Water for elephants book theme

The more extreme the acts, the more applause earned from the crowd. 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 is the main love interest in the book, water for elephants, and also a performer at the circus. Theme of family in water for elephants 1104 words 5 pages.

The theme of age the theme of age if the fifth theme in the novel. Cant say ive ever been curious enough about its workings to read a book revolving around one, but i am so glad i. Jacob, the book s narrator and protagonist, worked as a vet and trainer of sorts at a circus. Jacob also denies this because of his knowledge about elephants, especially after working with rosie, an. Water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing. The only reason the circus is up and running is because people admire the circus and the acts in it. 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. Water for elephants, published in 2007, is sara gruens third novel. Winner of the 2007 bookbrowse award for most popular book.

Sara gruen has written an utterly transporting novel richly full of the stuff of life. 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 teaches us that courage is everywhere, everyday. 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. How do the chapters about the older jacob enrich the story about jacobs adventure with the circus. You may hear strange phrases thrown around during filming like kinkers, and redlighted. I think some bigger themes in the novel relate to memory and how we. 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 water for elephants theme. 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. What is the genre of water for elephants by sara gruen. I bought this book because of push advertising and regretted it.

Jacob laughs and says, im not running away, im coming home. Get an answer for what is the theme of water for elephants by sara gruen. Water for elephants study guide contains a biography of sara gruen, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Marlena ran away from home to join the circus and married august, the head animal trainer. Based on the acclaimed numberone bestseller, water for elephants presents an epic tale of forbidden love in a magical place filled with adventure. 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.

From my understanding of both works, the only clear connection is the theme of deception. Water for elephants is one of my most favorite books. One of the most important themes of the plot that follows the elderly jacob is independence and self worth. You are, of course, free to add your own analysis and understanding of the plot or themes to them. 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. The man agrees, saying that jacob will go down in the records book as the oldest man to run away with the circus. 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.

In your opinion, what is the most courageous act in the book and why. 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. 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. Review of water for elephants good books for catholic kids.

This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of water for elephants by sara gruen. I read that the story of jacob is allegedly the backbone of water for elephants. A water for elephants discussion from reading group guides writers digest interview with sara gruen. Later in the book, it is suggested that he is a paranoid schizophrenic, to explain his violence. The primary symbols are revealed through unique characters that struggle to feed deep internal desires.

Reading guide for water for elephants by sara gruen. Marlena works with eleven horses on a routine shown under the big top. Sara gruen is a contemporary author with both canadian and us citizenship, best known for fiction. While reading water for elephants i found the plot hyperbolic and excessively melodramatic and the characters little developed beyond their names. The title, water for elephants, is almost a little inside joke with the reader once weve finished the book, that is. I was astounded at the lack of research which became clear when i.

Water for elephants was a completely different read for me. I hate being so enamored with a book and then a crappy movie version comes along and tarnishes it. Water for elephants thesis statements and essay topics. 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. 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 symbols, allegory and motifs gradesaver. The author, sara gruen allows readers to read the book from two perspectives, one from young jacob and the other from older presentday jacob. 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. 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 last notes of water for elephants linger long after the book ends. 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. 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. It was adult, and it was realistic, and i loved it.

So, i read the story of jacob, son of isaac who was the son of abraham, who almost sacrificed isaac. Young jacob is able to do whatever his heart desires including, jumping on moving trains and fighting for the women he loves. Nonfiction, fiction, historicalfiction, biography, autobiography, mystery. The third theme shown in the book, water for elephants is admiration. Water for elephants by sara gruen book club discussion. In jacobs eyes, the beautiful marlena is the absolute girl of his dreams. Water for elephants sara gruen, 2006 algonquin books of chapel hill 350 pp. In what ways and to what extent do the words pathetic grandeur describe the world that gruen creates in her novel. Reading guide for water for elephants by sara gruen bookbrowse.

In a few short weeks, water for elephants will begin filming. 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. Discussion of themes and motifs in sara gruens water for elephants. 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. 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. The book, water for elephants, has a symbolic study of human need for love and acceptance. According to the values presented in this book, what do you think it takes to be a real man. Water for elephants book club discussion questions and. The inspiration for the book was a chicago tribune article about edward j. The water for elephants community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and. When jacob overhears a man at the assistedliving center claim to have been a water boy for the elephants on. The major theme of the subplot is how his advanced age affects his human. When two people are meant to be together, they will be together. Unfortunately in jacobs case, marlena is married to the ever so charming man, august.

Water for elephants by sara gruen 1,324,690 ratings, 4. Even when living in the nursing home, jacob demonstrates that his violent tendencies remain when. What is the theme of water for elephants by sara gruen. Was it braver to kill august or to refrain from doing so. 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. If youve read the book or even just the movie script, you may already know what these terms mean.