Water for Elephants, Week 6, Post A

VOCAB

Querulous (256)- full of complaints

Contrition (261)- remorse

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

“His face is hard, his eyes glinting. His expression suddenly softens. He smiles warmly.(266). This is an example of irony because Uncle Al suddenly has a mood swing and becomes happy, just like August randomly lashes out against Marlena and then becomes happy again.

“...as though battered rotten tomatoes walk through his door every day” (268). This is an example of personification because the author characterizes the mean people as rotten tomatoes and gives the human characteristic of walking to the tomatoes.

“Behind us, a wall of badgers. In front of us, a dozen alligators” (281). This is symbolism for the terrible characters against Jacob, including August and Uncle Al.

QUOTE

“ ‘He hit her,’ I repeat. ‘Yes, I know, very upsetting, that. But he’s her husband, right?’ ” (266). This quote exemplifies the bias some of the characters possess against women in this novel. There is only one woman in the novel, Marlena, and she is constantly surrounded, pressured, and tempted by the men. Uncle Al knows that August hits Marlena, yet he thinks it is an acceptable action because August is Marlena’s husband and he can control her.

THEME

A theme of this novel is to help others in their times of need. Jacob shelters Camel by hiding him behind trunks in the car. Jacob also cares for and fights for Marlena’s dignity when August hits her.