The largest aspects of a story's exposition include the introduction to conflict, characters, and setting. Select one of these elements from your text so far. Discuss, in depth, your understanding of the element, and how you believe it will continue to develop and transform throughout the reading.
For example: Focus on one specific character you have been introduced to. Discuss their description and character traits, as well as your opinion of the character so far. Then, share any predictions you may have for the character's future.
After posting, continue the conversation. Add detailed analysis to at least two other classmate's posts made. Continue responding until you feel the conversation has reached a point of resolution.
One of the people closest to Oskar, the main character, now that his father has passed, is his grandmother. You can tell she is always nurturing and caring when it comes to Oskar, which has proven to be overbearing at times, this is seen when Oskar states, “ Even though I was trying hard for it not to, it was annoying me how Grandma kept touching me,” (4). I think she is an important character in the book because she is one of the few people that Oskar has been able to form a connection. This is due to the fact that she is able to relate to the pain he feels everyday because when Oskar lost his dad, she lost her son. I think that over time the author will reveal more about Oskar’s relationship with his grandma, and we will be able to learn more about her past, and how she got to become who she is today. I also think more character traits will be revealed that will give further explanation on why she is able to have a deeper connection with Oskar.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Oskar and his grandma have a close relationship. I think they will grow closer throughout the story. When Oskar was doing the Central Park expedition he narrates, “Because I’m not allowed to be in the park alone at night, Grandma went with me” (Foer 8). Oskar’s Grandma may be able to help him with his search for the key’s box and learn more about his dad.
DeleteThe story points out the key in a few different pages. It also has a picture of the door knob and lock when the story directs to a letter from someone. The main character seems intelligent and he has a logical view view on life. There is a small picture of a note in the text and it has “not stop looking” circled in color the book is giving the reader clues that the story is most likely based on solving or finding something. This story is starting out slow but may start unfolding when I get deeper in.
ReplyDeleteI agree that this story is starting out slow and hasn't really gotten into much of anything that was written about the book when I did research on it. But it is interesting and I think it will start unfolding really soon too.
DeleteI agree with what your saying Logan about it starting out slow but i think some of these key points like his father dying will be a very big part of the story later on.
DeleteI agree with what Jackie is saying. I think even though the text may seem to not have much depth yet, that there have been many key thing and people that have been mentioned that will have a great meaning later in the book, one of those people being the man who lost his voice. Because the story shifts to his P.O.V., I believe he will become very important to the plot.
DeleteThe character that has been introduced in my story is Oskar. When Oskar’s father dies his only way of dealing with it is to constantly ask questions and say bizarre things because it helps him cope with the loss of his father. I believe that later on Oskar will have to deal with his problems head on and won’t be able to cope with them by asking questions.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Oskar is going to have to face his problems head on eventually, but do you think if Oskar was given answers to his biggest questions that he would be at peace and start to move on from his father's death?
DeleteI don't think so because it seems like no matter what answer he is given he always follows it up by asking even more questions, but maybe he will learn to listen and think about the answers he is given.
DeleteI agree with that statement. From what I believe there is more to his suffrage, why is he afraid of everything where did he loose all trust and yet has a load of determination.
DeleteI believe that for an example the limo ride they Oskar was trying to cope with the death of his father but i think he was also trying to help his mom and his grandma cope with it too by distracting them with something else.
DeleteJosh, I feel like Oskar got all of he's deterioration from his father for an example having Osker find all of those different objects from different decades helped him become more determined because he had someone who believed in him, but now that that person is gone he feels lost.
DeleteWithin the book Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran we learn about nine year old Oskar Schell, he lives in Manhattan with is very protective mother. His grandmother on the other hand lives across the street, and is usually the one who takes care of Oskar. His grandpa has passed away and not to be discussed. Osker recently just lost his beloved father, but still lives in his memory. When Oskar said “You could just get in the back seat, walk through the limousine, and then get out of the front seat, which would be where you wanted to go” (Foer 5) I believe that because it was very hard for everyone in the family to loose Oskar's father no one wants to talk about it and in the scene they are heading to his funeral, and Oskar is trying to distract everyone one because it is a very sad situation.
ReplyDeleteWhat is your purpose for choosing this quote? This quote to me is showing how Oskar thinks that once you step into a vehicle you can walk through it and get to your destination. I agree that it was hard for everyone to overcome the loss of Oskar’s father, but it was especially hard for Oskar and Oskar’s grandma. I agree with what you said about his mother being very protective, but most mothers are, and her and Oskar have a good mother-son relationship.
DeleteIn the book Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, we learn about the main character, Oskar Schell who is 9 years old. Oskar’s mom is overbearing on him, and his father passed away, whom he was really close to. His grandfather is mentioned in the book but no details have yet to be uncovered. But, Oskar’s grandma and him have become really close and both have a special bond. Oskar has had a lot of experiences with his dad that have helped shape him, and this has been a good impact on him, and Oskar seems to miss his dad and his great influences. “I moved over to grandma’s side of the limousine” (Foer 6). Oskar lost his father, and his grandma lost her son, so Oskar and his grandma have created a special bond. I believe that over time Oskar and his grandma’s relationship will grow more, and learn more about her and her husband (Oskar’s grandpa). I also think that more characters will be brought up, and we will learn more character traits of existing characters, and characters to come. So far this story is a huge rant and long paragraph about the characters, specifically Oskar. What do you guys think about more characters and character traits being created? Also, what do you believe Oskar and his grandma’s bond will turn into?
