Analysis and discussion of characters in sara gruens water for elephants. Get an answer for what are six character traits jacob jankowski has in water for elephants. Marlena rosenbluth from water for elephants charactour. The story is told as a series of memories by jacob jankowski, a 93yearold man who lives in a nursing home. 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.
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. On the first night after his leaving cornell, for example, jacob as did his biblical namesake lies back on the bank, resting my. Water for elephants is fun, sweet and thrilling and will pull you into the mysterious. Hes a wifebeater, an animal abuser, and a downright cruel individual. After jacob is released from guard duty outside the cooch tent, he finds a quiet place to sit and rest. Rosie the elephant will only respond to polish commands, and since august. The name of the character jacob is the first clue and its pretty obvious. The novel has received high praise from numerous critics, and has. Discover and share water for elephants jacob quotes. He uses his training to help and care for the animals. She respects jacob and marlena and revenges august for the careless treatment and indifference. Water for elephants movie tiein by sara gruen, paperback.
On our first date, my husband took me to see tod brownings freaks, a 1932 horror film with a distinctly diane arbus feel. Water for elephants book club discussion questions and. Jul 23, 2018 water for elephants by sara gruen is a must read a story about a 90yearold man remembering his days with a circus during the great depression. A novel and millions of other books are available for instant. Water for elephants is the story of jacobs life with this circus. Aside from august, marlena, al, camel, and walter, the other people who work at the circus sort. Character analysis of water for elephant 995 words bartleby.
May 26, 2006 water for elephants is the story of jacob s life with this circus. Water for elephants symbols, allegory and motifs gradesaver. Water for elephants by sara gruen the new york times. From my understanding of both works, the only clear connection is the theme of deception. You might like to consider the following adjectives. How do the chapters about the older jacob enrich the story about jacobs adventure with the circus. This story is character driven, and often said to have amazing character development and relationships. I believe that of all animals, choosing an elephant as the title animal was appropriate given elephants are known for their good memories.
A thousand splendid suns, memory keepers daughter, etc. His parents, on his final day of his cornell academy of veteranary science exams, get killed. Readers may find themselves churning through this book at a rapidfire pace, eager to see what lies ahead, then slowing down as they realize the pages are dwindling. Download and read online for free water for elephants by sara gruen. In the book water for elephants by sara gruen, there are some slight biblical themes if you look closely. Water for elephants thesis statements and essay topics. Jacob has joined the benzini brothers circus, where hes able to use his veterinarian. The circus train only had a limited amount of water on board, and elephants can drink 100300 litres per day approximately 2680 gallons. They mortgaged their house to get him a good education at cornell. Marlena is married to august, but it is a bad marriage. Jacob and marlena are left alone with rosie, the elephant. The circus train only carried a limited amount of water on board and elephants will.
To emphasize this, the whole book is written in the present tense. Get an answer for what is jacob s relationship with rosie in water for elephants. The only place the movie veers from the original is in its details of the older, current jacob. Water for elephants, 2007, sara gruen water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing month. Jacobs story begins at cornell university where he is studying to come a vet. Jacob jankowski the protagonist, a 93yearold nursing home resident reminiscing on the time he spent as a circus. 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. August august is the owner of the circus, married to marlena, and a paranoid schizophrenic. Feb 02, 2012 the movie water for elephants stays close to sara gruens beloved book particularly with the 1930s circus memories section.
However, if we dig a little deeper, we find the story of jacob in the king james old testament bares some resemblance to the story of jacob in water for elephants. An analysis of water for elephants using moral criticism when writers focus on morality, they try to write with a sense of moral so they do not corrupt the audience of the book. Jacob jankowski marlena rosie the elephant august uncle al rosemary the nurse walter camel. Finally, he decided to play the role of jacob jankowski in a film adaptation. Jacob, when narrating in his older years, demonstrates to readers that he remains as a static character throughout the novel. Sara gruen spares no detail in chronicling the squalid, filthy, brutish circumstances in which he finds himself. Get an answer for why are ghosts are tormenting jacob s past in water for elephants. The circus man water for elephants by sara gruen is a fascinating and captivating novel told from the point of view of jacob jankowski, a veterinarian who jumps aboard a traveling circus during the depression in the 1930s. Jacob mocks another resident at the nursing home who claims to have worked in the circus and carried water for the elephants. In water for elephants, the characters marlena and jacob are drawn together. Trosko english character analysis essay 9th novemember 2011 water for.
By the end of the novel, marlena is a distinguished dynamic character, knowing that independence and self beliefs are a great deal of who she is. His job brought him happiness, especially while marlena was there. Set in a travelling circus touring the backblocks of america during the great depression of the early 1930s, this is a story of love and hate, trains and circuses, dwarves and fat ladies, horses and elephantsor to be more specific, one elephant, rosie, star of benzini bros most spectacular show on earth. The author, sara gruen allows readers to read the book from two perspectives, one from young jacob and the other from older presentday jacob. She is an animal, but she is very clever and she even understands polish language. Character analysis of water for elephant 995 words 4 pages. Mar 18, 2008 it came up as question 16 in the water for elephants reading group guide. Charlie enters the book in the secondtolast chapter and plays a small but pivotal role. In the book, jacobs narration takes place in his own mind. Mcguinty is a minor character who appears early on in the book. What are six character traits jacob jankowski has in water. Young jacob is able to do whatever his heart desires including, jumping on moving trains and fighting for the women he loves. Water for elephants book club discussion questions and answers.
Sara gruen has written an utterly transporting novel richly full of the stuff of life. Every few chapters, the narrative switches from one jacob to the other. Apr 22, 2011 8 big differences between water for elephants book and movie apr. What are six character traits jacob jankowski has in. Jacob is ninetythree year old and is looking back on his adventures in life while he spends his days in a nursing home. What is jacobs relationship with rosie in water for.
