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. A meticulously researched, fastpaced, engaging and ultimately very satisfying novel set mostly ina depression era travelling circus. Water for elephants, 2007, sara gruen water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing month. On the first night after his leaving cornell, for example, jacob as did his biblical namesake lies back on the bank, resting my. The more extreme the acts, the more applause earned from the crowd. This book was influenced by very important literary movements, such as romanticism, realism.
Feb 02, 2012 the movie water for elephants stays close to sara gruens beloved book particularly with the 1930s circus memories section. Water for elephants study guide contains a biography of sara gruen, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Water for elephants a depressionera circus provides the backdrop for sara gruens latest novel, water for elephants. The author, sara gruen allows readers to read the book from two perspectives, one from young jacob and the other from older presentday jacob. How do acts of violence contribute to the themes of. Review of water for elephants good books for catholic kids. 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 thesis statements and essay topics. Jacob also denies this because of his knowledge about elephants, especially after working with rosie, an elephant he had helped to train by speaking polish. The only reason the circus is up and running is because people admire the circus and the acts in it. An old man recounts his days in the circus to a circus employee. Discussion of themes and motifs in sara gruens water for elephants. These thesis statements offer a short summary of water for elephants in terms of different elements that could be important in an essay. Many years before, jacob is a student at cornell university, studying veterinarian medicine in order to join.
Sara gruen is a contemporary author with both canadian. 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. I think some bigger themes in the novel relate to memory and how we. Oct 21, 2009 but what i liked more was the writing. The inspiration for the book was a chicago tribune article about edward j. I read water for elephants a few years ago and from time to time, i reread my favorite novels. With lines of startling beauty, haunting and evocative scenes and finelydrawn characters who dance off the page, readers can dip in and out of the novel, immersing themselves in jacobs memories. On our first date, my husband took me to see tod brownings freaks, a 1932 horror film with a distinctly diane arbus feel. The reader is shown both emotional love and physical love, which brings up another theme. How do acts of violence contribute to the themes of water. Kelly, jennifer, sabrina and lizzy overall, i quite enjoyed water for elephants and would recommend it to others. In the story, love is shown among the characters themselves. A water for elephants discussion from reading group guides writers digest interview with sara gruen. While i enjoyed the movie with robert pattinson and reese witherspoon, the novel is far better.
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. 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. This study guide consists of approximately 58 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and. The book, water for elephants, has a symbolic study of human need for love and acceptance. Nov 25, 2010 water for elephants is a book about humanity. The movie water for elephants stays close to sara gruens beloved book particularly with the 1930s circus memories section. Water for elephants is one of my most favorite books. Water for elephants study guide contains a biography of sara gruen, literature essays, quiz questions, major. What is the theme of water for elephants by sara gruen water for elephants theme.
The plot was able to incorporate the characters and themes together in an entertaining way. About the book though he may not speak of them, the memories still dwell inside jacob jankowskis ninetysomethingyearold mind. In the book, jacobs narration takes place in his own mind. 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. Sara gruen spares no detail in chronicling the squalid, filthy, brutish circumstances in which he finds himself. In your opinion, what is the most courageous act in the book and why. On the outside the circus looks like a fun, exciting, and beautiful life, but behind it is suffering and pain. Water for elephants is a book written by sara gruen that demonstrates the themes of love, courage, admiration, and suffering. Water for elephants is that rare novel with a story so. Water for elephants is the story of jacobs life with this circus. Water for elephants begins dark and violent as it braces readers for the tumultuous circus atmosphere during the terrible years of the great depression.
I read that the story of jacob is allegedly the backbone of water for elephants. Writing in a different gender role can be challenging, however, i did not find the male perspective in this novel. Jacob is an old man and he lives in a nursing home. Gruens novel isnt deep literary fiction exploring the big questions of life but rather a beautifully told story of one man, his coming of age, his first love, an unexpected summer filled with adventure as well. Mar 18, 2008 it came up as question 16 in the water for elephants reading group guide. Im glad that i chose to read water for elephants because of its ability to captivate me and transport me in to a world of lemonadestealing elephants, intriguing romance, and a truly wild circus. According to the values presented in this book, what do you think it takes to be a real man. Water for elephants questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on water for elephants. The old people from the nursing home are about to visit a circus that showed up in the vicinity of their place. Water for elephants is fun, sweet and thrilling and will pull you into the mysterious life of the circus so far that you wont want to leave. Reading guide for water for elephants by sara gruen discussion guide for book clubs.