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling grandma is only a stock character to Oskar and will stay this way because they do not seem to have a specific connection related to the main conflict other than them both being related to the father. I also disagree that the beginning is just a rant of characters because we learn a lot that will further our understanding as we read. We must keep in mind that this is all from Oskar's perspective with his father dying as an influence on how he sees the ones around him.
DeleteBased so far on the reading today I think Oskar will be the sole main Character in the book.I believe the story will mostly focus on Oskar and his problems and adventures instead of Oskar and his Grandmother or Mothers bond becoming closer
DeleteIn the first chapter of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close the whole first chapter focuses on Oskar a nine year old boy living in Manhattan. Oskar’s dad has passed away, so he lives with his Mom. Oskar’s Grandma primarily takes care of him with his mom working. Oskar is not an average nine year old he is very intelligent and unique. He shows how smart and clever he is when his father asks him to find an item from every decade during the twentieth century in Central Park. Oskar tells the reader how he found them, “ I was clever, I brought him back a rock” (Foer, 80) I think this shows how creative and intelligent Oskar is, because most nine year olds hardly even know what the twentieth century is. Oskar is also very aware of how smart he is shown in the quote above and also when he takes his jujitsu lesson after stating he was a pacifist, “ Most people my age don’t know what that means” ( Foer, 2) The author continually shows how intelligent he is through Oskar, telling stories about how he thought and acted in a situation. Oskar's responses to these situations are not the way the normal nine year older reacts in situations and that is how Foer also show his uniqueness. I think Oskar's intelligents and unique responses to situations is what will help him finish the last scavenger hurt that his dad gave him. For what reasons do you think Oskar is such a different nine year older?
ReplyDeleteOskar all around in very intelligent and unique I think because of the experiences he has gone through that most nine year olds will never go through. The major event was his dad passing in such a way, and Oskar's curiousness and strength will not only help him heal but also get him through that scavenger hunt.
DeleteI agree with Sophia, that Oskar is very intelligent, and has a lot of knowledge. Oskar has a lot of strength with him being so young and losing his father. He has found people such as his grandma, and things such as the key, and other things to keep his father with him, and to learn more about his father.
DeleteI agree that Oskar is a very smart kid. He knows that and so do other people. In one flashback Oskar’s father tells him about sex. Oskar respond by saying he is going to throw up, but his dad scolds, “Don’t act your age” (Foer 13). Usually parents say this in reverse. They scold an older child for behaving like a younger child. Oskar’s dad is different though, he expects Oskar to be more mature than kids his age. His father knows he is smart and pushes him to think harder by giving him complex scavenger hunts.
DeleteSo far In Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer, we are introduced to two possible conflicts in the nine year old named Oskar Schell's life, who has an incredible amount of experience for his age without even being able to watch television. The first conflict is the adventure/exploration his father sent him on. Oskar explains this as if it is something to hold onto with great importance. “For the last one (Reconnaissance Expedition) we ever did, which never finished, he gave me a map of central park…”Where are the clues?” He (Father) said, “Who said there had to be clues?”...He shrugged his shoulders like he had no idea what I was talking about. I loved that” (Foer 8). I am lead to believe this is very important to the rest of the book because since it was never finished, this will be one of Oskar’s goals that we are lead through as we read. Also, I can relate this to Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children where the main character is left clues to follow and it ended up being the main conflict. The second major conflict introduced is Oskar’s father's traumatic death in the 9/11 terrorist attack. I know that when my grandpa passed traumatically it hit the top of my conflicts within my own life and if I was to tell my story that would be a huge influence. I cannot even begin to imagine losing my dad the way I lost my grandpa, let alone losing him at all. I strongly think that the main conflict will be the exploration because it is influenced by Oskar’s loss. Please share with me which conflict, if not both combined, you believe to be the main conflict within this story and why?
ReplyDeleteI agree with you completely on the main conflict being Oskar doing one last reconnaissance mission. I also think most of the conflict will be between Oskar and himself. In the reading today he said that he gives himself Bruises when he does things wrong. I believe as the story continues Oskar will learn to not self harm himself and through the mission gain the confidence he needs to go through life with out his father.
DeleteIn the exposition we learn about Oskar’s mother. Oskar tells us she is beautiful. She has a job, but we are not told where she works. She loves Oskar dearly. This is shown when she wears the bracelet and other jewelry he made for her. She also lets him zip up her dresses because he likes it. I find it odd that we do not know Oskar’s mom’s name. The author may not tells us because it would not match Oskar’s narration. Many children, especially young ones, call their parents “mom and dad” without thinking they have other names. She has a friend named Ron. We do not know how close their relationship is, but it is unsettling for Oskar. He believes his mother has moved on from his dad too quickly. The gap in Oskar and his mom’s relationship causes him to be secretive. He lies to her when he goes to search for the key’s box. Oskar assumes, “that she didn’t know about the vase, the envelope, or the key” (Foer 52). Oskar does not want her to get between him and what his dad may have left for him. This could be a large conflict for the rest of the book. If Oskar finds more pieces to the puzzle he will have to continue to lie to his mom.
ReplyDeleteThe empty spots in the apartment symbolizes that the mom and dad are on the same page. I am not clear as to why they do this but it would make sense that it has to do with the last name of Black. But what do these empty spots mean?
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteOskar is incredibly smart and has many connections with his dad. His dad is the one that put oscar on a quest and it was purposely, but the actual quest held no meaning other than to help Oskar become less socially awkward. As cited on page 259, “What about digging up dad's empty coffin?” This is similar is that his mom buried an empty coffin in hopes to lighten up everyone a little. Yet the quest was also a decoy of thoughts but from his dad. Why would his dad have a quest ready if he didn't know about his death, How long was it ready and awaiting his father's death?