Fans of him like these movies, tv shows, books and video games. The animals are mangy, underfed or fed rotten food, and abused. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. In water for elephants, the character jacob becomes the veterinarian in the circus. Water for elephants analysis water for elephants every book has the same basic hero archetype. If you didnt catch it the first time around, heres a brief overview. To carry water for elephants would be such a strenuous, nearly impossible task. It is considered as a histor water for elephants, an analysis teen ink. He is presented as appealing through the traits of kindnessto animals, especially rosieand patiencein learning how to work with rosie. I was astounded at the lack of research which became clear when i. Read water for elephants absolutely for free at readanybook. Water for elephants is the touching story of jacob jankowski, a ninetythreeyearold man. Water for elephants every book has the same basic hero archetype.
Jacob jankowski is the main character in the book, water for elephants. She wrote the book as part of national novel writing month. Even when living in the nursing home, jacob demonstrates that his violent tendencies remain when. The movie water for elephants stays close to sara gruens beloved book particularly with the 1930s circus memories section. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Jacob is studying at cornell when he learns of his parents accident and that all their belongings have been possessed by the bank. When the book opens, jacob jankowski is an angry old man who has been living in an assistedliving center. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of water for elephants by sara gruen.
My book was water for elephants and the protagonist was jacob. Gruen transports us into the world of a thirdrate traveling circus during the great depression. According to his life story he appears as an honorable and sensual man. At numerous points in the book, people try to excuse augusts behavior by saying that hes a paranoid schizophrenic.
But jacob doesnt believe theres excuse for his behavior. Water for elephants by sara gruen at the best online ebook storage. I read that the story of jacob is allegedly the backbone of water for elephants. Water for elephants study guide contains a biography of sara gruen, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Jacob decieving first his brother, then his father. Jacob jankowski from water for elephants charactour. The theme of age the theme of age if the fifth theme in the novel. Water for elephants is the new york times bestselling debut novel by sara gruen. Explore our collection of motivational and famous quotes by authors you know and love. Why are ghosts are tormenting jacobs past in water for. Print word pdf take our free water for elephants quiz below, with 25 multiple choice questions that help you. These thesis statements offer a short summary of water for elephants in terms of different elements that could be important in an essay.
I have read this book and the reason the name is water for elephant is because the main character has a love for animals, and he has a specific bond with one elephants. The story could essentially be jacob proving that mr. Related questions and answers for characters in water for elephants. Burns contemporary literature acp 29 september 2012 jacob and his decisions. Analysis essay 9th novemember 2011 water for elephants in a recent interview for, robert pattinson, a household young actor, revealed that he was offered with various movie characters that he could choose from as his next role after starring in the twilight series. Water for elephants chapter summaries flashcards quizlet. Young jacob is able to do whatever his heart desires including, jumping on. Jacob is working overtime as the narrator of water for elephants. 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. Water for elephants is the touching story of jacob jankowski, a ninetythreeyearold man, who is reminded. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading water for elephants.
Jacob jankowski is a main personage and protagonist of this novel. Water for elephants is written as a firstperson account and closely follows the life of jacob jankowski as flashbacks of his 20s, as he spends his old age in a nursing home. Have you ever wondered if the story your reading have any hidden meaning to it. Jacob, out of his love for marlena and rosie drove him to carry this gigantic secret, a feat nearly as impossible as carrying water for elephants. Water for elephants is the touching story of jacob jankowski, a ninetythreeyear old man. It is quickly established that marlena both appreciates and adores the way that jacobs cares for animals and they bond over training the elephant. What are six character traits jacob jankowski has in water for. Water for elephants a depressionera circus provides the backdrop for sara gruens latest novel, water for elephants. Younger jacob and older jacob each gets to have his say. Two days after he moves into walter and jacob s room, they discuss camels. 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. What are six character traits jacob jankowski has in water for elephants. Water for elephants is a book that can be read and reread, recommended and handed off between friends.
Sara gruens arresting new novel, water for elephants, explores similar subject. Dec 11, 2011 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. Water for elephants in one plot, jacob is a young guy just starting out in the world. As in the whole novel the author marie darrieussecq tells the story of the other woman.
I bought this book because of push advertising and regretted it. Therefor water for elephants has a more metaphorical meaning that deals with jacobs decision to stay with the circus, providing water for elephants. To pay for his tuition, his parents had to take out a morgage on the house, causing him to have no home. Perhaps, like his interest in sex, jacob uses his readiness to participate in violence as a way of proving his masculinity to other characters. Another article in our series highlighting water for elephants. 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. Joshilyn jackson, author of gods in alabama so much more than a tale about a circus, water for elephants is a compelling journey not only under the big top, but into the protagonists heart. I read water for elephants for our book club, and i expected it to be as slow, dull, and superficial as most of the other books we have read. How jacob coaxes rosie to perform thereby saving the circus lies at the. Sara gruen has a voice to rival john irvings, and i am hopelessly, unabashedly in love with this book. While reading water for elephants i found the plot hyperbolic and excessively melodramatic and the characters little developed beyond their names. Joesph mcguinty says he used to carry water for elephants at the old circuses, which annoys jacob cause he doesnt think its true. The unusual title comes from an incident at the beginning of the novel.
Rosemary is the nursing home caregiver who listens to his stories and gives him real food. May 26, 2006 water for elephants, 2007, sara gruen water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing month. This book, as the rest of her collection, was written in english, same language in which i read it. Use these book club discussion questions on water for elephants to lead your book clubs conversation on the story. Jacob jankowski is the main character of water for elephants. You are, of course, free to add your own analysis and understanding of the plot or themes to them. Jacob s story begins at cornell university where he is studying to come a vet.
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