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...
15 comments:
Upon meeting the renter, I knew his true identity but Oskar didn't. (spoiler) Remembering how later in the book when Oskar and the renter go dig up Oskar's father's grave and the renter has suitcases full of letters to put in the coffin, I now put it together. Thomas Sr. wrote all the letters so long ago, but his son never saw them in his lifetime. In putting the letters in his son's empty coffin, Thomas Sr. was able to "give" his son all he ever wanted to in his lifetime through the letters he wrote but Oskar's grandmother kept. Thus, the envelopes are empty when Oskar finds them after Thomas Sr. already collected their contents.
The sentiment behind this action is really beautiful, but I think Oskar might have been able to learn or feel closer to his father through the letters somehow.
I think the additions of "extremely loud" and "incredibly close" in this chapter are in a way dramatic irony. Oskar has his grandfather right in from of him, but is blinded by his own ambitions to find the lock. This is similar in a way to Ruth's story. Ruth is blinded by her obsession with the Empire State building to acknowledge the rest of life that surrounds it. Mr. Black connects with Ruth because he too could not get over his fear of the world without his late wife. I found it interesting to see Mr. Black come out of his shell in this chapter. Why was this the time that Mr. Black decided to stop helping Oskar. Was if that he met Oskar's grandfather or was it that Mr. Black himself had found whatever he had been missing before Oskar?
Additionally, I also was saddened to notice Oskar's fear of the building. I could not imagine the fear that scarred people in the aftermath of 911. There are so many fears tackled in this novel and so many different ways of overcoming them.
Oskar's grandma never wrote any letters, she would go into the room where the typewriter was and hit the space bar repeatedly. She always had a warped idea of her self worth and I think that played into why she never wrote. Maybe she didn't think her life was good enough to use all that paper or she didn't have something in her life worth writing about until Oskar. She had hundreds of letters in Dresden that burned, she said they helped the house burn. She could have left the envelopes empty in reality but full to her. Words she wanted to say but could never bring herself to. Since the first time "the renter" was mentioned, I had had my suspicions that it was Oskar's grandfather. When Oskar and "the renter" finally meet I was actually surprised that Oskar hadn't guessed who his true identity was. I understand why Oskar's grandpa never revealed himself. After letting Oskar's grandmother down so many times, it was the least he could do to keep himself hidden.
Yeah it doesn't take a detective to deduce who the renter is. I honestly am a little disappointed I was unable to conclude myself that the renter was Oskar's grandfather as the clues seem pretty self-evident when you look back in past chapters. I didn't like how Oskar's grandfather didn't put more effort into trying to hide his identity from Oskar, since meeting him betrays Oskar's grandmother. I don't like the fashion to which Mr.Black tells Oskar he's had enough, I just feel like the book should have shown more of his emotions since the two had such a strong bond. I also feel like Oskar is a smart enough character to at least entertain the idea that the renter could be his grandfather based on his appearance and the various ways he reminds him of his dad.
Oskar's grandfather is so patient to when to tell Oskar the truth because he had made a deal with his grandmother. Oskar's grandmother told his grandfather that she was the only one to raise Oskar and he'd never even thought that he even existed. The only thing that Oskar had from his grandpa was his camera that he used throughout the plot to take pictures of his journey. I believe that Oskar's grandma didn't want Oskar to meet his grandfather because he's never really talked about him in the past. But Oskar's grandpa kept his identity a secret to prove that he and his wife could trust each other.
The heart of the Empire State Building guide's story is that she stays up in the tower forever. The reason was because her husband fixed up a light that could shine up into the sky so she could see where he was at night. In a way, it felt like everyone was looking down and sightseeing, but she felt like someone, her husband, was looking up at her. Since he passed away she has never left the building since.
I think Oskar's grandfather doesn't want to reveal who he is because Oskar admitted he doesn't even think about his grandfather. The way Oskar says it may be a sign of some kind of resentment, which may make Oskar dislike him. Oskar's grandfather wants to make up for the past and be able to listen to Oskar, so he doesn't reveal his true identity in case it would anger Oskar.
I think Oskar has done so much research on 9/11 because he can't stand an unanswered question. His mind rests easier when he has lots of knowledge and has all of his questions answered. He wants to know how his father died, so he did lots of research on all the possible ways that his father had died. Oskar does this as a way of seeking closure. In a way, it goes back to the quote "thousands of people were left to suffer hope" because Oskar is left wondering how exactly his father died, what happened to his body, what his last moments were like, his last words, etc. Oskar would feel much better if he knew the answers to all of these impossible questions, so he continually does research to improve his knowledge, even though there are still some things he just can't know.
Aside from the obvious reason of Oskar's grandmother telling him not to, I think that Oskar's grandfather is hesitant to give his identity to Oskar because he knows that it is wrong that he is suddenly appearing in Oskar's life. Oskar's grandmother was the sole parent for Thomas, Oskar's father, and took care of him his entire life. Once Oskar's father was killed, her attention turned to Oskar. I understand her feelings when Oskar's grandfather returns and tries to become a part of her and Oskar's life again. Oskar's grandfather realizes the hue mistake he made by leaving and may be nervous to how Oskar might take it if he reveals who he really is.
