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Why are all of the envelopes empty?
Great description: "He was on one kind of carpet, I was on another. The line where they came together reminded me of a place that wasn't in any borough." Why is this such good description?
Why is Oskar's grandfather so reticent to tell Oskar who he is?
What do you find interesting about Oskar's visit with Georgia Black?
Why does he think of another letter from Stephen Hawking at this point? How is this significant?
Why does Oskar give himself a bruise at the coffee shop?
For the first time I see the phrase "incredibly close."
Why do you think Oskar has done so much research on 9/11?
It interests me and saddens me how much life has changed since 9/11...Oskar's fears at the Empire State Building would not have been fears before that attack...
I never knew a plane had crashed into the Empire State Building...or that it was built with moorings for zeppelins...
What is the heart of the story about the Empire State Building guide, Ruth? Why is it an important story?
How is it that Oskar doesn't know this is his grandfather, even though he gives the reader so many clues?
End of chapter -- "loud and close" again...
39 comments:
Oskar finds hundreds of empty envelopes that were supposed to be for his father, Thomas. I believe the envelopes were empty because it showed how many times the grandmother thought about her son, but didn't have a chance to write down what she wanted to say. The grandmother didn't need to write down what she wanted/needed to say to Thomas because she was there the whole time. Sometimes I think about other people, but I never get a chance to say what I want to say to them, I just think about them. That is what the grandmother did, she was just too busy being there for him to write a letter to him. She probably realized that she didn't need to write a letter to him because she was there and Thomas knew that his mother thought about him and loved him.
The description: "He was on one kind of carpet, I was on another. The line where they came together reminded me of a place that wasn't in any borough." It is great because when you think about actually borough's (the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens), there is a definite line between them. Such as, if you are entering one borough, you know which one you are going in because there are signs or the people speak just a little differently. With Oskar, he is going into unknown territory once he goes on the other carpet and talks with the renter. There isn't a sign that tells him, "Hey Oskar, going here will be a good thing!" or "Don't step across! It is bad for you!". Oskar doesn't know what to expect.
"He was on one kind of carpet, I was on another. The line where they came together reminded me of a place that wasn't in any borough." is such a good description because it shows us that there are still "nothing places" in the apartment. Reading through the story and learning about the way that they lived together, I assumed that when the grandfather left, Oskar's grandmother would have gotten rid of the "nothing places". Oskar not having known about the "nothing places" and describing them so well shows me that his grandmother left everything the way it was when he grandfather left and that she hoped he would come back to her.
I interpreted the lines "He was on one kind of carpet, I was on another. The line where they came together reminded me of a place that wasn't in any borough." as an explanation of their separation. They felt like there was an barrier between them. They both had some knowledge of the other and the both wanted to know more about the other but didn't know how. It shows the tension between them like the borders of anything like a country, state, or even a borough. If there was no tension between those, they would be one.
When I first read this chapter, I thought Oskar's grandfather didn't tell him his identity because he was afraid and didn't know how to. After not being in his life for so long, he didn't know how Oskar would take it. In the following chapter, however, you learn that he didn't tell him because he couldn't. Oskar's grandfather wanted to meet Oskar, but wasn't able to. He promised Oskar's grandmother that he wouldn't meet Oskar or let him see him. If Oskar met him and became aware of his identity, he would have betrayed her. Because of this, he'd sometimes follow Oskar on his journeys, at a safe distance, so that he could see Oskar without getting caught. When he first meets Oskar face to face; he is unable to tell him who he is due to his promise. I think Oskar did a lot of research on 9/11 to try to fulfill his uncertainty of how his dad died. This uncertainty is one factor preventing Oskar from moving on. If Oskar is able to discover how his dad died, it’ll be a step towards him moving on.
All the envelopes are empty because Oskars grandmother could never find the right words to say about or to her son. She couldn't find the right words to put down on paper. She couldn't put her feeling into the letters.
I think Oskars grandfather doesn't want to tell Oskar who he is because hes afraid of what Oskar will think of him. On top of that, Oskars grandfather doesn't know how Oskar will react to finding out. Will he be happy? Angry? Confused? I think grandfather doesn't want to ruin anything.
