The representation of the events of September 11, 2001 had been widely criticized for different reasons: due to the disturbing nature of this art, negative media attention and the traumatized public the latter was meant to be the target audience commemorating the tragic event, but on the contrary, refused to advertise the terror of that day. Even the course of time had barely changed the situation. Aside from the domestic criticism, the international community also blamed the American artists for the alienation (due to the Islamist nature of the attackers) and inability to produce ethical art. Although the representation of 9/11 still remains a highly disputed topic in the society, Jonathan Safran Foer’s Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, drew attention of the public in its attempt to picture the events of the 9/11 through the perspective of the child, Oskar Schell.
The issue of trauma had been discussed by various authors both in form of theory in fiction, yet this still remains a very complicated topic to write on, which balances on the verge of being disrespectful to the feelings of those concerned. Yet Jonathan Safran Foer’s Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close manages to discuss the aforementioned topic with the extreme precision and efficiency, mainly due to the careful choice of the narration tone and the media, which allowed to deliver information on such a sensitive topic.
Thus, the research focus of the paper can be expressed as follows: the child narration as the indispensable tool for the accurate representation of the traumatized memories. This paper’s accent is mostly on the trauma triggered by the events of 9/11, as they are of the immediate importance to the main narrator, Oskar, yet the study does not exclude references to other tragic events mentioned in the novel. Therefore, the implications of the research concern the overall study of trauma and its representation in the literature through the perspective of the child, based on the case of the Foer’s Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Oskar as the victim of the circumstances
- Oskar's identity as the constructor of the narrative
- The child's consciousness and the representation of the trauma.
- Through the eyes of the child: intermediality in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines the representation of the 9/11 tragedy through the lens of a child narrator, specifically focusing on Jonathan Safran Foer's Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. The paper aims to demonstrate how the child's perspective allows for a unique and poignant portrayal of trauma, offering a fresh interpretation of the event's impact on the individual and the collective.
- The child narrator as a medium for representing trauma
- The impact of 9/11 on Oskar Schell's identity and consciousness
- The interplay of different media in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and its contribution to the narrative of trauma
- The role of memory and imagination in coping with traumatic experiences
- The ethical and artistic challenges of representing 9/11 in literature
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter provides an overview of the challenges and controversies surrounding the representation of 9/11 in art and literature. It introduces the novel Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close as a unique attempt to portray the event from a child's perspective, focusing on Oskar Schell's journey of processing his father's death.
- Oskar as the victim of the circumstances: This chapter explores the historical context of 9/11 and its impact on Oskar Schell, drawing comparisons to other tragedies such as the bombings of Dresden and Hiroshima. It analyzes how the tragedy's scale and suddenness affect Oskar's psychological state and his quest for understanding.
- Oskar's identity as the constructor of the narrative: This chapter delves into Oskar's unique perspective as a child, exploring his imagination and his struggles with grief. It examines how his narration shapes the reader's understanding of the events of 9/11 and the complexities of trauma.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This paper focuses on the representation of trauma in literature, particularly through the perspective of a child narrator. It analyzes the novel Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer, examining themes of 9/11, memory, imagination, grief, and the ethical considerations of depicting tragedy in fiction. The study draws on theories of trauma studies, literary theory, and cultural studies to understand the novel's unique approach to representing a significant historical event.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Nicky Jan (Autor:in), 2017, Terrorism an the Child narrator. 9/11 through the eyes of Oskar in "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close", München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/488876
