Water for Elephants, Week 1, Post A

VOCAB

Rubes (3)- slang for an unsophisticated country person

Languidly (15)- lacking spirit

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

“That moment, the music screeched to a halt. There was an ungodly collision of brass, reed, and percussion-trombones and piccolos skidded into cacophony, a tuba farted, and the hallow clang of a cymbal wavered out of the big top, over our heads and into oblivion” (2). This is an example of imagery because the detailed description of the horrible sounds appeals to the sense of hearing. The great detail in this sentence allows the author to convey to the reader the exact sounds she wants them to imagine.

“Her sequins flashed like liquid diamonds” (4). This is an example of a simile, because it compares two things, the sequins to liquid diamonds. The simile accurately describes just how the sequins flashed because they were so gleaming and shiny like diamonds.

“Snatches of sky peek through leaves” (22). Because the sky is given the human characteristic of peeking, or being able to see, through the leaves this is an example of personification.

QUOTE

“Age is a terrible thief. Just when you’re getting the hang of life, it knocks your legs out form under you and stoops your back...being the survivor stinks” (12). Jacob wants to go back to his younger days when he was physically able to do things and his wife was still living. Ever since his wife died, Jacob has thought deeply about his life and sometimes wishes he would have died too, so that he wouldn’t have to watch himself and everyone around him grow old and frail.

THEME

An emerging theme in this novel is perseverance. Jacob faces many challenges throughout his life, including living during the Great Depression, losing his parents while he is in college, and losing his wife of 61 years. Yet through all of these difficult times, Jacob is able to find the motivation to keep living and he perseveres.