Oskar does so much research about 9/11 because its like being close to his father for him. Like he said he searched all the ways people died during 9/11 just so he could finally figure out how his dad died.
Throughout the story Oskar mentions several places that "aren't in any borough". I find it similar to the "nothing places" his grandparents created. The guest room was one of the first rooms they declared to be nothing. They're incredibly close, yet still separated. Oskar feels as though they're in two different boroughs. His grandfather feels that Oskar's "something" and he's "nothing".
Oskar doesn't think his grandfather is actually his grandfather because he's always thought of him as the renter and probably just thinks it's coincidence that his father and the renter have the same name. So why doesn't the renter tell Oskar he's his grandfather? since Oskar isn't getting the clues. Oskar's grandfather made a promise to Oskar's grandmother that he wouldn't interfere with Oskar so he wanted to keep with his promise, and doesn't tell him.
When the book is in the grandfather's perspective, it's him always writing letters to his unborn child, to his child that doesn't know who he is, to his dead son, etc. We hear all these letters he writes to him but never really sends them. Oskar finds drawers and drawers full of empty envelopes in his grandmother's room. I think they are blank envelopes his grandfather had sent to his son, Oskar's dad.
Oskar's grandfather is so reticent to tell Oskar who he is because he promised Oskar's grandma he wouldn't let him know who he was. Plus, I think he's scared. He doesn't know how to explain who he is. Then he would have to explain why he left and why he never came back until now.
Oskar's visit with Georgia Black was odd to me. She has her own museum of her husband, almost like a shrine. I though he was dead until he walked into the room and asked them if they wanted to see "his" museum. It was fascinating how Georgia and her husband admired each other so much.
Oskar does so much research about 9/11 to learn more about his father's last moments. He thinks if he does more research he might be able to find out how he died. Then he can stop inventing more and more ways on how his dad died. All he wants is to stop inventing.
All of the empty letters to Thomas showed how often she thought of him. Since they were all empty she must not of know what to write. I think that Oskar's grandfather is afraid that if Oskar finds out who he is that the will think badly of him. Oskar does a lot of research on 9/11 because he wants to find out how his father died. He says that if he finds out he can stop inventing.
Oskar's grandfather doesn't tell him who he is because Oskar's grandmother told him that was a rule to never break. In the end Oskar ended up meeting him, but he never thought that he was his grandfather. Oskar has done so much research on 9/11 because he wanted reassurance. He needed to know that there was no possible way that he could have done anything to help his dad. Ruth's story is very sad. She used to go to the building every day and her husband would carry a flood light with him. When he was working going door to door, he would shine it as a secret hello to Ruth. During the day she could never see it because it was too bright out. After he died she never saw the light again. She said it was just like it was day time and soon she would see his light at dusk and she knew he would be home.
The envelopes are empty because grandmother has them. The descriptions of the carpets him and his grandfather are on is a great description because the two of them weren't drifting away like the borough in the story, they were connected. I think Oskar knows that this man is his grandfather; however, I don't think he wants to believe it because he doesn't know if he will leave him again.
I think that all of the envelopes are empty because Oskar’s grandfather couldn’t build up the courage to actually send the letters to his unborn son/son. Instead of sending the actual letter, he would just send a blank envelope from Dresden (where he was at the time when his child was growing up and living his life).
I think that “the renter” is reluctant to telling Oskar who he is because he promised grandmother that he wouldn’t let Oskar see him or let him know that he is his grandfather. He wouldn’t know how Oskar would take to it, considering he is obviously very upset that his father has died a tragic death and he still hasn’t found what the key goes to. He didn’t want Oskar to be even more hurt and feel like he had been lied to about the truth about the renter living in Grandma’s apartment.
Oskar's grandfather doesn't tell Oskar who he is because it is a rule that Oskar's grandmother told him never to break. Oskar's grandfather also makes Oskar promise not to tell his grandmother, and that he wouldn't tell either.
