I think it's the first time I've seen the phrase
"extremely loud" in the book. In this case, it's pessimistic thinking
that is so loud in his mind...not sure where that will lead...
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...
32 comments:
I think that Oskar does so much research on 9/11 because he wants to know how his dad died. In the novel, he says that he can’t stop inventing how his dad died but that he wants to stop. I think if Oskar knew, then he would have closure. I also think that he invents as a sort of coping mechanism. How his dad died is like an open-ended question with no definitive answer. So I think he invents possible deaths as answers. But he can only invent/cope for so long. So I think he researches 9/11 to figure out how his dad died so that he can have a definitive answer.
Oskar does a lot of research on 9/11 because it scares him. He hates the day and everything that happened on that day, especially his father's death. Oskar is a very logical kid who needs everything to make sense. Since the act is so unexplainable, he struggles to wrap his head around it and that scares him. He hates not knowing how his dad died and how 9/11 even happened at all. Researching 9/11 is the only way he can cope with the fear of not knowing what happened that day. Also, I think he is obsessed with the tragedy since it was such a traumatic day for him. It's something that is on his mind and important for him to figure out. It is basically an act to try to get closure about his dad's death.
The envelopes are empty because all of the letters from them have been removed and these are all of the envelopes and letters that Oskar's grandfather was going to send to his son but couldn't bring himself to do so. Oskar's grandfather will not tell Oskar who he is because of a promise he made to Oskar's grandmother to not make contact with Oskar. What's interesting about Oskar's visit to Georgia Black is that Georgia Black and her husband made shrines for one another that celebrate each other. The strange about it is that normally these shrines are made for someone that has died in their rememberance, yet both people that have shrines made for them are still living. I believe the mentioning of another Stephen Hawking letter is there to show how many times Oskar has wrote to Stephen Hawking which shows us how much of an idol Stephen Hawking serves to Oskar. Oskar gives himself another bruise after Mr. Black jumps straight to the point with Nancy Black which cuts off Oskar's conversation with Nancy. I believe that the drawn out conversation's he has with all of the Black's are simply just distractions that keep Oskar's mind off of things and when he actually has to ask about the key he is reminded of his father and is brought back to a helpless and sad state.
Oskar gives himself a bruise at the coffee shop because the coffee shop didn’t have any coffee ice cubes, something he invented with his dad. He wanted something he did with his dad to still exist and when he had to face that some of his inventions with his dad wouldn’t ever be real, it became too much for him. Therefore, he hurt himself for thinking that one of his dreams could come true.
I think Oskar knows it’s his grandfather, but he’s okay with not acknowledging it. Oskar was just happy that someone stepped into the role as a father figure. He wanted someone to be there for him like his dad was, and he filled that void with his grandfather.
Ruth's story is about losing someone who you love, and it is similar to Oskar's story. Ruth takes things to the extreme by living in the building that began to represent her husbands love for her. Oskar begins a journey to scour New York to find a single lock to a key that was left by his father- which started to represent Oskar's father for Oskar. Both are trying to be close with who they loved and both are scared to lose the thing that ties them to their loved, which is why Oskar doesn't go to the bank and why Ruth doesn't go on a date with Mr. Black, even if it is in the Empire State Building, Ruth doesn't want her home to be a place of love for anyone but her husband.
Oskar’s research on 9/11 is like tragic obsession. When something awful happens to you or to someone you love, you can’t stop thinking about it or wondering all the things that could have happened differently. Oskar researches so much about 9/11 because his dad was killed. It’s better for him to learn the who, what, where, when, why, and hows of it then sit and let his mind tell him otherwise. He wants to know exactly how his father had died that day even though he's knows he will never truly find out. Each terrible scenario he creates becomes a million different scenarios and they all just play on repeat in his mind. It makes sense that he spends so much time researching everything about 9/11 but it is also a very sad and tragic thing. No one wants to relive those moments, but he can’t help it. All Oskar really wants is some sort of closure.
The envelopes that Oskar discovers are empty because Oskars grandfather cant bring himself to send his son an actual written letter. Oskars grandfather actually is writing letters, but cant bring himself to send them. He cant do this because of all the guild that he is carrying due to leaving when Oskars grandmother was pregnant. I believe he is also writing the letters to thoroughly explain all the events in his life and record them down for future referencing, or maybe even for Oskar to read.
