anyone can.
             • Structure and symbolism – nearly all aspects of the structure symbolize something.
             • 5 parts – 4 suits and the joker – begin with ace – then in numerical order
             • on the front of the book – protect the diamonds – survive the clubs – dig deep through spades – feel the hearts --- each part relates to this
             • also in each chapter the contents of that chapter relate to the meaning of the card
             • Ex. The five of diamonds = cowardice – in this chapter Ed visits 45 Edgar street but is scared so leaves it to the end.
             • Colloquial – Ex. "stingy bastard" "shit-box falcon" – uniquely Australian – Adds a certain laid back TONE to the text
             • Tone changes through out the text – Ex. The tone is different in hearts because he is dealing with people very close to him, his friends, Ritchie, Marv and Audrey.
             • The language in the text completely changes in part five, the joker – it turns into a "crappy" love story – whereas at he start it is very humorous.
             • Ed is a very humorous character
             • He directly addresses us which make us au
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