On the first night after his leaving cornell, for example, jacob as did his. I hate being so enamored with a book and then a crappy movie version comes along and tarnishes it. Jacob, the books narrator and protagonist, worked as a vet and trainer of sorts at a circus. 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. 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. Water for elephants book club discussion questions and. Books that make excellent choices for discussion groups have a good plot, welldrawn.
So, i read the story of jacob, son of isaac who was the son of abraham, who almost sacrificed isaac. How do the chapters about the older jacob enrich the story about jacobs adventure with the circus. Aug 05, 2008 a meticulously researched, fastpaced, engaging and ultimately very satisfying novel set mostly ina depression era travelling circus. Well, the phrase reinforces jacobs association with circuses. 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. They create a plan to completely ruin the circus for good. This is where almost all of the action of the story took place. Based on the book by sara gruen, water for elephants is the story of jacob jankowski who as an old man is recounting the tale of when he first. May 26, 2006 water for elephants is the story of jacobs life with this circus. 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. 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. A water for elephants discussion from reading group guides writers digest interview with sara gruen.
When jacob jankowski arrived for the first time at the circus where he worked, he was in awe. Read free book excerpt from water for elephants by sara gruen, page 1 of 7. Sara gruen has said that the backbone of her novel parallels the biblical story of jacob, in the book of genesis. In the sections of the book set in the present, when jacob is in his 90s, he makes a big deal about his age and seems really upset by it. Today, were featuring some of the extras they offer that can enhance your reading of water for elephants, and. 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. For example, death of jacobs parents and marlenas white horse are the. It has 335 pages, and is classified as historical romance and fiction. 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. Jacob jankowski, a retired veterinarian living out his days in an assistedliving facility, drifts in and out of his memories. In striving to enrich the lives of all readers, teachingbooks supports the first amendment and celebrates the right to read.
Camel, for example, pleads with blackie to let go of jacob by saying, blackie, im tellin ya. Reading guide for water for elephants by sara gruen bookbrowse. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of water for elephants by sara gruen. At what point in his life did he seem to be the happiest. The band starts playing very fast and the redlighters set all the circus animals loose. The last notes of water for elephants linger long after the book ends. Water for elephants is the new york times bestselling debut novel by sara gruen.
Sara gruen has written an utterly transporting novel richly full of the stuff of life. 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. In water for elephants, the story is told through jacob jankowski at two different parts in his life. 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.
Mar 18, 2008 it came up as question 16 in the water for elephants reading group guide. Was it braver to kill august or to refrain from doing so. Water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing month. It was a fast read which i always appreciate, because im perpetually drowning in a list of books tbr and it was fairly easy to get through. Cmrra, bmg rights management, aresa, and 1 music rights societies show more show less. The following quote from jacob, taken from the book, describes, in detail, the marvelous scene. 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. Influenced and inspired by the environment in their lifetimes or even before their lifetimes, they will come up with realistic as well as fictional works. Water for elephants, 2007, sara gruen water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing month.
Water for elephants book club discussion questions and answers. 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. The title, water for elephants, is almost a little inside joke with the reader once weve finished the book, that is. From my understanding of both works, the only clear connection is the theme of deception. Should the murderer in water for elephants be punished. May 19, 20 licensed to youtube by ingrooves, the orchard music on behalf of mwg music world entertainment corporation. The book, water for elephants, starts off in the present day, in a nursing home where the main character, jacob jankowski, lives. It follows the story of a young man whose circumstances are suddenly altered and who finds himself homeless and jobless. For example, death of jacobs parents and marlenas white horse are the most. Licensed to youtube by ingrooves, the orchard music on behalf of mwg music world entertainment corporation.
She wrote the book as part of national novel writing month. Download and read online for free water for elephants by sara gruen. Water for elephants essay example topics and well written. The circus train only had a limited amount of water on board, and elephants can drink 100. The writing in water for elephants is replete with colloquial language. Water for elephants study guide contains a biography of sara gruen, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. While reading water for elephants i found the plot hyperbolic and excessively melodramatic and the characters little developed beyond their names. Jacob experiences the full front of the depression when he goes to the reading of his parents estate and finds there is nothing left for him. His parent had given away all of their savings to put him through college and when the depression hit there was nothing to replace this. The story is told as a series of memories by jacob jankowski, a 93yearold man who lives in a nursing home. On the first night after his leaving cornell, for example, jacobas did his biblical. In one plot, jacob is a young guy just starting out in the world. Water for elephants has two plots going on, both starring the same main character, jacob.