I believe Oskar has done so much research on 9/11 because his father died on that date. I also think that Oskar is researching in hopes of finding any evidence of his father, either through photographs or even eye witness accounts. Oskar seems to be the kind of person who has to know everything about a topic of interest to expand his knowledge on everything that happens. I believe that he also does this to bring himself closure and peace of mind. also by researching more about his father, it helps him to remain closer to the memory of him.
All of the envelopes were empty because Oskar's granfather could not send them even though he wrote daily he could not muster the courage to send them to Oskar's grandmother or his child.
The description "he was on one kind 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 even though they were unmoving and standing right next to each other Oskar feels as if they were drifting apart a millimeter at a time and soon they would be separated.
Oskar didn't know who his grandfather was when he met him in his grandmother's apartment was because Oskar never really thought about him. When Thomas asks Oskar who his grandfather was, Oskar replies that he doesn't think about him. When you don't think about someone, your mind won't realize the clues that this is the person who you have heard but never met. Ruth's story about her and the Empire State building is her way of remembering her husband. She would always go to the observation deck at night to see the beam of light that her husband showed to her. When he died, Ruth stayed at the Empire State Building to keep the memories of her husband alive. Ruth's story is like Oskar, who is finding a lock that a key his father owned will fit in. Oskar is looking for the lock to keep his father in his memories. He doesn't want to lose them just like Ruth doesn't want to lose memories of her husband.
I think there is an interesting explanation for why Oskar doesn't know that the old man in his grandma's apartment is his grandfather. Oskar's grandma only ever described his grandfather as a wonderful person. She told Oskar that he could even talk to animals. She is so in love with him that she doesn't realize he isn't that great of a person. He's just a person. Oskar doesn't seem to like his grandfather when he meets him that first time. He confuses him and won't answer any of his questions. While his grandma is blinded by the love she has for him, Oskar just sees a confusing, old man, with writing on his walls that he thinks might upset his grandma. That seems a little protective to me. He wants to preserve his grandma from the strange man, which says a lot when you think of how much this man has hurt Oskar's grandma without her really acknowledging it. Oskar sees what his grandma is blind to, and what he sees looks nothing like the hero he hears in his grandma's stories.
Oskars grandfather couldn't tell Oskar who he was. He didn't want to betray Oskar's grandmother. He had promised to not see or speak to Oskar. Oskar's grandmother was their for all of Oskar's life always being the one who was their for him, she didn't want it to be that easy for him to walk into Oskar's life. She also didn't want to confuse Oskar and scare him.
I think that Oskar reasearches 9/11 so much becuase he wants to know exactly how his dad died. He is the type of person who needs to know every detail or it will bug him forever. He can not have closure until he knows exactly how he died. Without knowing the details Oskar continues to "invent" ways he could have died.
Oskar gave himself a bruise for two possible reasons. The first reason could be that he was embarrassed about asking for coffee ice cubes when they didn't have them. Then, he responded by saying “exactly” which doesn't make much sense. The other reason could be that he was upset that he started a conversation with Nancy Black instead of getting right to the point about his key like Mr. Black did.
I think Oskar’s grandfather doesn't want Oskar to know who he is because he is having some regrets about leaving. He probably doesn't want Oskar to think he is a bad person. In addition, as others have said, he is also probably trying to respect Oskar’s grandmother. Oskar’s grandfather doesn't know what the grandmother has told Oskar about him. He doesn't want to cross a line and tell Oskar something that the grandmother didn't want Oskar to know.
All of the envelopes were empty because Oskar's grandfather didn't know what to write. He'd caused so much pain and sadness and didn't want that to continue by saying the wrong thing. Oskar's grandfather doesn't want to tell Oskar who he is for a couple of reasons. He has a previous history of getting close to people and then disappearing and with Oskar's personality that may be very tough for him to deal with. Also Oskar's grandmother doesn't want Oskar to know who he really is and Oskar's grandfather doesn't want to betray her by giving away his real identity. When Oskar met Georgia Black the most interesting thing was the museum she created for her husband. But then her husband appears after you believe that her husband is dead. He also has a museum except his is of his wife and it seems very strange but it shows just how much the two love each other.
