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Trivia: Why would someone tape pennies to the needle arm of a record player? Ask your parents...
They have photos of every dog they have raised, but not one of themselves. What does this fact tell you? How is it related to Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close?
Based on the scene when Claude first returns, what is the nature of the relationship between Gar and Claude? What details accentuate the nature of that relationship?
What do you make of Edgar's dream from the first night Claude was home? What could it mean? What is its tone in the beginning as opposed to the tone it ends with?
From the context clues, where has Claude been? What clues led you there?
What kind of person would you say Claude is? What leads you to your conclusions?
62 comments:
You would tape a penny to the need arm to try and balance it more. A lot of the old record player's needles arms would come up because they where not heavy enough to stay on the record.
It's sort of ironic that Edgar wanted to be silent going up and down staircases because he himself is silent.
I believe that Claude has been in jail or locked up in some sort of facility. The context clues say that he has been cooped up in a small area and wasn't used to all the open space. He also said that the room was no bigger than the room he had been in. He says the outside is awfully big, meaning he hasn't been outside in a long time or very rarely. Additionally, he said that the room he had been in didn't have much sun, which I'm assuming was a jail cell which only typically has the little window with bars across it. Also, he says he got really tired of being inside and that Edgar's father said not to get into much detail on what had happened or where he had been.
I agree with Jessica. I believe that Claude was in some sort of facility or jail. The author describes the room being small like the one he had been in. The author also describes Claude being cooped up, is tired of being inside, and hasn't got a lot of sun. Jail cells usually have little windows or no windows and are quite small, same with a facility. Also, Mr. Sawtelle doesn't get into much detail as to where Claude have been or why because it is either embarrassing or tragic.
Weighing down the record needle with pennies causes the record to spin slower, thus playing at the accurate speed. Over time, record players will sometimes will wear out from being played, and won't spin at the normal speed. That is why Edgar's farther weighs the needle down with pennies.
The significance of Edgar wanting to be silent going down the stairs is that he wants time alone. He gets annoyed that he is babied all the time by his parents because he has a disability and because he is the only child. Edgar wanting to be quiet is ironic because he will spend his whole life wanting to be heard.
By having the photos of the dogs but not of themselves, it proves that Gar and Trudy’s relationship was shabbily held together by the care of the dogs. It makes me think of adults who say that they “stayed together for the kids.” I think that that is a foreshadow that a force will draw their weak marriage apart.
It's ironic that Edgar is worried about making sounds because he cannot speak and has a difficult time making sounds in the first place.
Claude is a very refined person. He likes being alone and he likes silence. He's a very independent man. He's tough and doesn't need anyone. I've also noticed that he likes to hang onto the past. He's very quiet and is happiest when he's alone but when he's talking one on one with someone he speaks of old memories and how it used to be.
The author creates a mood of tension and hostility between the brothers as Claude returns home. Gar and his wife were reluctant to have Claude move in with them, but Claude had no place else to go. Therefore, Gar and Trudy permitted him to stay with them until he got ‘back on his feet’. The author sets up a ‘good –vs-evil’ theme between the brothers when he hints that Claude recently was released from prison. On page 65, this is revealed when Claude states, “I’ve been inside a lot. I got really tired of being inside all the time. Little room, not much sun, that kind of thing. So when I got in that room tonight, even trimmed out and fancy like your mom made it, it occurred to me that it wasn’t much bigger than the room I’ve been in. And that didn’t seem like the right way to spend my first…My first night home.”
The irony of Edgar’s silent journey down the stairs is that Edgar’s ‘disability’ is being silent. He doesn’t have the ability to make noise by himself, only by using sign language or other items that can be heard (*Spoiler Alert!* Like when he tried to get someone’s attention when his father was hurt). So the earnest desire for the stairs to be silent is ironic because he himself doesn’t have a choice but to be silent, but the stairs can and will make noise if stepped on wrong.
The photos reveal what the Sawtelles truly care about: their dogs. Their number one focus and passion was breeding, training their canines, and making them the best they could be. They care about family, also, as demonstrated frequently in the novel, but the photos show us that they care most for their dogs. The photos in Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close were put in Oskar’s book of things that had happened to him during his life, while these pictures kept by the Sawtelles are as well pictures of their life. Although Oksar had not experienced what those photos were first-handedly, they were still significant to him. To the Sawtelles, the dogs were significant to life as well.
