Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

In Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Oskar's grandfather leaves his grandmother because of the rules. The rules between them were supposed to help Oskar's grandpa feel like he had more control...

The "heavy boots" in "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" symbolize Oskar's depression and the emotional burdens he carries, especially following his father's death in the 9/11 attacks. This...

In Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, the blank pages signify the emptiness and communication gaps between characters, particularly Grandfather and Grandma. They visually represent the discovery of...

There are many reasons why Oskar didn't answer the phone. Perhaps the grand plan for the story couldn't support such explicit communication. Prior to 9/11, Oskar and his dad mostly communicated...

The phrase “the ax won” or “was winning” occurs at two points in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. The first time, A. R. Black says it in answer to Oskar’s question about who won a war. The second...

The major events in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close unfold across three timelines. Key chronological events include Oskar’s grandparents’ love story during WWII, Anna's death in the Dresden...

In Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, the way that Thomas Schell and his wife organized their apartment into spaces that were “something” and others that were “nothing” represents how they were...

We think Oskar's dad marked up the letter. After all, Oskar's dad has a penchant for marking up texts. Before he died, he liked to mark the mistakes in the New York Times. What's circled seems to be...

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer explores themes of fear, death, and emotional trauma. The protagonist, Oskar, grapples with his father's death in the 9/11 attacks,...

"The Sixth Borough" story is significant to Oskar's journey in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close as it symbolizes loss and the search for something out of reach. It parallels Oskar's quest to find...

The doorknob in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close symbolizes the barriers and opportunities related to grief and healing. It represents how characters close themselves off from their emotions and...

In Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Dr. Fein suggests to Oskar’s mother that he stay temporarily in a hospital or another safe environment. The doctor is concerned because of Oskar’s emotional...

The rising action in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close begins with Oskar discovering a mysterious key that belonged to his father, leading him on a quest to find its lock. This journey introduces...

Grandma is a compassionate and protective woman who goes out of her way to support the people she loves. The way she is always there for Oskar when he is a child shows how compassionate and...

Oskar's journey is considered heroic due to his determination, bravery, and intelligence. In his quest to find the lock matching a key from his deceased father's closet, Oskar, a nine-year-old,...

Oskar wants to dig up his father's coffin in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close because he seeks closure. Opening up the empty coffin and coming face to face with it will allow Oskar to accept, once...

Stephen Hawking is featured in "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" as a symbolic substitute for Oskar's father, reflecting the intellectual bond Oskar shared with his dad. Hawking's renowned...

The grandmother in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close copes with her husband's death by choosing to live despite her hardships. Unlike her husband, who abandons her due to his inability to cope, she...

Oskar learns different things from two men with the surname Black with whom he interacts in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. From the elderly A. R. Black who lives in his apartment building, he...

In Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, the words "fall," "lie," and "reason for being" are central to Oskar Schell's journey. "Fall" symbolizes both the physical collapse of the World Trade Center...

Grandma tells Oskar, "I hope you never love anything as much as I love you," to express her wish that he avoids the pain of intense loss. She understands that deep love often leads to fear of losing...

the bombing of Dresden is a historical backdrop to explore the psychological response of some of the central characters.

Because this question calls for a personal reaction, each reader will identify something different that stands out in the chapter “Why I’m Not Where You Are (4/12/78)” in Extremely Loud and...

Oskar in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is not directly identified with Asperger's syndrome in the book. Although he exhibits traits such as high intelligence, hyper-organization, and quirky...

In Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, the three significant "Blacks" to Oskar are the name "Black" on an envelope with a key, leading him to believe it's a message from his deceased father. Mr. A....

Examples of magical realism in Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close include Oskar Schell's vivid imagination and his fantastical interactions with his deceased father. Oskar envisions flying and...

Oskar's grandfather writes letters to both Anna's unborn child, who died in the Dresden firebombing, and potentially to Thomas, Oskar's father. Although the identity of the intended recipient is...

The rules in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close could represent how Grandpa deals with the trauma of the Dresden bombing. "Never talk about the past" is one rule. Another rule is, "We never listen...

Oskar's mother copes with loss by paying close, but not overbearing, attention to Oskar's emotional needs and taking care to not "burden" him with her own grief and pain.

The New York City setting in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is significant as it reflects the chaos and trauma following the 9/11 attacks, mirroring the protagonist's emotional journey. The...

The photo sequence, especially the falling man, is significant as it reflects Oskar's inner turmoil and quest in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. The images combine elements of Oskar's personal...

The typewriter can represent the way a person's life is written just as much as it can represent the end of a person's life. The typewriter is linear -- words following words in a specific order,...

If Oskar's mother wrote a chapter on her feelings, it would focus on her deep love and concern for Oskar as he copes with his father's death in the 9/11 attacks. She would express her shock, fear,...

The exposition in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is identified through the introduction of the main character, Oskar, a quirky and imaginative 12-year-old. The narrative sets up the initial...

The title is ironic because Oskar's loss of his father is extremely loud and incredibly close, but the only person who can help him deal with it—his grandfather—is silent.

Oskar's grandfather is the character who shows least emotional trauma and most emotional distance from life, but it is precisely this that shows it. His inability to connect with life in any...

Oskar is a young boy, who lost his father on September 11th, 2001. He has been living with his mother and grandmother ever since. Oskar is obsessed with the key that he found in the vase at his...