Why are all of the envelopes empty?
I think they were empty because the writer was planing on getting rid of them. I think they had a plan to destroy them, if not the idea already to bury them in Oskars dads casket. I was kind of hoping they wouldn't be empty though so Oskar would read them and realize all different kinds of things.
Why is Oskar's grandfather so reticent to tell Oskar who he is?
Well as we later found out, it was because he didn't want to loose Oskars grandmother again, which I thought was so cute. But at first I just thought that he was scared or worried at what Oskar would do. After I found out why he actually didn't tell him, I gained even more respect for Oskars grandpa. He is really trying to make things right, and trying to communicate with his wife, and I start to feel sad for him for all that he has been through.
Why do you think Oskar has done so much research on 9/11?
I think it was to find out about his dad. Oskar needs closer, like a lot of people do. But Oskars also different from a lot of people with thinking of what ifs. He lets his mind wonder so much that it's emotionally painful to him. He just wants to know for sure how his dad died.
I think that Oskar's Grandfather is so reticent to tell Oskar who he is because he doesn't want Oskar to have a biased opinion on him. Oskar believing he is only the renter and not his grandfather allows Oskar to understand him from what he knows and not from what other people have told him or heard. Another thing is that Oskar's Grandmother told him not to reveal to him who he is. He already betrayed her by talking to Oskar but one thing he doesn't want to do is betray telling him who he is. That is something that when it is time, Oskar will find out.
I think Oskar has done so much research on 9/11 so that he can try to find out what happened to his dad. He wants something that could be about him, anything. I think Oskar wants to try and get closer with his dad, like he does with the key, like he is almost trying to keep the connection between them as strong as it was before.
Why do you think Oskar has done so much research on 9/11?
I think that Oskar has done so much research because he has a lot of unanswered questions that he wants answers to. He wants to know how his dad died, what he was doing during the last minutes of his life and other things, but the only way for him to get any answers was by looking up as much information as he could about 9/11. I think it had helped Oskar accept his fathers death by looking into everything that's been reported and put his mind at ease having an idea of what his father went through than not knowing at all.
Oskar's grandfather may have been so reserved to tell about his true identity because he was simply scared to. He may have been scared to let Oskar down, and I'm sure in the back of his mind he was terrified of rejection. Oskar's grandfather was also probably feeling a great deal of guilt as well. Coming back after abandoning his family will leave a little more than a few harsh feelings. Coming to meet Oskar for the first time was probably a shock to him as well. After he realized that Oskar had an accepting assumption of who he was may have been an easy way in for him. He wouldn't have to deal with explaining himself, even though Oskar's interrogations to almost everyone he meets is pretty common. Oskar's grandfather was probably a combination of mixed emotions that he more than likely wasn't ready to deal with.
I think Oscar's grandfather doesn't want to reveal who he is because he doesn't want to betray his wife again. He also is probably scarred to find out what Oscar thinks about him after leaving his family. While he is known as the renter he is able to get to know Oscar without getting too involved. I found the Empire State building info to be pretty interesting as well. It shows that there is always a longer story to things than what we know. I really do wonder what life would be like if it weren't for the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. I think things would be a lot more simple and there would be a lot less worrying.
Oskar's grandfather doesn't want to tell Oskar who he is because his grandmother doesn't want him to know and I think Oskar would be mad if he realized his grandfather was living across the street since 9/11 and he didn't know. The fact that the phrases "extremely loud" and "incredibly close" are in this chapter tells me that this is one of - if not the most important chapter in the novel. Oskar has done so much research on 9/11 because he wants to know how his father. There was a video of a man falling from the building, Oskar wonders if this was his father. He needs closure. This leads to him burying up his father's grave. Oskar probably doesn't know his grandfather is the renter because he thinks he is dead.
I find it interesting how Oskar's grandfather interacts with his grandson. It is difficult to try to feel the emotions does without having been through a similar situation. I don't think he wants Oskar to know who he is because I believe he is embarrassed that he left his family, even though he believed he was doing the right thing. I also believe it would further seem to complicate things for oskar, who already has a difficult situation to deal with and understand at his age.
I believe that Oskar had researched 9/11 because of how curious he is about many things. Even though painful memories surround the time, his curiosity still shows through and this can be seen as he wonders how his father died. It is also tough seeing Oskar's fear of attacks. It was a very real feeling for many americans not just those in NYC, but across the nation after the events of 9/11.
Oskar's grandfather doesn't tell Oskar who he is because Oskar's grandmother hasn't told Oskar who he is. he won't do it until She is ready. if ever. I love how Oskar sees that his grandfather has the same tooth gap that his father had yet he doesn't know who he is. I think the tour guides story parallels Oskar's. He is afraid of heights and she will never come down from the heights.
Post a Comment