Oskar has done so much research on 9/11 because he wants to find out exactly how his father died. Oskar says that he if he can find out how it happened then he can stop inventing ways of his father dying. Oskar knows that there were so many different ways that people could have died but he needed to know which was his.
When Oskar finds all the envelopes to his grandfather empty, it shows that his grandma could never find the right words to write down or just didn't have the time to do so. She never had enough time to sit down and think long enough about all the things to tell Thomas about how great Oskar is. She then didn't feel the need to write the letters because she knew that Thomas would know how wonderful a person Oskar was and how well taken care of he was by his remaining family.
Oskar does so much research on 9/11 because he is curious to find out how his father died. He looks anywhere he can to find pictures of people, and then zooming in on them to see if one was his dad. Personally, if I didn't see a body, in the back of my mind there would still be hope that the person is alive, therefore i could not get over that I'm never going to see them again. I think Oskar feels the same way. He also hopes that he didn't suffer much pain in his death, and wonders who the last person he talked to was. If i was Oskar the main question I would have would be why would he think lying to his wife saying he was on his way home would help, even when he knew he was going to die? Also, the biggest question I have is what was that map of the park supposed to lead to?
I found it interesting, amusing, and somewhat sad that Georgia Black had, in essence, built a shrine to her husband. At first, I assumed her husband was dead, but was surprised when he walked in the room. This makes me think that Georgia has lived off of her husbands achievements, and had no real achievements of her own. She even labels herself as a "naval wife."
Oskar's research into the 9/11 attack seems to be out of a need for closure about the circumstances of his father's death. The uncertainty of his father's passing has left a type of unfilled void in Oskar. If Oskar had the answers he desired, I feel as though he would be better able to move on.
Oscar has spent a lot of time with the “renter” who the reader realizes is actually Oscar’s grandfather. The grandfather is reticent about telling Oscar who he truly is because the grandmother made him promise to keep a secret. He feels obligated to be loyal to the grandmother since she has allowed him to move back into the home. He also may be unsure of how Oscar would react to learning his real identity.
The envelopes are all the letters that Oskar's grandfather could send to his son. Through out the book we see how many times he has tried to write to his son. But he had the courage to send them to him so all the envelopes remain empty.
Oskar's grandfather doesn't tell Oskar who he is because he is afraid. He is afraid of what Oskar will think and what Oskar will do. He doesn't what his grandson to find out his horrible past and leave him. He doesn't want to lose another loved one.
Oscar has been spending a lot of time with his grandmother’s renter. As we read farther into the story we come to realize the renter is indeed Oscar’s grandfather. The grandfather is not open about telling Oscar who he really is because Oskar’s grandma made him promise to keep his identity a secret. I think he feels like in order to be able to stay in her house he must follow her rules. Plus this may come as a shock to Oskar if he learned the news. After all the years and now finding out that it has been his grandfather. He may just be trying to do what he thinks is best for everyone, and as of now that seems to be him keeping quiet.
In this chapter, Oskar finds his grandmother's dresser filled with empty envelopes. Some are dated and others are addressed, "to my son" or "to my unborn child." This tells us that all the letters Oskar's grandfather wrote to his father were never sent but he did send the empty envelopes to his grandmother. I think he did this to let her know that even though he left them, he does think about her and their son, it's just too hard to actually send the letters he writes.
I think Oskar has done so much research on 9/11 and how people died during it, because it drives him crazy not knowing how his father actually died. If he just knew then maybe he would have the closure he needs and not think of all the horrible possibilities.
The envelopes are empty because Oskar's grandfather could never find the right words to describe what he was feeling to his son. It was something that couldn't be put into words but he still sends the envelopes to show that he hasn't forgot about them and that he still cares. Oskar has researched 9/11 so heavily because it kills him inside not knowing what truly happened when his father died, who was arguably the most important person in his life
Why do you think Oskar has done so much research on 9/11? Oskar does so to find out the true meaning of his fathers death. This will make him know for sure and stop being undecided on which way he would like to believe. It is almost a way of copping with the loss of his father.