You are, of course, free to add your own analysis and understanding of the plot or themes to them. We have added this new water for elephants themepack with various hd backgrounds featuring the stars of water for elephants. This book was influenced by very important literary movements, such as romanticism, realism, regionalism, and naturalism. Apr 24, 2011 242 videos play all movie soundtracks themes epic music classicalinstrumental tiago faisca whisper of a thrill duration.
Water for elephants symbols, allegory and motifs gradesaver. The title, water for elephants, is almost a little inside joke with the reader once weve finished the book, that is. Ill spare you the retelling of the books steamy parts. Water for elephants is a book that can be read and reread, recommended and handed off between friends. The novel contains many severe acts of violence such as domestic abuse, augusts cruel. Then gruen shifts readers attention away from the eerie circus to introduce the ninety or ninetythree year old protagonist, jacob jankowski. Water for elephants teaches us that courage is everywhere, everyday. The story is about a young man that joins the circus. Water for elephants by sara gruen book club discussion. Water for elephants has two plots going on, both starring the same main character, jacob. Jacob laughs and says, im not running away, im coming home. Sara gruens very readable novel is a story of impossible love set in the circus world during the 1930s and is set to be made into a blockbuster film starring robert pattinson and reese witherspoon. Water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing. 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.
Overall, water for elephants was a book that grabbed me from the. He starts narrating the story, but suddenly you realize you are reading young jacob while being at the circus. I hate being so enamored with a book and then a crappy movie version comes along and tarnishes it. Water for elephants by sara gruen depicts a number of themes discussed below. The only place the movie veers from the original is in its details of the older, current jacob. Many of the characters in water for elephants face. The fourth theme shown in the book, water for elephants is suffering.
Water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing month. Sara gruen has said that the backbone of her novel parallels the biblical story of jacob, in the book of genesis. Sep 07, 2016 author, sara gruen is an excellent novelist. Water for elephants water for elephants is a romantic period drama that takes place in the depression era with a struggling circus full of misfits as its background. What is the theme of water for elephants by sara gruen. In what ways and to what extent do the words pathetic grandeur describe the world that gruen creates in her novel. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of water for elephants by sara gruen. The story is told as a series of memories by jacob jankowski, a 93yearold man who lives in a nursing home. One of the most important themes of the plot that follows the elderly jacob is independence and self worth. Memories of himself as a young man, tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the benzini brothers most spectacular show on earth. In sara gruens water for elephants, acts of violence shed light on and emphasize the novels main themes. Aug 05, 2008 a meticulously researched, fastpaced, engaging and ultimately very satisfying novel set mostly ina depression era travelling circus. Winner of the 2007 bookbrowse award for most popular book. 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.
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. The water for elephants community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and. Water for elephants, published in 2007, is sara gruens third novel. In one plot, jacob is a young guy just starting out in the world. So, i read the story of jacob, son of isaac who was the son of abraham, who almost sacrificed isaac.
Sara gruen is a contemporary author with both canadian and us citizenship, best known for fiction dealing with animals. Reading guide for water for elephants by sara gruen. But its the setting and animal subplot that add flavor to this book. From my understanding of both works, the only clear connection is the theme of deception. Trust us, water for elephants is going to be one of the surprise hits of 2011. The third theme shown in the book, water for elephants is admiration. Jacob, the books narrator and protagonist, worked as a vet and trainer of sorts at a circus.
The theme of age the theme of age if the fifth theme in the novel. The book begins at cornell university in new york in the 1930s. The man agrees, saying that jacob will go down in the records book as the oldest man to run away with the circus. However, in her 2006 novel water for elephants, sara gruen showed that the circus life might not have been as glamorous as it appeared from the outside.