Water for elephants is the story of jacobs life with this circus. Water for elephants is the new york times bestselling debut novel by sara gruen. After his parents death, jacob jankowski is left penniless and homeless. Jacob, the books narrator and protagonist, worked as a vet and trainer of sorts at a circus. The author, sara gruen allows readers to read the book from two perspectives, one from young jacob and the other from older presentday jacob. There are hints of the effect of the great depression on people in the cities the circus visits, thus expanding the setting to capture the history around the characters. Trust us, water for elephants is going to be one of the surprise hits of 2011. Apr 22, 2011 8 big differences between water for elephants book and movie apr. 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 book, water for elephants, starts off in the present day, in a nursing home where the main character, jacob jankowski, lives. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Its from this nursing home that jacob tells his story, like he is looking back at all the adventures at the circus.
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. Sara gruen has written an utterly transporting novel richly full of the stuff of life. The well crafted characters, unusual setting all worked to keep me enthralled. Even when living in the nursing home, jacob demonstrates that his violent. The circus was the main setting of the book, water for elephants. 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. 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 great depression in relation to water for elephants by b. Water for elephants, 2007, sara gruen water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing month. Veterinary school student jacob meets and falls in love with marlena, a star. Water for elephants book club discussion questions and. Jacob jankowski, a retired veterinarian living out his days in an assistedliving facility, drifts in and out of his memories. The title, water for elephants, is almost a little inside joke with the reader once weve finished the book, that is. While reading water for elephants i found the plot hyperbolic and. Water for elephants by sara gruen at the best online ebook storage. Joshilyn jackson, author of gods in alabama so much more than a tale about a. Its a life of distant places, fascinating characters, and nonstop adventure. 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. All of the important quotes from water for elephants listed here correspond, at least in some way, to the paper topics we created on water for elephants and by themselves can give you great ideas for an essay by offering quotes about other themes, symbols, imagery, and motifs than those already mentioned. Veterinary school student jacob meets and falls in love with marlena, a star performer in a circus of a bygone era.
She wrote the book as part of national novel writing month. 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. 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. Sep 07, 2016 i bought this book because of push advertising and regretted it. 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. On our first date, my husband took me to see tod brownings freaks, a 1932 horror film with a distinctly diane arbus feel. I bought this book because of push advertising and regretted it. 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. 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. I hate being so enamored with a book and then a crappy movie version comes along and tarnishes it. First, young jacob is found on the campus of cornell university in ithaca, new york. As a consequence, it is not surprising that the annual cycle of monsoon rains.
Jacob is so tired of the diet the workers at the assistedliving center feed him that he fantasizes about. August feels bad about what happened and wants to make it up to marlena, but she does not accept his apology and stands up for. 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. A novel and millions of other books are available for instant access. 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 by sara gruen, first edition, signed abebooks passion for books.
Get an answer for what is the authors style of writing in water for elephants. 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. Elephants need to drink approximately 40 gallons of water each day. The story happens in the benzini brothers circus of america in the 1930s. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of water for elephants by sara gruen. Water for elephants by sara gruen and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
Well, the phrase reinforces jacobs association with circuses. 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. But also, by carrying the theme of deceit, the title forces. At what point in his life did he seem to be the happiest. Dec 11, 2011 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 is one of my most favorite books. Buy water for elephants book online at low prices in india water. If you say that you carried water for elephants, i am.
The story in this novel is told as a series of memories by a ninetythree year old man called jacob jankowski. Water for elephants a depressionera circus provides the backdrop for sara gruens latest novel, water for elephants. If you like water for elephants, you might like little heathens by mildred armstrong kalish seabiscuit. A water for elephants discussion from reading group guides writers digest interview with sara gruen. In one plot, jacob is a young guy just starting out in the world. Jan 18, 2011 based on the acclaimed bestseller, water for elephants presents an unexpected romance in a uniquely compelling setting. While reading water for elephants i found the plot hyperbolic and excessively melodramatic and the characters little. His stay here is cut short by the death of his parents. Ann guidry, critical essay on water for elephants, in literary news makers for students, gale, cengage learning, 2009. The film was released in the united states on april 22, 2011. Only days before graduating from vet school in 1931, young jake learns his parents have died and left him penniless. Download and read online for free water for elephants by sara gruen.