I liked the description "He was on one kind of carpet, I was on another. The line where they came together reminded me of a place that wasn't in any borough." I believe this is like the actual connection between Oskar and his grandfather. They are very alike, and they even have some of the same tendencies. However, when they come together they do not really know each other, so there is a void, like the place between two boroughs. They are related, but not truly connected.
Oskar's grandfather is so reluctant to tell Oskar who he is because he promised Oskar's grandmother that he wouldn't, and he did not want to break his promise. Although he gave Oskar so many clues, I believe Oskar just always thought of him as the renter. Why should he think of him as anything else? Why would his grandma hide his grandfather from him?
Oskar's grandfather is reticent to tell Oskar who he is because he knows it would accept grand mother. He also has not been the best grandfather to Oskar and so he is afraid to reveal his identity. What the grandfather is trying to do is redeem himself.
Oskar does not recognize that the renter is his grandfather in order to create dramatic irony. Oskar drops several hints that make the reader flustered as to why Oskar is not seeing what is in front of him. This, however, is th point of the book. In the story Oskar goes on an extraneous search to find what was right in front of him the whole time. Therefore, it is in the author's grand plan for Oskar to not recognize his grandfather as it goes along with the plotline of the story.
Oskar’s grandfather does not reveal his identify because of the promise he made with Oskar’s grandmother. The renter is extremely joyful that he gets to be face to face with Oskar, although he wishes he could tell him who he is. It’s surprising that Oskar never questions the renter and who he is. It is an old man that lives with his grandmother yet never wonders who he is or why he is there. It’s also strange because the renter and Oskar’s dad have the same name and I imagine have similar faces.
Oskar does a lot of research about 9/11 hoping he could find information about how is dad died. He thinks that if he keeps looking, he will be able to find a video or picture of him jumping out. All Oskar wants is an answer no matter how awful it could be, he is looking for closure. Burying an empty coffin does not help with closure either. During this time Oskar searching foreign sites because there are no videos in the US even though that’s were 9/11 occurred.
The heart of the story of Ruth is that she lives in the Empire State building because her husband has passed away and she likes being up there. Her husband used to be a door-to-door salesman and he had hooked a spotlight up to the crate he pushed around. She would go up to the Empire State Building's observation deck and look for his spotlight. After he passed away, she couldn't get herself to go back to her house so she stayed up there because if gave her the same feeling as when she would look for his spotlight when he was still alive. It is important because she never goes down into New York just like Mr. Black hadn't gone down out of his apartment after his wife died. It also shows she has experienced the death of a loved one like Oskar and Mr. Black have.
Also, I think Oskar can't tell that the renter is his grandfather because he doesn't know enough about him to be able to tell. We as readers know that because the renter has tattooed hand and can't talk he is probably Oskar's grandfather. Oskar only really knows that his grandfather had rough hands, left before he was born, and could talk to animals.
I think the renter's reluctance to tell Oskar his true identity has to do with not disappointing Oskar's grandmother (again). He left her alone to raise their child, never gave her the loved she desired(as he was still in love with her dead sister), and yet she found the kindness to let him back into her home, however, she told him not to bother Oskar. Also, Oskar's grandmother telling the renter not to talk to Oskar was sort of like a rule, similar to all the ones they created earlier on in their marriage that they lived by. He probably saw it as another rule to follow and was okay with not talking to Oskar
Oskar does so much research on 9/11 because he is curious on exactly how his father died in the attack. Finding out will put Oskar at a state of rest and help him move on with his life.
I think Oskar does so much research on 9/11 because his dad was such a big part of his life. For one, there was many scenarios for how his dad could have died, and it seems Oskar tries to make a strong case for each scenario, helping him from moving on from his father. I think doing all of that research keeps Oskar with his father, as well as searching for what they key is for. Oskar is so scared to move on and this keeps him from doing so.
I really think Oskar's grandfather wants to tell Oskar who he is, but he can't and he is scared. I think he is scared to how Oskar will react to the news, and he doesn't want to hurt him, nor be hurt. Also, I think if he tells him, he will be betraying Oskar's grandmother, and he doesn't want to do that neither. With that being said, he finds it easier not to tell him.