It is ironic that Edgar tried to not make any sound while going down the stairs because he can't make vocal sounds. The dog photos reminds me of how the grandfather in Extremely loud & Incredibly close didn't take a picture of the grandmother. Also, every time Edgar's inability to speak is mentioned, I remember the grandfather's similarity.
When Gar and Claude arrived, Gar seemed serious while Claude was uneasy. That hints that they dislike each other. Gar had an irritation in his tone when he spoke with Claude. However, Gar seemed to avoid friction at times and tried to be friendly. Sometimes the irritation disappeared from his voice.
When Claude first returns home with Gar the mood seems very tense. They're not all lovey long missed brothers. I feel like this shows us that there is more history between them than we know. Also the clues the Claude gives us make me want to guess that he was in prison for some time. This makes me wonder what kind of person Claude really is and what he did. Yet, Gar brings him home so there still must be trust between them. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
It is ironic that Edgar is trying to make it down stairs without a sound because Edgar can't make any vocal sounds! The stairs have the opportunity to be squeaky while Edgar has no choice in being mute.
When Claude and Gar get out of the car, you can feel a little bit of tension. Like any siblings, Gar is irritated by something Claude says about his home. All siblings get upset at each other for making a negative comment toward something that means so much to them. I feel like Gar acts like the older brother and controls himself and gives Claude the benefit of the doubt.
The arrival of Claude seemed to be awkward and uncomfortable. Claude has a complicated relationship with Trudy and Gar. There wasn’t a lot of affection between the family and Claude when he came home and I don’t think he was too thrilled to be back. Due to his mysterious stature, I believe Claude could be the dark character purchasing the poison in the prologue. I’m interested to find out more about Claude as I read on.
I don’t like how the family only has pictures of their dogs; I think it is important to have pictures of their family and friends for memories. It is a lot like Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close because they only take photos of their number one priority. In Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close they had photographs of their assets, and in The Story of Edgar Sawtelle it is their animals.
The significance of Edgar's silent trip down the stairs is Edgar had the chance to finally make noise but, given the chance, he decided against it. It's almost like Edgar takes comfort in his own silence. The comfort of never making any sound. The ability to almost disappear. He doesn't want to draw any attention to himself so he stays silent.
Also the one chance he was given to make noise, he decided not to. But he cannot decided whether or not he will be mute. That is something completely out of his control, but the stairs were not and he controlled them.
Claude is Edgar's uncle. Claude is a very quiet, reserved individual that prefers either one-on-one conversation or solitude. But whenever he does talk it is about the past. There is something he cannot seem to let go.
I find it comically ironic that Edgar is trying to make it down the stairs while being completely silent. He chooses to be silent because (while going down the stairs) it gives him comfort and a challenge at the same time. It kind of represent him, he lives in a world that is full of noise but there he is silent. It is a challenge for him because he has to learn how to communicate with those around him. So when it comes to him, he likes to flip the table on life: make loud things silent. It gives him that sense of accomplishment and comfort in what he has done. Claude seems to be the big elephant in the room. He is awkward and seems uncomfortable in the situation that he was put into. Edgar's parents say that Claude was in the navy, but the subtle hint about the room being a size that he is already used to hints that he spent a good deal of time in a small room. On a ship your room will be small but (not saying this as a fact) wouldn't most of the time you would have a "roommate" of sorts? So it seems like he would've been in a solitary room. Prison it is!
Edgar chooses to walk down the stairs in silence because he wants to break free of always doing what his parents tell him too. He is with his parents more often than most children are. For once in his life he wanted to try to do something risky, sneaking down the stairs without waking up his parents. It makes him feel like he is sneaking out, even though he’s not leaving his parents property. It is ironic that Edgar chooses to be silent while going down the stairs because he is not able to make sounds with his voice. People would think that since he cannot talk he would want to make noise in other ways. Gar and Claude have a brotherly relationship. They argue and fight, but at the end of the day they would be there for each other if the other person needs them. I think Claude will be a dynamic character. In the beginning he seems like he is the antagonist, but I think by the end he will turn around and help Gar, Trudy, and Edgar when they are in need.
People used to tape pennies to the arms of record players because the arms were sometimes too light to stay on the record. Doing so would also help the record player to play the song at a decent speed since the extra weight of the penny caused more resistance against the record.