Worse, he beats rosie, and comes across as having no love for animals. The setting of the story changes throughout the book. Based on the acclaimed bestseller, water for elephants presents an unexpected romance in a uniquely compelling setting. The theme of age the theme of age if the fifth theme in the novel. Jacob jankowski, a retired veterinarian living out his days in an assistedliving facility, drifts in and out of his. According to the novel this period is the most difficult, because. In the end, fantasy wins, and the reader, like the rube visiting a circus, gets what he wants. 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. Surprising, poignant, and funny, water for elephants is that rare novel with a story so engrossing, one is reluctant to put it down. A worthy read for all of the diverse issues with which it deals. When the book opens, jacob jankowski is an angry old man who has been living in an assistedliving center. What is the authors style of writing in water for elephants.
The animals are mangy, underfed or fed rotten food, and abused. Read water for elephants absolutely for free at readanybook. The book kept my interest with the twisting tale and fun characters. So an ample water supply is critical for any elephant group.
Water for elephants by sara gruen, first edition, signed. The last notes of water for elephants linger long after the book ends. It stars reese witherspoon, robert pattinson, and christoph waltz. Water for elephants is mostly fantasy, punctuated with reality for the purpose of contrast. Winner of the 2007 bookbrowse award for most popular book. When jacob jankowski arrived for the first time at the circus where he worked, he. Water for elephants is a 2011 american romantic drama film directed by francis lawrence and written by richard lagravenese, based on sara gruens 2006 novel of the same name. Sara gruen has a voice to rival john irvings, and i am hopelessly, unabashedly in love with this book. 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. Water for elephants by sara gruen, first edition, signed abebooks. Water for elephants movie tiein by sara gruen, paperback. May 26, 2006 water for elephants is the story of jacobs life with this circus.
Marlena leaves the circus for a while and checks in at a nearby hotel. Stories similar to water for elephants books, stories, and novels like water for elephants by sara gruen. Jacob, when narrating in his older years, demonstrates to readers that he remains as a static character throughout the novel. The story is told as a series of memories by jacob jankowski, a 93yearold man who lives in a nursing home.
Water for elephants has two plots going on, both starring the same main character, jacob. There are three main settings in water for elephants. 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. Joshilyn jackson, author of gods in alabama so much more than a tale about a circus, water for elephants is a compelling journey not only under the big top, but into the protagonists heart. August feels bad about what happened and wants to make it up to marlena, but she does not accept his apology and stands up for what she believes in, which is not going back to august. To ask other readers questions about water for elephants, please sign up. Water for elephants study guide contains a biography of sara gruen, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. 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. Gruen transports us into the world of a thirdrate traveling circus during the great depression.
Should the murderer in water for elephants be punished. Even when living in the nursing home, jacob demonstrates that his violent tendencies remain when. All of the important quotes from water for elephants listed here correspond, at least in some way, to the paper topics we created on water for elephants and by themselves can give you great ideas for an. His parent had given away all of their savings to put him through. 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. All signs suggest a sequel where he hangs out a shamus shingle. Sara gruen spares no detail in chronicling the squalid, filthy, brutish circumstances in which he finds himself.
When jacob jankowski arrived for the first time at the circus where he worked, he was in awe. 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. 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. Sara gruens very readable novel is a story of impossible love set in the circus world during the 1930s and is set to. 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 is a book that can be read and reread, recommended and handed off between friends. Veterinary school student jacob meets and falls in love with. While reading water for elephants i found the plot hyperbolic and excessively melodramatic and the characters little developed beyond their names. 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. Water for elephants book club discussion questions and answers. This is where almost all of the action of the story took place. Official page for sara gruen and her books, including the international bestseller water for elephants 2006. 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. Water for elephants symbols, allegory and motifs gradesaver.