Oskar's grandfather is so reticent to tell Oskar who he is because he probably feels like he does not deserve to be his grandfather since he left before Oskar's father was born. He feels that since he never met Oskar's father then he does not deserve the right to get to know Oskar. Despite obvious hints Thomas is Oskar's grandfather, Oskar still does not know because he still assumes that he is gone and Oskar's grandmother only referred to him as "the renter." However, Oskar still says that Thomas shrugs his shoulders like his dad did and he had the same gap between his teeth that his dad had.
There are only two reasons as to why Oskar bruised himself. One reason is that he was very upset that instead of just getting right to the point (which is about his key) he had started a conversation with Nancy Black. The second reason is that he was embarrassed when he asked for some coffee ice cubes, but they did not have them. With the experiences he had gone through, it probably takes a lot for him to not do things like that to himself.
Oskar does not know that he is speaking with his grandfather despite the many clues he’s given, because he doesn’t even know that meeting his grandfather is a possibility. He has never been in his life, and though he’s heard a few stories from his grandmother, he knows nothing about him. Also, his grandmother obviously doesn’t want Oskar to know about him, because she refers to him as ‘the renter’, and so Oskar doesn’t make an effort to make that connection. It is amazing that Oskar shows the renter the messages from his father, and doesn’t know that he is showing a father his son’s last words. This is deeply profound and incredibly ironic. Finally, the renter asks Oskar not to talk to his grandmother about him, or share that they meet. Oskar thinks nothing of this and nothing of the renter’s offer if he needs anything, because he thinks he is just another person, like the Blacks.
Oskar does so much research on 9/11 because he wants to stop inventing the ways that his dad died. Oskar wants to know exactly how it happened. When Oskar looks at the picture of the man falling from the building he wants to believe it's his father and says sometimes he can almsot see glasses on the man if he looks close enough, but he wants to stop imagining that. Also by doing research it helps him feel a little closer to his father which is all Oskar wants.
Oskar has the same obsession with facts about his father's death as he does in any other aspect of his life. He has an obsessive need to rationalize the irrational. This is so he can stop "inventing" the way his father died.If he simply had a fact, a way his father went so he didn't have to see all the ways it could have happened, he would be happier.
Oskar does so much research on 9/11 to gain closure. He wants to know exactly how his father lost his life. By doing research he hopes to gain some groundbreaking knowledge which will answer all of his questions and provide him with all the necessary answers. They never come. He had already played out numerous scenarios of his father's death. The more information he gains on the subject, the more scenarios seem possible to Oskar. His mind runs wild with haunting possibilities of his father's death.
Oskar does so much research on 9/11 because he wants to know how his father died. He said that he is always inventing new ways it could have happened. His father might have jumped, or been burned alive. Oskar even zoomed in on a picture of a person jumping from the building that he wants to believe is his father. Oskar just wants all his thoughts about his fathers death to stop, and the only way is to do research to piece together his father last moments. When Oskar had met his grandfather he was just excited to know that "the renter" was an actual person and that his grandmother wasn't making up imaginary friends. He didn't know that Thomas was his grandfather, because he had never known him. He just saw him as a confusing old man who couldn't talk for some explainable reason. As far as he knew, his grandfather could have been anywhere in the world by the way his grandmother spoke of him.
The carpet analogy to the space where you’re in between Burroughs was a good one because it emphasized the extreme distinction and lack of similarities between them. Oskar’s grandfather hesitates from telling Oskar who he is because then he will have betrayed Oskar’s grandmother. The heart of Ruth (the tour guide)’s story, to me, is that missing someone can consume your every thought. Oskar doesn’t know the renter is his grandfather because he is trained in his childhood to not think of him.
All the envelopes are empty because Oskar's grandfather could never bring himself to send the actual letters. Oskar's grandpa wrote letters constantly to his son. He recorded events in his life, told stories, and gave advice, but didn't send any of them. All those letters for Oskar's dad, and he didn't get to see a single one. I think Oskar's grandpa felt guilty for leaving his son. He probably felt like his son wouldn't want the letters because he was mad at him for leaving.