It is ironic that Edgar wanted to walk down the stairs without making a sound is because Edgar is mute and therefore completely silent himself. It is also ironic because he is allowed to make noise, but would rather bask in silence. He would also not want to disturb his parents like he is purposely trying to sneak out without his parents consent.
The fact that the Sawtelles have a picture of every dog they've ever owned but none of themselves shows that they kind of care about the dogs more than themselves, as their entire day revolves around care and training of the dogs. This is similar to Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close because in the way that Oskar's grandparents never took pictures of each other because of a loveless relationship. I wouldn't say that there isn't any love between the Sawtelles, but it is gently implied they spend more time with the dogs than they do with each other. Although it is said multiple times that Claude was in the navy, it kind of seemed to me like he might have been in prison when he says how he was in a confined space for a long time, and how Claude has been estranged, in a way, from Gar.
I believe Claude has been in jail. There were many clues that made me come to that conclusion. Claude, when he first arrived, made a comment about how he had not been around dogs in a while or at least not ones he was able to pet. He also talked about how he was too use to being trapped in a small room, like a jail cell. Where he was did not get much sun which also hints at him not being in the war. When fighting in a war a person is typically outside doing guard duty or fighting. There is not much time to just sit inside. I think Claude has a good side to him but in the end will be bad. The way he lies and starts fights with Gar leads me to my conclusion. Claude leaves me with an uneasy feeling.
I feel that Claude has been in some sort of confinement, like a prison, up to the point of his return. Although Edgar's parents have told him that Claude was in the navy, I feel as though they are withholding something from him. Claude makes comments about being used to being confined to a small room, and also claims to have seen little sunlight in his time away.
Claude, at a first glance, seems very charming and calm, but there also seems to be a strange air about him. I believe that he may be hiding many secrets, and that he may be a negative force later in the story.
Also, Claude's name is disturbingly similar to that of the character Claudius from Shakespeare's Hamlet, which this novel is based off of. In Shakespeare's play, Claudius is Hamlet's uncle who becomes the major villain of the story.
Edgar’s dream the first night that Claude is home is a little disturbing. The dream starts out confusing as Claude mumbling meaningless words. The puppies are playing, but are then swept away. The dream almost seems prophetic. Claude can’t exactly understand Edgar and in Edgar’s dream he can’t understand Claude. When Edgar’s dream switches from the puppies playing to the puppies being lost, it seems like something will happen that will affect the dogs. Since Claude is in the dream it could be him. Maybe a miscommunication between Edgar and Claude will cause the demise of the dogs. The dream ends on a very dark note. I believe it will be an indicator of what will happen.
Edgar' s silent trip down the stairs is ironic because he is silent himself. They weigh the record needle down so that the record plays at the right speed. Claude is a very detached character. I believe he was in prison based on the context clues. Edgar' s dream is confusing at first, and then startling when the pups are swept away.
In my experience with record players, taping a penny down or balancing it on the needle arm is to keep it from skipping and damaging the vinyl with scratches. It makes sure the sound remains smooth. Edgar is mute, but is intent on remaining silent on his trip down the stairs. I believe Claude is the unidentified man from the prologue. In my opinion, he is the man in the Navy stationed in Korea during the Korean War.
When Claude first arrives you can tell that there is some tension between him and Gar. Their actions and comments during this part lead you to know this. When Claude made a comment about nothing changing Gar became very offended. Claude noticed this and started pointing out differences in order to ease the tension a little bit. The significance about the stairs is that when Oskar gets a chance to make sound he chooses not to. The irony behind Edgar wanting to make it down the stairs silently is that he is silent himself.
The ironic part about Edgar want to go up and down stairs silently was that he was silent himself, so unless the stair creeked his trip was going to be silent.
On another note. the photos of every dog they have raised show that they only care about one thing. Their dogs are the most important thing to them, and I don't believe they could survive without them. I think their family stays together simply because they all share a love for the dogs.I believe the characters in both books have trust issues and think deeper than the world around them.
I think the ironic part about Edgar's desire to make it down the stairs without a sound is that he himself is silent.
Pennies used to be taped or balanced on the needle arm of a record player to keep it from skipping.
Claude's arrival seemed uncomfortable, and awkward. There Definitely seems to be some tension. Claude made a comment that offended and upset Gar.
