Water for Elephants, Week 2, Post A

VOCAB

Jodhpurs (52)- riding breeches that are tight from the knees to the ankles

Snifter (56)- a pear-shaped glass that intensifies the aroma of liqueur

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

“The big top still stands, glowing like a ghostly coliseum” (49). This is a metaphor because it compares two unlike things, the glowing big top to a ghostly coliseum, using the word “like”.

“Happy as a clam, that’s me” (53). This is also an example of a metaphor because it compares Camel’s happiness to a clam, using the word “like”. It is evident that Camel is very content because this phrase is commonly used to express someone’s happiness.

“A smirk plays around the edges of his lips” (58). This is an example of personification because it gives the human characteristic of playing to the non-human smirk.

QUOTE

“He’s...mercurial. He’s capable of being the most charming man on earth. Like tonight” (95). Marlena is explaining to Jacob the multiple personalities that August shows. This is important because Jacob begins to understand the reason why August made a joke of Jacob almost getting his arm bitten off by a tiger earlier that day.

THEME

A developing theme in this book is to find a good outcome in a dark situation. Jacob was left alone in the world when his parents died in an accident when he was college, so he decides to join the circus. In the circus, he starts as a low placed cleaning man and gradually works his way up to become the veterinarian for the circus, which he went to school for.