Oskar continues his obsession to find closure by finding videos and pictures of flailing bodies and gruesome deaths from September 11th so that he might stumble on a picture of his father.
The significance of Ruth's story is that she causes Mr. Black to quit helping Oskar. I'm not completely sure why, but I think the similarities between Ruth's and Mr. Black's own solitary confinement to one building shocked him- this is why he got to his knees and asked to accompany her one day.
Oskar does a lot of research about 9/11 because he is determined to fill in the void that his father's death has in his life. Oskar feels that finding out how his dad died may make him feel better and give him more peace-of-mind. Once Oskar is able to understand his father's death he will have a more easy-going life style instead of wondering every day what really happened to his father.
Oskar's grandfather is very reluctant to tell Oskar who he is. I think that he is this way because he feels that he has let Oskar down by not being in his life. Oskar's grandfather is also disappointed in himself because he was unable to meet his son before he died. Although the grandfather didn't meet his son the letters that he wrote leads the reader to feel as though the grandfather still had deep compassion and affection for his son.
The envelopes were empty because Oskar's grandmother could never find the right words to write to her son.
The author was creating dramatic irony by not informing Oskar that the renter is his grandfather. It intrigues the readers and makes things interesting to read/understand.
The envelopes are empty because I think Oskar's grandfather is afraid. He doesn't know what to say to make up for him leaving. Oskar's grandfather doesn't tell Oskar who he is because he doesn't want to betray
Oskar's grandma.
I think Oskar has done so much research on 9/11 because he is curious how his dad actually died. It was such a traumatizing event, and by learning as much as he can about it, I feel like it helps him feel like he has some control.
Oskar doesn't know it is his grandfather because his grandfather is the last thing on his mind. All I cares about is the key, so he doesn't pay attention to the details that were given.
Oskar's visit with Georgia Black and her husband is very interesting. It is very interesting and strange because Mrs. Black constructed a museum for her husband using a variety of different objects throughout her husband's life including his medals, pictures, and even his baby shoes. But what really made a plot twist was when her husband enters the room and enters a situation where both Oskar and Mr. Black assumed that her husband was dead that the museum was a way for Mrs. Black to keep her husband's memory. Not only that, but also, Mrs. Black's husband also has his own museum of his wife. This is very odd but their love for one another must be so strong that they want to be reminded of each other and each other's lives, even back to their childhood, everyday.
All of the envelopes were empty because Thomas had never sent the letters. He had kept them all because he was afraid to send them. I feel as if Oskar's grandmother had kept the envelopes to remind herself of all the times Thomas wanted to send the letters but never did. Oskar's grandmother had a strange way of showing her feelings towards Thomas, but I feel as if keeping the envelopes was a way of telling herself that he thought of her and their son while Thomas was away.
Oskar's Grandfather doesn't reveal himself to Oskar because, it would go against his wife's wishes. Oskar's Grandfather gets to keep a watchful eye on him as the renter. Oskar's grandfather listens to his Grandmother's rules just like he did when they were married many years ago as a sign of respect.
Oskar tries to do more research on 911 so he can find out exactly what happened to his dad. Oskar is looking for any kind of evidence he can to find about his father's death, no matter how hurtful for him it may be. By looking for answers, Oskar will have more closure as apposed to questions gone unanswered.
Oskar's grandfather does not tell Oskar who he is because his wife does not want Oskar to know about him and he doesn't want to betray her. Oskar does a lot of research on 9/11 because he is searching for different ways his father could have died. Oskar cannot find peace with his fathers death until he finds out how he died.
Oskar's grandfather does not tell him who he is because he does not want to betray Oskar's grandmother. He has tried so hard to respect her wishes, but didn't know what else to do when his grandson was standing on the other side of the door crying and asking for help.
I don't think that Oskar knew that the renter was really his grandfather because he had so many other things on his mind. He never thought to put all the clues together. Oskar knew that he had left a long time ago, so he never thought he would actually be living in that apartment.
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