The significance is that Edgar has been silent his whole life, and even just going down the stairs, he wants to be silent. That is also ironic, because some points in the story he wants to make a sound, but here is Edgar, trying to be silent. When Claude first returns, the brothers love each other because they are family. Very soon though, it becomes too familiar- they argue and fight all of the time. I think Claude is a good person, he just is opinionated. He often disagrees with Edgar's father. He has a good heart, but a solid head, so sometimes it will make him a difficult person to deal with.
Taping pennies onto the needle arm of the record player was to weigh it down so that it does not skip. Pennies were used because they were cheapest and one of the lighter coins thus allowing more exact weighting. Edgar trying to be silent while working his way down the stairs is ironic because he is almost always silent being that he is mute. Now he is intentionally trying to maintain silence. The silence allows him to feel like he is taking a risk in getting out of the house without his parents knowing. He feels as though he is sneaking out.
Pennies were taped to the needle arms to keep the record from skipping.
Edgar's desire to be silent down the stairs is ironic because he is also silent.
I think the reason why the Sawtelle's have no photos of the family is because they didn't have the best past, so they don't want any memories. The photos would just remind them of what they're trying to forget. They have photos of the dogs because they see those as the good times. Breeding and raising dogs brought their family happiness.
Edgar can’t speak; however, he wants to go down the stairs without any noises. I think he wants time to think and time to relax. Even though Edgar can’t speak, he wants complete and utter silence, even from the stairs. All his life he is followed around by his parents and adults, just for once he wanted to be alone in his silence. Although he can’t talk, sometimes he needs a break for signing and communicating.
This part of the book reminded me of Extremely loud & Incredibly close when Oscars grandfather never took pictures of anything but the house. This shows struggle and tension in families, it reveals that some things aren’t work out and that is how they show it. It is sad that in both cases, animals and houses are more important than family. In this story the family loves and cares for the dogs but don’t pay much attention to each other.
Edgar wants to be silent going down the stairs because he wants time alone, time to explore without being watched by his parents because of his disability. It is very ironic that he strives to be quiet going down the stairs when he himself is silent.
The picture scenario shows that basically the only thing holding the Sawtelle marriage together is dogs and a kid. I predict that his marriage will soon fall apart and Edgar will be forced to fend for himself. I think that something will happen to the dogs or the parents will get into a fight and separate.
With records sometimes the needle would scratch and jump so to help it play better people would tape pennies to the needle arm to weigh it down so it wouldn't jump or skip. I think that they take more pride in their dogs then they do themselves which is why they have photos of the dogs and not themselves. It's similiar to how Oskar put his grief about his dad in front of everything and believed that the rest of his family should also
The silent trip down the stairs is ironic because Edgar is silent because he has no voice and now he is trying to be silent. The trip is significant because he later uses the same path to sneak out and talk to his uncle the first night his uncle comes and stays with them. While "talking" with his uncle, Edgar's uncle tells him how Edgar's father and him use to sneak down the same stairs and where the silent spot is on the stair that Edgar had the most trouble with.
It seems that Claude and Gar do not have a good relationship. Edgar doesn't know the whole story about Claude, and the way he is described seems to foreshadow something terrible.
Edgar wanting to be silent going down the stairs shows he wants time alone. He gets annoyed when he is babied all the time because of his disability and because he is the only child. Edgar wanting to be quiet is ironic because he spends his whole life wanting to be heard.
Claude being alone and he likes silence. He's a very independent man. He's tough and doesn't need anyone. Claude likes to hang onto the past. He's very quiet and is happiest when he's alone but when he's talking one on one with someone he speaks of old memories and how it used to be. In a group he can’t hold a long conversation with anyone
Someone would tape pennies to the needle arm of a record player to keep it from skipping. If a needle arm wasn't balanced correctly or a record wasn't cut very deep sometime the player would skip. Adding weight to the arm in the form of pennies would fix this problem.
The silent trip down the stairs shows that Edgar really just wants to be alone and is tired of being bothered by his parents. It's ironic that Edgar wants to make it down the stairs without a sound because he has trouble making vocal sounds in the first place.
You would tape a a penny to the arm of a record player to prevent the needle from jumping and the record from skiping. It also helps the needle stay in the grooves of the record itself for a smoother track sound.
Edgar attempts a silent path down the stairs because his parents are very protective of him and would discourage his adventures at such times at night. It's ironic that he attempts to travel without sound because he himself has no sound. Gar and Claude are not very close based on the first appearance of Claude on the farm. When he returns, him and his brother are already annoyed with each other. For some reason I thought of Claude in jail. Because he won't tell Edgar means it is taboo to talk about. Then when he talks about being in such a small place I instantly think of a jail cell. Also he gives off that feel of a misbehavior from the first time the narrator tells you he left the farm and never came back.
