Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Ricky Grayson
English
Chadwick and Kelly
6/31/10
Journal Entry 1: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close pgs 1-75
Summary:
In the novel Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Jonathan Safran Foer writes of a nine year old boy, Oskar Schell, who is both inquisitive and humorous. You see, Oskar lost his father in the 9/11 terror attacks and cannot adjust to his new life. Oskar is both surprised and hurt that his mother, who he thinks should be grieving over his father’s death, is, in fact, dating. Oskar believes that both of them should remain in constant sadness in order to honor his father. The story of the death of Oskar’s father is told as a flashback. On 9/11, Oskar’s father desperately tries to call home from the Twin Towers while Oskar is the only one in the house. However, something inside of Oskar keep him from picking up the telephone. After his father’s death, Oskar disconnects the telephone and hides it in his room. Oskar’s guilt over his father’s death eventually leads him to explore the contents of his parents’ closet, where he finds many of his father’s old belongings. Among his father’s possessions is a blue vase which Oskar accidentally breaks. Inside of this vase is an envelope, containing a mysterious key. Also, written on the envelope is the word “Black,” leading Oskar on an epic journey throughout New York’s five boroughs to find the lock which the key opens. Throughout this journey, Oskar meets many interesting people and in the end, is healed of his grief.
Stylistic Elements: * Use of different perspectives * Use of visuals * Writing styles (Foer uses different writing styles based on the speaker. For example, when Oskar tells the story, Foer writes in the voice of a child)
Questions:
1. Throughout this assigned reading, Foer switches the perspective to that of an un-named character. Who is this new character? 2. Flipping through the pages of the book, I see many random pictures in a row. What is
English
Chadwick and Kelly
6/31/10
Journal Entry 1: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close pgs 1-75
Summary:
In the novel Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Jonathan Safran Foer writes of a nine year old boy, Oskar Schell, who is both inquisitive and humorous. You see, Oskar lost his father in the 9/11 terror attacks and cannot adjust to his new life. Oskar is both surprised and hurt that his mother, who he thinks should be grieving over his father’s death, is, in fact, dating. Oskar believes that both of them should remain in constant sadness in order to honor his father. The story of the death of Oskar’s father is told as a flashback. On 9/11, Oskar’s father desperately tries to call home from the Twin Towers while Oskar is the only one in the house. However, something inside of Oskar keep him from picking up the telephone. After his father’s death, Oskar disconnects the telephone and hides it in his room. Oskar’s guilt over his father’s death eventually leads him to explore the contents of his parents’ closet, where he finds many of his father’s old belongings. Among his father’s possessions is a blue vase which Oskar accidentally breaks. Inside of this vase is an envelope, containing a mysterious key. Also, written on the envelope is the word “Black,” leading Oskar on an epic journey throughout New York’s five boroughs to find the lock which the key opens. Throughout this journey, Oskar meets many interesting people and in the end, is healed of his grief.
Stylistic Elements: * Use of different perspectives * Use of visuals * Writing styles (Foer uses different writing styles based on the speaker. For example, when Oskar tells the story, Foer writes in the voice of a child)
Questions:
1. Throughout this assigned reading, Foer switches the perspective to that of an un-named character. Who is this new character? 2. Flipping through the pages of the book, I see many random pictures in a row. What is