But its the setting and animal subplot that add flavor to this book. I hate being so enamored with a book and then a crappy movie version comes along and tarnishes it. Water for elephants study guide consists of approx. Water for elephants chapter summaries flashcards quizlet. In water for elephants, the characters marlena and jacob are drawn together. It has 335 pages, and is classified as historical romance and fiction. Young jacob is able to do whatever his heart desires including, jumping on. Before starting work on the book, she had never before attended a circus. Water for elephants is a historical fiction romance novel written by sara gruen as a part of national novel writing month about circus life in depressionera america.
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 has two plots going on, both starring the same main character, jacob. Water for elephants is the new york times bestselling debut novel by sara gruen. The novel discusses at length the acts and lives of circus performers, and the glamour around it during the 1930s. Sara gruen wrote water for elephants in 2006 as part of the national novel writing month. 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. Events lead him to joining the circus as their vet, working under their unstable boss august whose violent tendencies give everyone reason to be cautious around him, including his beautiful and quiet wife marlena, whom august is very possessive of and who jacob finds himself soon falling in love with. Water for elephants, 2007, sara gruen water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing month. Whatever magic was included in sara gruens 2006 novel, water for elephants, has not made the arduous journey to the big screen. Water for elephants summary water for elephants has two plots going on, both starring the same main character, jacob. The characters, jacob and marlena love each other bravely, despite knowing the consequences for their actions.
August can be very friendly and sweet on the surface, but deep down he is a cruel and cold man. Jacobs story begins at cornell university where he is studying to come a vet. Water for elephants book by sara gruen thriftbooks. The last notes of water for elephants linger long after the book ends. Water for elephants is a book that can be read and reread, recommended and handed off between friends. The author, sara gruen allows readers to read the book from two perspectives, one from young jacob and the other from older presentday jacob.
Water for elephants best selling literature nonagenarian jacob jankowski reflects back. The characters in water for elephants are members of a circus. Water for elephants by sara gruen examines the life of 93yearold jacob jankowski who worked for years in the circus as a veterinarian. So, i read the story of jacob, son of isaac who was the son of abraham, who almost sacrificed isaac. Jacob is ninetythree year old and is looking back on his adventures in life while he spends his days in a nursing home. Through the eyes of two versions of jacob jankowskione in his nineties and another in his twentiesreaders witness what it was like to fall in love, both with. Jacob jankowski marlena rosie the elephant august uncle al rosemary the nurse walter.
The book was published on may 26, 2006, under algonquin books, in the united states of america. Set during the great depression, water for elephants tells the story of a young man who leaves his life as a cornell university veterinary student after losing both his parents in a car accident, and jumps onto a train that happens to house the benzini brothers most. The business of circus is depicted as a twofaceted world which appears mesmerizing to the audience, but is full of trickery and cruelty. While he was at dinner, one of the new comers to the nursing home was saying how he gave water to the elephants. Jacob jankowski is the main character in the book, water for elephants. Free download or read online water for elephants pdf epub book.
She wrote the book as part of national novel writing month. Beautifully written, water for elephants is illuminated by a wonderful sense of time and place. Water for elephants is the film adaptation of the best selling book. Their two, completely separate personalities clash and collide. Start studying water for elephants chapter summaries.
After his parents death, jacob jankowski is left penniless and homeless. Jacob is the main conflict in the book, water for elephants. 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. First let me say this is one of my all time favorite books i would really suggest you reading it if you havent already.
Every few chapters, the narrative switches from one jacob to the other. Rosie is a young elephant, who, according to her sellers, is too stupid to learn an act. In one plot, jacob is a young guy just starting out in the world. Jacob is working overtime as the narrator of water for elephants. 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. But be warned, this isnt the order of events in the book. Water for elephants is a delightful, moving book, and the ending was a very pleasant surprise. Her works have been translated into fortythree languages and have sold more than ten million copies worldwide. Water for elephants is a story about an elderly man, jacob, who recalls an adventure in his younger years. 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. Written by claire cornwall and other people who wish to remain anonymous.
Inwater for elephants, the characters marlena and jacob are drawn together. Jacob gets up the next day, still on the train, and camel takes him to meet some. 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. The book has been awarded with book sense book of the year award for adult fiction 2007, ala alex award 2007 and many others. It tells a story of a love between two people that overcomes incredible odds in a world in which even love is a luxury that few can afford.
Water for elephants analysis posted on march 18, 2008 6 comments i read that the story of jacob is allegedly the backbone of water for elephants. Water for elephants is the touching story of jacob jankowski. Water for elephants is the touching story of jacob jankowski, a ninetythreeyearold man, who is reminded of his colorful past when a circus sets up next door to his assistedliving center. Water for elephants summary these notes were contributed by members of the gradesaver community. An atmospheric, gritty, and compelling novel of starcrossed lovers, set in the circus world circa 1932, by the bestselling author of riding lessons. The title, water for elephants, is a pun on the job that jacob performs in the circus. Character analysis of water for elephant 995 words 4 pages. When jacob overhears a man at the assistedliving center claim to have been a water boy for the elephants on a circus, jacob knows the man is lying because jacob himself once worked as a vet on a traveling circus. This study guide consists of approximately 58 pages of chapter summaries, quotes. Charlie enters the book in the secondtolast chapter and plays a small but pivotal role. August is an antagonist and jacob is a protagonist. Gruen transports us into the world of a thirdrate traveling circus during the great depression. Water for elephants thorndike paperback bestsellers. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis.
Analysis and discussion of characters in sara gruens water for elephants. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of water for elephants by sara gruen. She did extensive research on circuses and many of the characters and events depicted in water for elephants were based upon true stories. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Water for elephants is one of my most favorite books. The two readers, david ledoux and john randolph jones, did a wonderful job of bringing both jacobs young and old to life.
Other cast members include mark povinelli as kinkowalter, jim norton as camel, james frain as rosies. The story is told as a series of memories by jacob jankowski, a 93yearold man who lives in a nursing home. Also, if you want a special treat, listen to it on audiobook. See a complete list of the characters in like water for chocolate. We relive jacobs experiences with him as he recalls his past. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. August august is the owner of the circus, married to marlena, and a paranoid schizophrenic.
He begins reflecting on this time in his life because a circus sets up beside his assistedliving center. Pdf water for elephants download full pdf book download. When 23yearold jacob jankowskis parents are killed in a car crash a week before he completes veterinary school at cornell university, he finds himself left with nothing after he fails to. The first edition of the novel was published in may 26th 2006, and was written by sara gruen. 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. Marlena is married to august, but it is a bad marriage. A water for elephants discussion from reading group guides writers digest interview with sara gruen. The circus train only had a limited amount of water on board, and elephants can drink 100300 litres per day approximately 2680 gallons. 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 story in this novel is told as a series of memories by a ninetythree year old man called jacob jankowski. Listen to water for elephants and water for elephants chapter summary new. Water for elephants the novel water for elephants is written by the bestselling author sarah gruen. The circus travels around and eventually acquires an elephant named rosie. Pdf water for elephants book by sara gruen free download.
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