Edgar's search to find a silent way down the stairs is ironic because Edgar does not talk and he has been silent for his whole life.
The relationship between Gar and Claude is strained but there are signs it was once good. It seems that over the years they have grown farther apart from each other and more and more things irritate them and cause arguments between them.
I find so much irony in the fact that Edgar is determined to make it down the stairs in silence, being he himself is mute and silent…because he knows that he can’t change that he is mute himself, but he knows that the stairs can, and that’s one of the things that he can control with the noises.
Having photos of every dog they have raised but no photos of themselves is related to Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close when Oskar’s grandmother said her husband never took pictures of her. The dogs are clearly very important in the Sawtelle’s life and Trudy and Gar work very hard training and tending to the canines. Although in contrast of the two books, Edgar’s parents do genuinely care for each other and love each other. It’s ironic that Edgar wants to make a silent journey down the stairs because Edgar is unable to make sound.
Claude had to have been in a prison cell of some kind. He says he is used to small places and was overcome by the vastness of the night sky. Edgar is told that Claude joined the navy, so it is possible that he was taken captive by the Vietnamese if he was only in prison a couple of years and was in active duty. If he wasn't I imagine that he was sent to jail for something stupid his brother and them did and he took the blame for it. Most likely it was the first of the two because the brothers don't seem to resent each other like I expect they would if one got the other sent to jail
The silent trip down the stairs is significant because Edgar wants to be by himself. It is ironic because Edgar cannot speak, and he has been trying to make sound his whole life, but now hes trying to be silent while going down the stairs.
According to my dad, someone would tape pennies to a needle arm of a record player to keep it from skipping.
The silent trip down the stairs is significant because it shows Edgar's need for a secret of his own. He likes being able to sneak down without his parents knowing and he feels he is the only one that knows about this. This is ironic because Edgar was born mute, so his secrets are automatically safe. With the staircase, he has to try to keep it quiet and that makes him proud.
The fact that the Sawtelle parents take photos of every dog but not themselves shows that they are very dedicated to their work. They love the dogs more than anything and although they still have a good relationship, it could be viewed as a bit obsessive. This is related to 'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close' because Oskar's grandfather would take pictures of everything in the apartment but would not take pictures of the grandma.
Father Ostas has said that people tape pennies to the needle arm of a record player because: after records would warp, the needle arm would bounce on the record so people would tape pennies to the arm so it wouldn't bounce. And now my dad and step mom are arguing about how big a record was; 12 inches or 18 inches... moving on....
I feel that when Claude and Edgar were talking in the barn and Claude was trying not to tell specifically where he was. I think he did this because he didn't want to scare Edgar. I have two theories for where Claude was.
1) Because he was in the Navy for so long, he stayed in small rooms when he traveled. Because the Navy is usually water, the rooms on ships are fairly small and cramped.
(This second one I let my imagination soar)
2)Because he was in the Navy, he made some enemies from different countries. The enemies captured him and locked him in a small, cold, dark room. He escaped and contacted Gar. Gar is now letting Claude hide with him, which explains why Claude came up unexpectedly.
I found it interesting and funny that Edgar knew the exact spot on each step where it did not make noise. He takes this route when he does not want his parents to hear him, and I find it ironic that he is trying not to make a sound since he is unable to make sound himself.
I find it odd they have a picture of every dog they raised but not one of themselves. It shows that they care a lot for the dogs and have a lot of pride in them. I feel like the dogs are their number one priority and they do not really care much to take pictures of themselves.
I believe Claude is a sneaky person and I would not trust him. He has a suspicious air about him. Especially later in the novel when he tries to shoot the stray and then lies about it to Gar and Trudy right in front of Edgar.
When Claude and Gar make it home finally I sensed some tension and reservation. They didn't really say much to one another until Claude pointed out that not much had changed around the place, which offended Gar and caused him to be more short with Claude. I think they act like any siblings do, all siblings bicker and fight, but in the end they still love each other.
I think Claude is shady mainly because he has been in jail for quite some time for who knows what. I also think this because he is a liar, he lied right in front of Edgar's whole family about something that didn't really have to be lied about.
