Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close tells the story of Oskar Schell, a nine-year-old boy with limitless imagination and creativity on the one hand and a troubled soul on the other. He loses his father, Thomas Schell Jr., in the attacks of 9/11 and tries to cope with his loss by navigating himself through a series of quests.
In the following chapters, a short introduction to Foer’s life and works will be given as well as a plot summary and an overview of the main motifs of the novel to build a knowledge basis for the chapters following. After that, the trauma of the characters will be described for the later analysis of the individual coping mechanisms. An analysis of Foer’s writing style follows with focus on visual writing and photographs. On this basis, the effects of Foer’s writing style on the reader will be outlined. The paper will be concluded with a summary and a personal reflection. The descriptive method will be used based on primary and secondary literature as well as the author’s observations to elaborate the research objects, which are the analyses of the individual traumas of the protagonists as well as the effects of Foer’s visual writing techniques on the reader.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Jonathan Safran Foer’s Novel Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
2.1 Trauma described within the Novel
2.2 Coping Mechanisms of the Protagonists
3 Writing Style
3.1 Examples for Visual Writing
3.2 The Falling Man Photograph
4 Reflection
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This paper examines how Jonathan Safran Foer’s novel Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close addresses the psychological trauma of 9/11 and explores how the author’s unique visual writing style impacts the reader’s engagement with the narrative. It investigates the intersection of trauma, memory, and the limitations of verbal communication in the wake of catastrophic events.
- Psychological effects of the 9/11 terror attacks and the Dresden bombings on the protagonists.
- Various coping mechanisms adopted by characters to process grief and loss.
- The role of "visual storytelling" and non-traditional text formatting in literary expression.
- The ethical and reception-aesthetic implications of incorporating photographs within a trauma narrative.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 Trauma described within the Novel
Trauma1 can be explained as a psychological injury, which is caused by a significantly negative event, which leads to symptomatic suffering. (McCann und Pearlman 10) Throughout the novel, three major traumatic events are mentioned, being the Dresden bombings, the attacks on Hiroshima, and on the World Trade Center. These affect the individual protagonists either on a literal level, an abstract level – or on both (Foer).
The Dresden bombings took place on the February 13, 1945 during Second World War. They lasted for two days and killed between 22.700 and 25.000 people, leaving countless people injured and traumatized. Additionally, large areas of the city and infrastructure were destroyed by heavy explosives and incendiary devices (Bergander). Thomas Schell Sr. lives through the horrors of war and describes some of the incidents within his letters, such as the lake, which was filled with dead bodies referring to the real incident of the River Elbe being targeted. He also dramatically illustrates the zoo being targeted and animals being killed. The Dresden zoo was de facto targeted on the first day of the bombings with the animals being gunned down later (Foer; Bergander). Besides the trauma of seeing people and animals being killed as well as the city being destroyed, Thomas Sr. loses his pregnant girlfriend, Anna, to the Dresden bombings (Foer). Shortly after that, he loses his ability to speak due to the traumatic events word by word until he becomes completely unable to verbalize his thoughts and starts to carry a pen and a notebook in order to communicate with his environment (Foer).
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter introduces the research context, the seminar background, and the central motivation for analyzing Foer's novel regarding trauma and visual writing.
2 Jonathan Safran Foer’s Novel Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close: This chapter provides a plot summary and an overview of the characters' relationships and major themes like death, love, and family.
2.1 Trauma described within the Novel: This section details the historical traumatic events mentioned in the text—specifically the Dresden bombings, Hiroshima, and 9/11—and their psychological impact.
2.2 Coping Mechanisms of the Protagonists: This section explores how different characters utilize storytelling, physical quests, and symbolic actions to process their trauma.
3 Writing Style: This chapter discusses Foer's unconventional narrative techniques, including first-person perspectives and the use of metaphors.
3.1 Examples for Visual Writing: This section analyzes specific instances of visual aids, layout variations, and imagery used to enhance the reader's immediacy.
3.2 The Falling Man Photograph: This chapter explores the ethical controversies and symbolic significance surrounding the inclusion of the famous "Falling Man" photograph in the novel.
4 Reflection: The final chapter summarizes the findings of the study and offers a personal reflection on the efficacy of literature in processing trauma.
Keywords
Trauma, 9/11, Dresden bombings, Jonathan Safran Foer, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, visual writing, coping mechanisms, aphasia, storytelling, immediacy, authenticity, memory, grief, The Falling Man, literary analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on the depiction of psychological trauma in Jonathan Safran Foer's novel Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close and how the author uses visual writing styles to convey the "unspeakable" nature of these experiences.
Which historical events serve as the backdrop for the trauma in the novel?
The novel centers on the 9/11 terror attacks, but also incorporates historical trauma from the Dresden bombings and the atomic bombing of Hiroshima to establish a broader context of catastrophic loss.
What is the primary goal of the author's investigation?
The goal is to analyze how the protagonists manage their trauma through specific coping mechanisms and to determine how Foer's visual elements, such as photography and unconventional formatting, affect the reader's perception.
Which methodology is employed in this study?
The author uses a descriptive methodology, drawing upon primary literary sources and secondary academic literature to analyze the thematic and stylistic elements of the novel.
What does the main body of the work address?
The body addresses the intersection of individual trauma and collective memory, the linguistic and visual strategies used by Foer, and the specific coping strategies of the characters Oskar, his mother, and his grandparents.
Which keywords best characterize this academic work?
Key terms include trauma, 9/11, visual writing, coping mechanisms, immediacy, memory, and literary analysis.
How does Oskar's quest function as a coping mechanism?
Oskar’s search for the lock is interpreted as an "individually planned method of therapy," providing his life with meaning and a structured way to maintain a connection to his deceased father.
Why is the "Falling Man" photograph considered controversial?
It is viewed as controversial due to ethical concerns regarding the potential exploitation of a victim’s death for the sake of public sensationalism, a debate the author examines within the context of the novel.
How does the grandfather's "aphasia" relate to his trauma?
The grandfather's inability to speak is presented as a psychosomatic result of the trauma experienced during the Dresden bombings, forcing him to communicate through writing and symbolic actions.
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- Inna Warkus (Autor:in), 2020, The Trauma of 9/11 and the Effects of Visual Writing in Jonathan Safran Foer’s Novel "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close", München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/899780