Oskar will not rest until he knows everything about what happened to his father. He spends time thinking of possible ways he could have died that day, because knowing makes him feel better. Once his mind is set on something he will never let it go until he can fully accept it. The only way for him to accept his death is by knowing everything he can about it. This is why he researches 9/11 and does everything he can to attempt to gain closure.
I agree with Emily that Oskar needed to know what happened to his father so he could have some closure, however I feel it is also a little deeper. Throughout the novel we learn that Oskar's father is a man of truth. Truth is very important to him, and he passed that on to his son. Oskar truly loves anything close to his father, it would only make sense that he, too, would want to know every ounce of the truth. I also feel that this is where Oskar forms some of the aggression towards his mother. His mother seems to want to censor some things to spare her son, but something like that would never sit well with a boy like Oskar.
Oskar is sucked up into this world that he can't escape of sadness and depression because he wants to learn how his father really died. I feel Oskar wants to learn this because he wants to find inner peace with himself, he wants to stop the agonizing images of how his father might have died, he suggest he may have jumped from a window or tried making a make-shift parachute. He boggle's it in his mind and it drives him mad and it will always drive him mad, that's why he is so pessimistic. Due to the fact that he doesn't know how his father died he has a negative view on life, you can even see it at the beginning of the book when he states such things as "half empty."
Oskar's grandfather was so reticent to come out and tell his grandson his identity because he wanted to reconnection with his grandmother. He didn't want to risk losing her again. Thomas also didn't want to come off as the bad guy. He came back for a reason and he didn't want to blow it with his former lover and his grandson. I think Oskar has done so much research on 9/11 because he has so much emotional connection with the tragic event. He lost someone so close to his heart and he wanted to find the truth of his father's voicemails and bring closure to his father and himself.
Oskar's grandfather is so reticent about telling him who he is because he wants to reconnect with his grandmother. They spent 40 years apart and his grandfather was the one to come back in the end. Oskar does so much research on 9/11 because he is stuck in this mindset to find out how his father dies. Exactly how he died. Oskar can't stop inventing of terrible ways his father could have died until he knows which horrible way it was.
I believe that the reason Oskar has done so much research on 9/11 is because he desperately wants closure of his fathers death. He is a very analytical child and he likes to know all the facts about a situation. Oskar’s dad used to give him puzzles to solve that involved research to discover the solution. I think this is the main reason that Oskar is so persistent in his research: it’s what he remembers most of his dad and thus, he uses the research to move forward.
Oskar does so much research on 9/11 because it was such an influential event in his life. It was a day that afterwards completely changed who he was. As a result, he wants to know everything about it. At the same time he also hopes to maybe find a cause of death for his father and ultimately find closure. He even admits earlier in the novel that he would feel better if he knew exactly how his dad died. As far as life changing after 9/11 goes it really is sad. Oskar is afraid to go up in a tall building like the Empire State Building because there is a chance someone could attack it at any moment. It's truly sad how much the thought processes of the people of the U.S. has changed after the attack. Some people refuse to fly when they see someone who looks Muslim and it's overall very sad.
I think the obvious answer as to why Oskar's grandpa is so reticent on revealing who he is to Oskar, is to honor his grandmother's wishes. He had spent so many years apart from her, leaving at the time she needed him most in her life, he had felt he owed her at least that. However, I believe there is a much more substantial reason as to why he does not tell Oskar. I think he is ashamed of how he abandoned his family, and having to face another person and explain why he left was too much for him to take on. He realizes how much Oskar cared for his father by the immense amount of grieving he is doing, something he can not do entirely without having known his son. Oskar's life is clearly complicated, and at this point in his life learning his grandfather came back after "the worst day" would only complicate life further.
Oskar has done so much research on 9/11 because of his father. Since Oskar is the type of person who values logic and reason, he looks for he answers to the questions that were left behind in the smoke of the towers. It becomes his obsession. One key point of his research is trying to figure out how his father died on that day. Oskar wants to know whether he was killed in an explosion, if some part of he building collapsed on him, or if he was one of the "jumpers." He searches the internet endlessly, going through all of the pictures of people jumping from the windows on that day. He attempts to make sense of it all, trying to answer that one question that hundreds of other children in New York city were asking themselves as well: "Why my dad?"
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