From the clues given in the novel about where Claude has been, I think that he has been locked up either in jail or some sort of rehab, or maybe even a mental institution. Claude said that he didn't like being inside after he had been in inside a lot. Claude also mentioned that when he went into his room of the house that it wasn't much bigger than the room he'd been in. He says that it didn't seem like the right way to spend his first night home.
It's Ironic that Edgar tried to go down the steps silently because he can never make sound of his own and that's all he's ever wanted to do all his life, and now he's trying to be silent.
The photos of all the dogs and none of themselves shows that they truly care about all the dogs they've had. The dogs are their life. They are selfless people. This reminded me of when Oskar took pictures of everyone he met and he was very interested in their lives.
Making a silent trip down the stairs is kind of like him proving how well he knows the house. It is his house and the house he has grown up in, it's apart of him. Ironically he doesn't want to make a sound. He can't make any sort of sound vocally.
Someone would tape pennies to the needle of a record player to keep it from skipping. Them not having any photos of themselves shows how much passion they have for their animals.
The silent trip down the stairs is ironic because Edgar is silent because he has no voice and now he is trying to be silent. It's significant because he sneaks out to see his uncle the first night his uncle is there using the exact same path. While they were chatting, Edgar's uncle tells him how his father used to sneak out the same stairs when he was a kid. His uncle also told him about the silent spot on the stairs that gave him the trouble.
People tape pennies to the needle of a record player to stop it from skipping or scratching a record. What is ironic about the silent trip down the stairs is Edgar can't speak so he wont make a sound and he is still trying to be silent. The photos of all their dogs show that they really do care about every dog that they have, even more then themselves.
The silent trip down the stairs is significant because that night he sneaks out to go see his uncle. The ironic part of it is he is silent and he's trying to go down stairs without making a sound. When Claude first returns his relationship with his brother Gar seems to be a little tense, even Edgar can sense that something is not right between his father and uncle. But as the chapter goes on their relationship seems to get better.
Edgar wanting to make it down the stairs is significant because Edgar is silent without a choice and now he is trying to be quiet so he doesn't draw attention to himself. The relationship between Gar and Claude seems to be a strained one because Gar seems irritated with Claude. Edgar's dream possibly foreshadows that something bad is going to happen to one of the pups. It would seem that Claude has been locked up in a small room, possibly a jail cell, because he doesn't like to be inside the spare room that he is supposed to be sleeping in.
The face that they have photos of every dog that they've ever owned, but none of themselves could suggest that they love their dogs and want to remember every one of them. The pictures would help bring back memories of each individual dog; it would also help the Sawtelles remember certain events of their life, just like in the book, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.
It's ironic that Edgar wanted to make it down the stairs silently because he can't speak and doesn't make much noise to begin with. I think the pictures of the dogs ties into Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close. In the novel, Oskar had a collection of things that happened to him, although none of them happened to him directly. Things he put into the collection were things that he felt affected him in some way or was important or significant to him. It also reminds me of how the grandfather never took pictures of the grandmother. I think Gar and Claude love eachother, but find it difficult to get along. After not seeing eachother for awhile, it's hard for them to agree on most things.
The ironic thing about Edgar trying to make it down the stairs quietly is that Edgar doesn't make much sound himself. With no voice, he is a very silent person, except the slapping of the knees and the clapping of the hands.
The fact that they have a picture of every single dog they have raised but none of themselves shows what is important in their lives. Those dogs are the Sawtelle's lives and the reason they wake every morning. It is not only a love and a passion for them, but also their career and their business. It is similiar to "Extremely Louda and Incredibly Close" in the fact that Oskar kept pictures and remembered things that were important to him. The pictures and the things were not about him, but they meant something to him and that was the reason they were collected.
It's ironic that Edgar is worried about making a sound coming down the stairs because he cannot speak and has difficult times making sounds in the first place.
Just like the Grandma and Grandpa in “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close,” the Sawtelle family only takes pictures of things that have meaning to them, besides themselves. The Grandma and Grandpa do not think they had anything to live for; however, the Sawtelle’s; life revolves around the kennel and that’s what they take pride in. Although, Trudy and Gar had a rough start, they have a son now… is the past keeping them from taking pictures of Edgar?
When Edgar finds Claude in the loft of the barn, Claude almost reveals where he had been in the past. He says he was in a small place where he could not get outdoors, which led me to believe that Claude was in jail. Claude spontaneity and head strong character, that he shows at the kennel, may have been the same behavior that put him into jail.
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