Sara gruen has written an utterly transporting novel richly full of the stuff of life. Jacob laughs and says, im not running away, im coming home. Sara gruen is a contemporary author with both canadian and us citizenship, best known for fiction. Discussion of themes and motifs in sara gruens water for elephants. Marlena works with eleven horses on a routine shown under the big top. The water for elephants community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. The circus train only had a limited amount of water on board, and elephants can drink 100300 litres per day approximately 2680 gallons. Water for elephants book discussion questions water for elephants moves between a story about a circus and a story about an old man in a nursing home. If youve read the book or even just the movie script, you may already know what these terms mean. The inspiration for the book was a chicago tribune article about edward j. Review of water for elephants good books for catholic kids.
I was astounded at the lack of research which became clear when i. Young jacob is able to do whatever his heart desires including, jumping on moving trains and fighting for the women he loves. Unfortunately in jacobs case, marlena is married to the ever so charming man, august. Water for elephants is the new york times bestselling debut novel. The third theme shown in the book, water for elephants is admiration.
When two people are meant to be together, they will be together. I hate being so enamored with a book and then a crappy movie version comes along and tarnishes it. What is the theme of water for elephants by sara gruen water for elephants theme. Cant say ive ever been curious enough about its workings to read a book revolving around one, but i am so glad i did because it was sooo much more than that. Marlena ran away from home to join the circus and married august, the head animal trainer.
What is the genre of water for elephants by sara gruen. The love chase begins as regardless the circumstances, jacob is willing to do just about anything in. According to the values presented in this book, what do you think it takes to be a real man. Cant say ive ever been curious enough about its workings to read a book revolving around one, but i am so glad i. Theme of family in water for elephants 1104 words 5 pages. I decided to not watch the movie when i heard it was coming out simply because i didnt want to possibly ruin the experience id had with the book if the movie wasnt uptopar. This may be a totally amateur answer, but i totally thought the book was titled water for elephants because of the old man in the book that jacob despised. So, i read the story of jacob, son of isaac who was the son of abraham, who almost sacrificed isaac. Classroom ideas posted april 12, 2011 by sara novel novice 5 comments there is so much to love about sara gruens water for elephants, from the lush and magical setting of a 1930s circus, to the sweeping forbidden romance, to the heartbreaking recollections of narrator jacob jankowski.
You may hear strange phrases thrown around during filming like kinkers, and redlighted. Based on the acclaimed numberone bestseller, water for elephants presents an epic tale of forbidden love in a magical place filled with adventure. I think some bigger themes in the novel relate to memory and how we. The reason jacob is denying that joseph had carried water for any elephants is because it is nearly an impossible task with the amount of water that elephants can drink. Jacob also denies this because of his knowledge about elephants, especially after working with rosie, an. Water for elephants by sara gruen 1,324,690 ratings, 4. Was it braver to kill august or to refrain from doing so. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of water for elephants by sara gruen. The author, sara gruen allows readers to read the book from two perspectives, one from young jacob and the other from older presentday jacob. As i was reading, i kept expecting something to exhibit water for elephants besides mcguinty. Water for elephants is one of my most favorite books. Water for elephants sara gruen, 2006 algonquin books of chapel hill 350 pp.
It was adult, and it was realistic, and i loved it. But what the book does do a nice job of is walking the reader through the main characters jacobs changing attitude toward sex and sexuality. Water for elephants is the touching story of jacob jankowski, a ninetythreeyearold man, who is reminded of his colorful past when a circus sets up next door to his assistedliving center. At its finest, water for elephants resembles stealth hits like the giants house, by elizabeth mccracken, or the lovely bones, by alice sebold, books that combine outrageously whimsical. This read was chosen for my book club and what a fun book to plan a party around, would definitely recommend this book to friends, family and fellow book clubbers out there. This study guide consists of approximately 58 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of water for elephants. Even when living in the nursing home, jacob demonstrates that his violent tendencies remain when. The theme of age the theme of age if the fifth theme in the novel. In what ways and to what extent do the words pathetic grandeur describe the world that gruen creates in her novel. Summary an atmospheric, gritty, and compelling novel of starcrossed lovers, set in the circus world circa 1932, by the bestselling author of riding lessons when jacob jankowski, recently orphaned and suddenly adrift, jumps onto a passing train, he enters a world of freaks, grifters, and. If you like water for elephants, you might like little heathens by mildred armstrong kalish seabiscuit by laura hillenbrand the adventures of miles and isabel by tom gilling. This study guide consists of approximately 58 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and. The primary symbols are revealed through unique characters that struggle to feed deep internal desires.
Reading guide for water for elephants by sara gruen. I bought this book because of push advertising and regretted it. In the beginning of the novel, jacob mocks another resident of the nursing home who claims to have worked in the circus and carried water for the elephants. Water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing. You are, of course, free to add your own analysis and understanding of the plot or themes to them. Water for elephants was a completely different read for me. Get an answer for what is the theme of water for elephants by sara gruen. A water for elephants discussion from reading group guides writers digest interview with sara gruen. Jacob, when narrating in his older years, demonstrates to readers that he remains as a static character throughout the novel. What is the theme of water for elephants by sara gruen.
From my understanding of both works, the only clear connection is the theme of deception. The title, water for elephants, is almost a little inside joke with the reader once weve finished the book, that is. Water for elephants, published in 2007, is sara gruens third novel. How do the chapters about the older jacob enrich the story about jacobs adventure with the circus. Later in the book, it is suggested that he is a paranoid schizophrenic, to explain his violence. In your opinion, what is the most courageous act in the book and why. I read that the story of jacob is allegedly the backbone of water for elephants. Marlena is the main love interest in the book, water for elephants, and also a performer at the circus. When jacob overhears a man at the assistedliving center claim to have been a water boy for the elephants on. The last notes of water for elephants linger long after the book ends. Water for elephants by sara gruen book club discussion. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Creating families the novel water for elephants by sara gruen presents a dramatic and emotional plot about a boy, jacob, who joins the circus after losing everything.
In a few short weeks, water for elephants will begin filming. Appropriately nostalgic and sepiatoned, the soundtrack for the big screen adaptation of author sara gruens circusthemed, great depression romance water for elephants features the work of grammywinning composer james newton howard. In jacobs eyes, the beautiful marlena is the absolute girl of his dreams. Novelist sara gruen sweeps her readers off their feet in the opening pages of water for elephants and doesnt let go until she deposits them at the end of her fantastic tale of passion, madness and fancy. While reading water for elephants i found the plot hyperbolic and excessively melodramatic and the characters little developed beyond their names. Jacob, the book s narrator and protagonist, worked as a vet and trainer of sorts at a circus. The major theme of the subplot is how his advanced age affects his human.
Water for elephants study guide contains a biography of sara gruen, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. The circus, the great depression, a complex elephant, equally complex love, the mists and twists of memory articulated in the utterly winning voice of a very old man whos seen it all. The man agrees, saying that jacob will go down in the records book as the oldest man to run away with the circus. Winner of the 2007 bookbrowse award for most popular book. His lie telling the old ladies that he used to carry water for the elephants is what triggers jacobs memory about working with the circus. One of the most important themes of the plot that follows the elderly jacob is independence and self worth.
The story follows jacob jankowski who was an old man living in a nursing home, as he looks back about a time that defined his life. The book, water for elephants, has a symbolic study of human need for love and acceptance. The only reason the circus is up and running is because people admire the circus and the acts in it. Water for elephants book club discussion questions and. Reading guide for water for elephants by sara gruen bookbrowse. Water for elephants thesis statements and essay topics. Water for elephants symbols, allegory and motifs gradesaver.
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