People also love animals, and animals love them back. Animal symbol the main circus animal in this novel is an elephant rosie. See more ideas about water for elephants, elephant book and award winning books. 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, 2007, sara gruen water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing month. I know i shouldnt do this, but somehow i cant help myself. 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. And like many books, water for elephants sneaks in an extra ending or two, just for fun.
Jacob jankowski jacob jankowski is the narrator of the novel, and senior in college whose ready to explore the world and find where he belongs. 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 story, love is shown among the characters themselves. Instant downloads of all 1291 litchart pdfs including hills like white elephants. The important and symbolic meaning of the elephant red. On the outside the circus looks like a fun, exciting, and beautiful life, but behind it is suffering and pain. Water for elephants book by sara gruen thriftbooks. How do the chapters about the older jacob enrich the story about jacobs adventure with the circus. The book went on to receive numerous awards and nominations as well as a film adaptation in 2011 starring robert pattinson and reese witherspoon. In indian culture, elephants are a symbol of mental strength, earthiness and responsibility. He closes the narrative on a happy note, explaining that he and marlena finally got to be together after august died. Events lead him to joining the circus as their vet, working under their unstable boss august whose violent tendencies give everyone reason to be.
Fans of the story looking for more gritty, circus related tales should check out the following books like water for elephants. When the book opens, jacob jankowski is an angry old man who has been living in an assistedliving center. Water for elephants symbols, allegory and motifs gradesaver. It shouldnt be a surprise that in the prologue we cant tell whether jacob is talking about marlena or rosie when he uses the word she he loves them both and thinks of them both as individuals. Jacob, the books narrator and protagonist, worked as a vet and trainer of sorts at a circus. In hinduism, the elephant is a sacred animal and is considered the representation or the living. Read online water for elephants by sara gruen for free. The last notes of water for elephants linger long after the book ends. The two readers, david ledoux and john randolph jones, did a wonderful job of bringing both jacobs young and old to life. The alternating glamour and squalor of the circus world gruen expertly conjures may truly be one of the greatest shows. 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. Robert olen butler, author of a good scent from a strange mountain 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. Also, if you want a special treat, listen to it on audiobook.
The book, water for elephants, has a symbolic study of human need for love and acceptance. Jacob jankowski is the main character in the book, water for elephants. Books, stories, and novels like water for elephants by sara gruen. With robert pattinson, reese witherspoon, christoph waltz, paul schneider. Water for elephants book club discussion questions and. The color and light from it has a soothing and pure quality, which makes it symbolic of harmony and balance. Jade has been used for centuries in healing practices and in feng shui. The story is told as a series of memories by jacob jankowski, a 93yearold man who lives in a nursing home. Your story took me to place i could only dream of going. Download and read online for free water for elephants by sara gruen. After his parents death, jacob jankowski is left penniless and homeless. Jacobs story begins at cornell university where he is studying to come a vet. She always attracts children and adults during the circus show.
Rosie the main characterelephant represents the americans in the great depression easily beaten down but in the end can take the battle and like rosie things get better. The primary symbols are revealed through unique characters that struggle to feed deep internal desires. Just when you think the story might be over, you get another little bit of narrative. In what ways and to what extent do the words pathetic grandeur describe the world that gruen creates in her novel. Hindus have worshiped elephants for centuries, and the large animals enjoy tremendous popularity and a charismatic status in other parts of south asia. Water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing month. The controlling metaphor in the book, water for elephants is the elephant. Water for elephants by sara gruen depicts a number of themes discussed below. The grand rapids press you need this elephant in your life. In china, india and africa, the elephant is a symbol of beauty, power, dignity, intelligence and peace. Read water for elephants absolutely for free at readanybook. Find all the books, read about the author, and more.
A 42yearold asian elephant named tai most recently known for the role of rosie in foxs water for elephants was abused by its trainers in 2005, according to animal defenders international. Water for elephants is the new york times bestselling debut novel. Indian rock reliefs include a number of depictions of elephants, notably the descent of the ganges at mahabalipuram, a large 7thcentury hindu scene with many figures that uses the form of the rock to shape the image. Water for elephants by sara gruen at the best online ebook storage. Dec 23, 2015 download and read water for elephants. Jacob is ninetythree year old and is looking back on his adventures in life while he spends his days in a nursing home. I believe that of all animals, choosing an elephant as the title animal was appropriate given elephants are known for their good memories. The elephant is a symbol of unmatched strength, and with grace she carries the spirit animal energies of patience, wisdom and the jewels of contemplative meditation. Young jacob is able to do whatever his heart desires including, jumping on moving trains and fighting for the women he loves. August feels the need to beat rosie to get her to walk on cue and august beats marlena so she does what he wants her to do. The whole book revolves around the elephant which had been brutally abused by previous circus trainers. On our first date, my husband took me to see tod brownings freaks, a 1932 horror film with a distinctly diane arbus feel. 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 truth is, it is summer and i am desperate for a distraction away from my recent obsession with greys anatomy reruns fueled by netflixs instant queue. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Water for elephants by sara gruen book club discussion. Therefor water for elephants has a more metaphorical meaning that deals with jacobs decision to stay with the circus, providing water for elephants. Triviaquiz for fans features youll discover inside. By the end of the story, the elephant dance symbolizes the rare connection between humans and animals, which happens when a.
Jade elephants are believed to be symbols of power, strength, and good luck. The primary symbols are revealed through unique characters who struggle to feed deep internal desires. Rosie, the elephant referenced in sara gruens title, is a powerful symbol. The elephants hide it so well the drivers never get to see them actually perform the ritual.
Love is a driving force in water for elephants, and its not limited to the love one human feels for another. The fourth theme shown in the book, water for elephants is suffering. At unakoti, tripura there is an 11thcentury group of reliefs related to shiva, including several elephants indian painting includes many elephants, especially ones. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on litcharts. Set in the 1930s, a former veterinary student takes a job in a travelling circus and falls in love with the ringmasters wife. Sara gruens title water for elephants provides a symbolic study of the fundamental human need for love and acceptance. Trust us, water for elephants is going to be one of the surprise hits of 2011.
If you say that you carried water for elephants, i am. Review of water for elephants good books for catholic kids. The title, water for elephants, is almost a little inside joke with the reader once weve finished the book, that is. Water for elephants is a delightful, moving book, and the ending was a very pleasant surprise. I fell in love with the picture you chose for your book the first time i saw it. 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. A comprehensive guide to aid in discussion and discovery 30 multiple choice questions on the book, plots, characters, and author insightful resource for teachers, groups, or individuals keep track of scores with results to. It also symbolizes the idea of desiring something but never being able to have it. Sara gruen has written an utterly transporting novel richly full of the stuff of life. Teach your students to analyze literature like litcharts does.
This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of water for elephants by sara gruen. Herds of elephants are always led by the females, known as matriarchal societies. Like a queen she exudes an air of authority as she walks the plains of africa, or asia. The elephant is considered a symbol of good luck and is a symbol of good fortune.
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