His stay here is cut short by the death of his parents. Water for elephants the novel water for elephants is written by the bestselling author sarah gruen. I read that the story of jacob is allegedly the backbone of water for elephants. A meticulously researched, fastpaced, engaging and ultimately very satisfying novel set mostly ina depression era travelling circus.
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. Water for elephants by sara gruen at the best online ebook storage. An atmospheric, gritty, and compelling novel of starcrossed lovers, set in the. Apr 22, 2011 8 big differences between water for elephants book and movie apr. Water for elephants is a fictional novel by sara gruen that is set in the depression. 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. The climax of the the book, water for elephants, is when several survivors who were redlighted return to the circus during one of the shows. The animals are mangy, underfed or fed rotten food, and abused. Augusts charm and generosity, for example, serve the illusory purpose of. But there are even more excellent resources available from gruens official website and from her publisher, algonquin books. Water for elephants teaches us that courage is everywhere, everyday.
Aug 26, 20 water for elephants the novel water for elephants is written by the bestselling author sarah gruen. The great depression in relation to water for elephants by. The book was published on may 26, 2006, under algonquin books, in the united states of america. Its from this nursing home that jacob tells his story, like he is looking back at all the adventures at the circus. Water for elephants by sara gruen will come up with written works based on what they have seen, heard or even felt. The novel, water for elephants, written by sara gruen and directed by francis lawrence, tells the story of a man named jacob jancowski, played by robert patterson, who starts off as a cornell university veterinary student and ends as a tired, old, former circus member.
The characters in water for elephants are members of a circus. The water for elephants community note includes chapterbychapter summary and. Water for elephants, published in 2007, is sara gruens third novel. The workers at the circus use broken english and common slang. Water for elephants symbols, allegory and motifs gradesaver. In your opinion, what is the most courageous act in the book and why. The great depression in relation to water for elephants by b. Create an account and send a request for reading to other users. Farrah field interviews sara gruen, author of water for elephants. Novelist sara gruen sweeps her readers off their feet in the opening pages of water for elephantsand doesnt let go until she deposits them at the end of her fantastic tale of passion, madness and fancy. This vernacular lends much credence to the setting and the. Nov 01, 2010 the writing in water for elephants is replete with colloquial language.
The setting of the story changes throughout the book. The novel, water for elephants, written by sara gruen and directed by francis lawrence, tells the story of a man named jacob jancowski, played by robert patterson, who starts off as a cornell university veterinary student and ends as a. First, young jacob is found on the campus of cornell university in ithaca, new york. Ask if your classmates can point out other examples. Just to put it out there, ill admit straight off the bat that im one of the people who enjoyed this book. Gruen transports us into the world of a thirdrate traveling circus during the great depression. Water for elephants is the story of jacobs life with this circus. 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. Read water for elephants absolutely for free at readanybook. There are three main settings in 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.
Earlier this week, we shared some ways to use water for elephants by sara gruen in the classroom. Only days before graduating from vet school in 1931, young jake learns his parents have died and left him penniless. Water for elephants is a book that can be read and reread, recommended and handed off between friends. On our first date, my husband took me to see tod brownings freaks, a 1932 horror film with a distinctly diane arbus feel. But also, by carrying the theme of deceit, the title forces. Sep 07, 2016 i bought this book because of push advertising and regretted it. On the first night after his leaving cornell, for example, jacob as did his biblical namesake lies back on the bank, resting my. 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 study guide contains a biography of sara gruen, literature essays, quiz questions, major. Water for elephants is one of my most favorite books. Dive deep into sara gruens water for elephants with extended analysis, commentary, and discussion.
Trough water lemonade is a must at a water for elephants book club party. Sara gruen spares no detail in chronicling the squalid, filthy, brutish circumstances in which he finds himself. Use these book club discussion questions on water for elephants to lead your book clubs conversation on the story. I bought this book because of push advertising and regretted it.
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